Checking in from Tampa

This post has nothing to do with bike riding. Tom is blogging from Tampa today. I'm in the middle of a week long event. It has been quite hot down here, in the 90's. It really makes you appreciate the lack of humidity in Death Valley. Yesterday it was 93 degrees with about 110% humidity. How I long for the dry air of the desert. Of course there are beaches here and that's a plus. Mary arrives tonight and we're going to spend some time on the beach during my down time. Next week it's back on the bike.

A Busy Week

Lots going on at work this week as Tom is getting ready for two big events and a bunch of small ones. We got some riding in, just didn't have time to write about it. On Wednesday Tom took some extra clothes to Ian who was staying overnight at a friend's house. A little 10 mile ride that also saved some gas for the car. On Friday we took Jake and Ian up to Rockford for ice cream and rode out mountain bikes. That meant we could ride on the very cool Rouge River Trail, which isn't paved. Then today we did a team ride from Ada Park to Wabasis Lake and back. After riding our mountain bikes yesterday it felt like we were floating today. A good week this week, although next week Tom is out of town on one of those events so we probably won't get a lot of miles in.

This week's ride totals:
6/18 - 10.7 miles; home to Rockford and back (Tom)
6/20 - 10 miles; to Rockford for ice cream
6/21 - 44.2 miles; Ada Park to Wabasis lake loop

Total: 64.9 miles (Tom)
Total: 54.2 miles (Mary)

Happy Father's Day

Tom spent the day around the house, spending time with the kids, and this evening we went for a ride south on the White Pine Trail, thru Riverside Park and ended up at the 6th Street dam in downtown Grand Rapids. Almost 22 miles for the round trip. On Thursday Tom rode the trail north from Rockford to Sand Lake and back. Nice weather this week so we got a fair amount of riding in.

This week's ride totals:
6/10 - 20.2 miles; WPT north to Rockford
6/12 - 27.2 miles; WPT Rockford to Sand Lake (Tom)
6/15 - 21.9 miles; WPT south to Grand Rapids

Total: 69.3 miles -Tom
Total: 42.1 miles - Mary

Tuesday Night Blues

No, we aren't sad. The headline refers to the fact that the Rogue River Blues Series started back up last night. We did this a few times last year. We ride from our house north on the White Pine Trail to Rockford, watch a little of the free concert right by the dam in downtown Rockford and then ride further north on the trail before heading home. We did a little over 20 miles yesterday.

A Wet Week

Friday was the boys last day of school, so Tom told them that he would buy ice cream at Rocky's in Rockford to anyone who rode their bike up there. Jake decided to hang out with friends but Ian and Colleen went on the ride. It was hot and sunny when they started. By the time they arrived in Rockford however the storm clouds had blown in and the rain had begun. Luckily the intrepid trio found a dry spot in the Rotary Pavilion. They enjoyed ice cream waiting for the rain to subside. About the time they finished the skies brightened and the rain slowed so they headed back down the White Pine Trail for home. That's when the real rain started. It came down in the proverbial buckets. Tom, Colleen and Ian were all drenched. But it was a warm rain and they laughed about being soaked all the way home. So they got in 12 miles, a little ice cream and a great memory. Quite a way to celebrate the last day of school.

This week's ride totals:
6/4 - 18 miles; WPT south to Riverside Park (Tom)
6/6 - 12 miles, WPT north to Rockford (Tom)

Total: 30 miles (Tom)

Mary, on yesterday's team ride, acting sassy!

A Great Team Ride

Today was a superlative day to ride. Not only did we have 28 of our fellow JDRF Ride Team members along for the fun, but the post ride bash was the now traditional Mike Clark Fajita Fiesta. After 44 miles the Mexican spread laid out by our coach tasted mighty good. MC lives in Holland and the ride originated from his place. We rode through Fennville, Douglas and Saugatuck on what is known as the Hutchins Lake Loop. It was big fun and we really feel like we are in mid-season form already and it's only June 1st.

This week's ride totals:
5/26 - 31.9 miles; Lake Paw Paw to Sister Lakes loop
5/29 - 10.2 miles; WPT south (Tom)
6/1 - 44 miles; Hutchins Lake Loop

Total: 86.1 miles - Tom
Total: 75.9 miles - Mary