So...it's been a while since I've posted. Not because Camille has been stuck in the garage, but rather the contrary. We've been out a lot...mostly commuting to work, on training rides up to Redmond and Bellevue, cyclocross practice and of course racing! The cyclocross season is coming to a close with only one Seattle Cyclocross Series race left. In a way, Laisha is glad because she definitely needs a break, but already looking forward to next year and the opportunities it holds for Camille to really take off. Camille has almost completed her first ever racing season and has done well. As of the most recent race, she was 10th in the series for Cat 4 Women and finally had her first real race crash. The race course at Monroe at the the Evergreen Raceways was pretty intense and extremely cool. Tons of crash opportunities there... :) It was very cold with a heavy raining mist. At the start line, the racer next to me commented that the tips of my hair had frost on them...so it was quite cold! Alas, despite a phenomenal start, through a muddy section of the course, as I was about to pass the girl in front of me, her back tire lost traction and slid sideways through the mud taking me right out. I practiced my Aikido sidefall and landed well with my bike upside down behind me and the main pack of racers bearing down on me! After a moment of panic while they tried not to run me over, it was back on the bike and on with the chase. Unfortunately I was never able to recover and ended the race 22nd out of 26. Here are a few photos from the race...

2nd Cyclocross Race at Evergreen HS

Since I'm a Cat 4 racer, it's an early start at 9:30 am. I drove out to the race, getting lost on the way, but finally spotted a few other cars with bikes on top to follow! Registration and warm-up was next and after a few laps on the course to sus it out, I circled the track while waiting for the start. When we did, it was a record field of 187 riders. We were sent off in waves and being Cat 4, we were last. There were 33 in my category and I was hoping very much not to be last. 

Once the race starts, your focus is solely captured by the course immediately ahead. Entirely unplanned was the "team" of pink and blue. We'd never met before the race, but were amused by our synchronized choice of race attire. At 9:30 the race started and we were off! The start was a bit scary with wheels wobbling in front of and around me, but we didn't crash and gradually the field strung out.

I learned my lesson at the last race that you have to hammer the flat straight stretches, but suddenly understood here that it's the corners where you can recover. The 30 minute race is relentless and pushes you far beyond your limits. This day, however, I felt pretty strong and worked on passing people ahead of me one by one. As you can see in the next two photos, I made good time with the dismount and over the barriers even passing there. 

My weakness still lies in my remount, but I am confident that it will come soon. Throwing oneself back on the bike when utterly exhausted is difficult! The course included a lovely steep and sandy hill that required running up with the bike. In reality, by the second lap, most were just walking it, hoping to make it to the top. The sand was slippery and for each step, one slipped back just enough to make it sheer pain to crest the hill. 

At the top there was a steep descent with a sharp turn and hill up again at the bottom. On the fourth and final lap, I almost didn't make the turn and ended up hugging the tree just through the yellow tape there! No crashes though! :)

The race was fun and the course fantastic. No boredom there! I ended up coming in 23rd place out of 33, so I was happy to have survived and improved! On to the next one! 

Wishing Camille was with me in the North Cascades...

Early Tuesday morning, Larry, Priscilla and I packed up the car and drove off to start our adventure in the North Cascades. As we drove up into the mountains, I spotted a touring cyclist with a bob trailer on the back of his bicycle and felt instantly envious! Oh, how I wished I could have ridden up with Camille! We arrived at Rainy Pass and after some debate about which direction to take on our 7-mile Maple Loop/Lake Ann hike, we decided to take the counter-clockwise direction and set off very happily...

The trail was well-maintained and though narrow and brushy in spots, we hiked steadily upward. The air was crisp and fresh, the wooded scenery relaxing and we went on for about a mile. We wondered absently if we might meet any other people on the trail, when suddenly, we heard just ahead of us whooping and hollering. We were surprised to see a party of about six people run towards us on the trail. As they hurried by, they explained that they had met a mother bear with her cub just around the corner of the trail and despite efforts to scare her off, she had held her ground determinedly at which point they decided to beat a hasty retreat. We decided that discretion was indeed the better part of valor and followed their quick march back. 

We were disappointed not to be able to hike the trail we'd come especially for, but decided to hike over on the paved path to Rainy Lake instead. It was gorgeous and we sat for a while in the sun before doing some exploration of the trails along the lakeside. On our way back to the car, we passed the other end of the Maple Loop trail and I suggested we check it out. As we'd already done 3 miles, we doubted that we would have time to do the whole loop, bears aside, but thought we'd go and see what we could see and then double back. 

The trail on this side of the loop was much rougher and not very maintained. Steep and gnarly was the path. Endless switchbacks were the order of the way.

At first, the hike was heavily forested with a few interesting flowers and fungi.

As we climbed higher, we began to get glimpses of the Cascades through the trees and we struggled upward in search of better views.

we must almost be at the top!

not much farther!

more fungus...moss....lichen...all very interesting!

We reach our first false summit and a friendly bluejay tempts us onward.

surely we're at the top now!

outstanding views!

we surprise a doe on the path and though wary, she munches her dinner as we tiptoe by

gaining ground on the ridge, we peek over the side and get our first glimpse of Lake Ann. We realize the loop takes us all the way around the lake...should we turn back or take our chances with the dark?

we plunge ahead through the treeline

it feels like the Sound of Music, so we sing as we traverse the meadow tops..

would you look at that? wow!

"queen of the mountain" :)

Lake Ann, far below

could it be any more gorgeous? don't think so!

we round the mountain

past Lake Ann...lots of wildflowers here!

view of Lake Ann now from the other side

it gets dark as we hit the last mile, but luckily we've seen it twice already! ...no bears now! several marmots and a dormouse are sighted, so we've definitely been lucky on the wildlife viewing. we have hiked 10 miles and had a marvelous trip. we fall into the car and drive to the Buffalo Run Restaurant for some sustenance before the long trip home. what a day! :)

upheaval in Thailand

this post is a little off-topic, but right now I'm following the chaotic political situation in Thailand closely as family and many friends are affected. you can view articles, photos and videos of recent events at http://www.nationmultimedia.com/. my parents and youngest brother are currently in Bangkok. please keep this nation in your prayers. thanks, laisha

next to last day...a rest day at Zion National Park

So..."rest day" at Zion National Park. We finally finagled a campsite on the river and after setting up camp, wandered the town of Springdale. I began to realize that it would not be wise to continue much further on my trip. Camille got a well-deserved rest and a quick trip to the bike shop for a new back tire...way too many flats in the last couple of days. Foolish me climbed Angel's Landing. This is one of the world's best great short hikes...only five miles round-trip with 1500 ft of elevation gain, it starts at the Grotto and follows the Virgin River along a lazily snaking trail that winds steadily upward. We started the hike in the late afternoon and it was pretty hot at first. Nothing like a rest day!

lots of these little guys running around. helped to keep my mind off the swarming deer flies that just loved me!

amazing views of the park became evident as we trekked steadily higher.

stunning views of the park rose through the trees

water etches the rock walls...perhaps a waterfall when the snow melts in the spring

view of the valley

prickly pear cactus in bloom

looking back down at the first section of the climb, we turn upward into Refrigerator Canyon where it cools off quickly. 

along the walls are strange rock formations that give me the creeps! it feels like faces are staring out from the walls as we pass by!

the towering slabs of rock continue to amaze in endless variety of hue and formation. 

a quick peek over the edge shows the road and the Virgin River now far below. have I mentioned my fear of heights...?

we ascend to Scout's Lookout via Walter's Wiggles and are treated to more amazing views. only a half mile left to the top, but it's a doozy!

the wildlife doesn't mind the drop-offs, but scurries fearlessly about in search of a meal.

the last half mile is a narrow ledge complete with sheer drop-offs on either side - 1200 feet on one side and 800 on the other. 

hang on to that chain...it's a long way down!

one of the trip's high points!

no longer peeking over the edge, but rather standing on it and clinging with both hands to the chain, the acrophobia wins out. down we go!

back down Walter's Wiggles, a series of 21 tight switchbacks that are close to vertical. absolutely amazing the amount of work it must have taken to build this and to haul the materials up the trail to this point!

view of the valley from high above on the Angel's Landing trail. it was a spectacular climb and I can't wait to go back and do it again...all the way!