Blog Moving

I have changed my email address and had to change my blog address also. This blog will be here forever but for further blog posts please visit my new address at

http://soaringwitheaglesjkg.blogspot.com

The blogs look almost exactly the same. There is also a link to the right of this blog!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Lilac Century Bike Ride Alternate Route

So today was the Lilac Century Ride. I had to persuade Sheila to do the 15 mile ride instead of the 50 mile ride. Silly girl, it is the beginning of the cycling season. What were you thinking Sheila. I knew I wasn't ready for 50 miles. Green t-shirts. I don't like green t-shirts. At least this color green. Like the design though. It was supposed to rain today. Look at the blue skies. Wonderful weather for a ride. Oh and take a look at Sheila's new jacket. She wasn't so sure it was a good purchase until it got hot and she could zip the sleeves off. Good purchase. She is a little concerned she won't be able to figure out how to get the sleeves back on. She will figure it out! :-)
I look moderately excited????
This is Sheila's. I told her that just because she had this tag that said she was an adult doesn't mean she is an adult. I will be getting my tag in the mail. Gotta keep up with the Sheilas.
We ran into the fearless leader of Michael Anderson Elementary School. Mandi did a half marathon yesterday and took the 25 mile route for this ride. She ran afterwards too.
Good poses always get on the blog.
Ready, set, go! A water bottle was shot into the air to signify it was time to start. Interesting!
We cycle to the turn around spot (about 7 miles into the ride) and decide we don't want to ride back the same way we came. SOOOO we took analternate route! Not cheating girls just an alternate route. It was the same route that Spokefest follows. I remembered it as pretty flat. I was not correct. I made it up all the hills but the last one by the college. No legs left. Sheila made it up them all! Stud!

Why or why is Jackie taking a picture of her bike on the ground??? I fell over and that is where the bike landed. I was almost stopped. We have to document everything you know. Clipped out of my left foot first. Mistake. Because of my knee I have to clip my right foot first. It is harder to twist it to get the right shoe out so I do the right foot first. Not this time. Left foot out and right foot was not out equals small fall. It was slow motion!
Of course the minor injury has to be documented.
And the greasy chain marks from the fall. I am glad it was only Sheila there but I am pretty sure she laughed.
Where are we? Where do we go? We just got finished with Downriver Dr. and Pettet Dr. is Doomsday hill. The hill we all talk about around Bloomsday time. Luckily we did not have to ride up Doomsday!

We finally made it! Surprise! Surprise! Baked potatoes at the end of the ride. Yum! We are ready to dig in!

Notice the clouds in this picture. Ugly dark clouds. Rain came but it was after we were done. The people riding longer distances got caught in the rain. See Sheila 15 miles was perfect.
Last stop Starbucks for our coffee!
Great fun! Gotta practice hills though. We want to do the 50 mile ride next year. There it is. It is official now and we are committed because it is on the blog!!!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Completed My 30th Bloomsday in 2011

Spring in Spokane can only mean one thing. Bloomsday is here! The first Sunday of May over 50,000 people run, walk, or skip Bloomsday. People everywhere but it never feels crowded, just fun! This year was my 30th Bloomsday. I have missed only 5 of them.
My skinny sister Patti. Patti has lost 90 pounds since last Bloomsday. So proud of her. We both really missed our sister DD! Wish she could have been with us again this year.
Don't even ask!

The helicopter is always around to start the race with a huge bang!
The elite runners take off and the pack waits for their wave to get started.
Sisters!
While we wait beach balls are tossed around. One ended up in a tree!
The sweatshirt tradition. As the morning warms up people shed their sweatshirts. They get thrown up in the trees and are collected later and donated. Someone will get great use out of them.

Pretty Patti!
Waving the American flag!
These sweatshirts never made it into the trees. Perhaps their owners could toss them that high!
The start line. We are getting close! Once we step across that start line our time starts. It is so crowded it is hard to get around even after crossing the line.
This is a new one. Men in drag hovering around the priests at the church we always pass! They drew a lot of attention.
All types of people do Bloomsday. This little lady walked the 7.46 with her cane. Impressive! I guess none of us has an excuse not to exercise!
Here are a bunch of Bloomsday shirts all lined up. I should get mine out and at least look at them once in a while!
YeeHaw!
Two miles down and 5+ to go!
People as far as you can see!
3+ miles down and Doomsday Hill right around the corner!
Doomsday hill is far in the distance in this picture. Almost 1 mile uphill.
I think it is easier to see the people climbing the hill in this picture.
Doomsday Hill!

A little inspiration from a band member before the climb!
Starting up the hill with a few other people. We all made it!
The vulture greets us again at the top of Doomsday Hill. Survival of the fittest! Will the vulture get you?
1.46 miles to go! We conquered the hill and we are on the home stretch!
AHHHHH!
The Court House. Beautiful building!
Some silly finishers walk back to meet friends.
We turn the corner and see the finish! We did it again! Number 30 completed for me and number 2 for my sister. We aren't the only one loving the site of that finish line. There are a couple of other people completing the race!

The 1st Presbyterian Band was the band at the end of the course. My church!
Lederhosen? Not sure I spelled that right. I like to take pictures of the firsts! This is one of them.
Tada! Completed and home. I actually guessed that the shirts would be yellow this year. I had my own little contest family! No prizes just the satisfaction of being right! :-)
Can't wait for next year. Both sisters will be here again God willing. Anyone want to join us?

Tutus 2011

My sister came up for Bloomsday this year. Before Bloomsday on Sunday we ran around Spokane. Our first stop was Kristin's house. Patti came bearing gifts for the girls. Tutus that my nephew (her son) Josh made. Beautiful! The girls put them on right away. They just loved them. Lucy kept her jeans on which is true blue Lucy, a tutu and jeans!Look at the gorgeous fabric!
Layne decided she needed her special shoes on for the tutu modeling!


Along with jeans Lucy had a Jack's Surfboard shirt on which Patti gave her last year.
Then some more costumes. How fun to dress up like this. Layne had a friend over and they did a short show for us.
Adorable!
Thank you Patti and Josh! The tutus are beautiful!!!