More 2025 Fun!

   Vincent (Giant Avila bicycle) and I joined another Bike Rides Northwest supported ride in July (July in eastern Washington/Idaho? What am I thinking?) It was so fun to spend time with a couple of ride buddies from Seattle and meet some new ones.  We met up for the ride in Cheney WA, about a 5-hour drive from home.  And boy was it hot!
   Moderate climbing and mileage, about 205, through beautiful eastern Washington and southern Idaho scenery.  We rode one day on a paved 66-mile rail trail, the Trail Coeur d’Alene. Beer and chocolate milk (not at same time!) were cold and plentiful. The smaller group, less than 300, made the trip much more enjoyable, except when camping nose to tail in a very small area in Wallace. The average rider age was 68 with an old timer of 82! On an extremely hot day, and with a flat tire, I bailed after climbing a particularly challenging section and took a ride 10 miles back to camp. No harm, no foul; just a bit more time for beer and lounging.
  My brother and I did a pleasant, easy fairly short backpack trip to Packwood Lake, just because...
   I cancelled my Olympic Peninsula tour on Stanley both due to an emerging wildfire and a multi-day atmospheric river due to descend.  It was sort of nice to spend more time at home, allowing more planning time for other upcoming adventures.
   As a third year Ride Around Clark County (RACC) rest stop volunteer, we turned chaos into fun.  We helped lots of happy riders enjoy watermelon, PB&J, and of course trail putty, as well as the camaraderie of a fun, challenging, and well supported ride. 
   Still coming for 2025, is cultural bike trip with Bicycle Adventures (no, not Adventure Cycling) to Cuba!  The logistics are a bit confusing, but got my visa and plane tickets so the majority of the hurdles are over and I can now continue planning for a couple of 2025 end of year holiday trips.
  Next year, among all possible adventures, is a month in northeastern Spain! Thanks for stopping by and please come back for another visit!