Chequamegon

After missing last year’s Chequamegon Fat Tire Fest, and the Birke, pre-Birke, North End Classic, Seeley Pre-Fat, etc... well, just say it’s been a while since we’ve been to the Hayward area.

The Fat Tire Fest is generally the kickoff for Fall for us, and the end of the serious riding season. After having a great time at the event, maybe we’ll look for some ways to extend our season.

Saturday, Short and Fat. Or as my buddy Tom says, “Short and Smart”. Frost at the start! Knocked it off pretty well seeing as I hadn’t ridden for 10 days or so and really haven’t been mountain biking much at all. No big incidents, though I could have taken out a guy that stopped in the smack middle of a narrow single track section around mile 13. Don’t worry buddy, there’s only me and 700 others behind me hell bent for the finish. 113^th overall (of 850), 6^th in age class. It pays to get older.

I didn’t hold out great hopes for Sunday, the bike orienteering Rough Stuff Rendezvous. I hadn’t seen the course or the maps for a couple of years. So I relaxed, enjoyed myself, tried to be efficient, picked the optimal route and did very well. Only really blew the third control, rode right by my turnoff and had to double back, losing 3 or 4 minutes. Rode along with eventual winner John Manders for a couple of controls, very nice. I’d do this every weekend if I could! 6^th overall, first in class and some nice swag.

Barb doing the Klunker Toss. Those Schwinn Varsity's are HEAVY.

And if you're wondering why I don't do the Critierium instead of the Rendezvous...

Washington Recap

Good times in Washington. We saw about 100 species of birds, almost 25 of them new ones. It was slow in the woods, so we hit some new ground along the coastlines. Also took a run 35 miles out into the Pacific to the continental shelf and home of some birds that don’t ever make it to land. It’s getting harder to get the lifers, so we’re taking extreme measures.

Skua right ahead! Bird ID was interesting. Seabirds are black, white and grey. Maybe a little dull brown for color. And on a rocking boat, binoculars are semi-useless. So you identify them by flight pattern, behavior, shape and size. Best bird out here was … South Polar Skua which breeds in Antarctica and otherwise roams the seas. We also got to see humpback whales, stellar sea lions and dall porpoises riding our bow wave. Of the 20 folks aboard, two got seasick. Not us. Cool.

Got to visit great-uncle Cecil and great-aunt Alyce. 97 and 91 years young, still living at home. Northwest living has been good to them. Cec admits to slowing down a bit and tiring of writing for the local paper. Was very nice of cousin Mary Alice to show us around Whidbey Island and make dinner for all!

Looked up college buddy Doug and family for an evening. Great folks, great hosts, great to get caught up on the happenings. We promise to keep in touch.

Best of the trip was we were able to sleuth some birds successfully. Red Crossbills on Hurricane Ridge. Took a trip on a hook out from Port Townsend. Bang! Six lifers. I imagine the Black Oystercatcher is the kind of bird the adolescent sandpipers bring home as a date, just to rattle the parents.

Walk-up Drive-up

Strangers in a strange land. Our first day in Washington, Barb walks through the open door of a quikie-mart in Olympia and gets yelled at. “This is walk-up drive-up only, you can’t come in here!!!” Doh!

Best birds have been: great looks at an American Bittern, flock of 300 Marbled Godwits (and two Willets trying to blend in) wheeling around Willapa Bay, close-up of a surf scoter and it’s psychedelic bill.

Cranberries straight from the bog. Sweeeeeet!?

Kurt and new best friend Chewy at the chain saw carving competition.

Breast-reduction surgery, PNW style.