Welcome to Seattle

Saturday, August 29th.
I rode into Seattle this afternoon via Amtrak. (For a map of the trip, click here It was a glorious 40 hour train ride through North Dakota (this portion of the trip occurred between the hours of 1:00-4:00 am, that is why I can say the trip was glorious) Montana, Idaho and Washington. I saw Glacier National Park and the Cascade Mountains in full sun light from the observation car with a play-by-play narration courtesy a volunteer Park Ranger.
If you have never traveled by train (this was my first time) I highly recommend it, at least once. I secured a sleeper car for privacy and to ensure I arrived rested for the bike ride. I lazily reclined with a book in one hand, a cold drink in the other (iced tea) and my mind wandering over the hills and byways of the great outdoors.
The clientle on the Amtrak are much different than the those flying the friendly skies. They might not all own a passport, but they are exceedingly kind and curious, wanting to know why you're on the train and where you are heading. I met several interesting people, including Brenda, a wonderful women from Whitefish, Montana who was traveling home with her two your children; Petra (5 yrs) and Issabel (3 yrs). I was placed at their dinning table on the first afternoon of our journey. The girls taught me how to play games their LeapFrog hand held electronic gizmo, and each colored me a picture to take on my bike ride. Brenda and I enjoyed talking about cycling, her husband was a professional mountain biker until just recently and she grew up in the minneapolis area. By the end of our meal and conversation, both girls were asleep, Petra in my lap and Issabel in Brenda's lap. I can't recall when the last time I have had a child fall asleep in my lap. I helped Brenda put the girls down for an afternoon siesta and I met up with them again for dinner that same evening.
After gathering all of my gear off the train, I am spending a few days with a close high school friend at her home in Bellevue, just east of downtown Seattle. There was still plently of day light after departing the train, so I headed out on my bike (well, what else did you expect me to do?) to explore this very bike friendly city. I rode to Gas Light Park and along many of the inlets from Lake Washington.
It feels wonderful to final arrive on the west coast, that much closer to my starting line.

Why a bike ride and why now???

As most of you know, I have enjoyed cycling for many years now. I have found it to be both therapeutic and economical. Bike riding is definitely cheaper than psychotherapy (experientially learned) and I seldom need to fill the auto tank or find the need to join a health club.
I have participated in many week long bike rides (courtesy of the MS Society) over the past several years, covering hundreds of miles of Minnesota roadways. With a sick sense of humor, I figured if 7 days of cycling is fun, 27 days of cycling must be GREAT! This warped thinking led me into the planning stage of an extended bike tour, a trip that would last as long as my vacation days could support.
Why now? 2009 has been a major transition year for me. I turned 50 years old in January, graduated with my Masters in July, and have been given the opportunity of some new-found freedom. My children are now old enough to care for themselves and I am getting better at respectfully declining requests of my time.
And so, with the help of Adventure Cycling (www.adventurecycling.org) I am stepping away from the computer and out of the hospital to spend the next month cycling the length of the Pacific Northwest; from Washington to California following hiway 101 down the coast line. I hope to see incredible sights, meet wonderfully interesting people, celebrate solitude and grow stronger both physically as well as mentally. I anticipate days that challenge me in ways I can't even imagine, however I seldom enjoy routine existance, much preferring adventure with a dash of risk tossed in.

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy,
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. (M. Proust)

I am eternally grateful to everyone who has supported me in this adventure! I would especially like to thank my children, Shannon and Rob and Tom. Your encouragement and support over the years has sustained my spirit and nurtured my soul.

Count down to take off

The Family celebrated dinner before my departure. Dad, Mom, Colleen, Hunna, (my two sisters) ME, Robbie, Tom (my two sons) and Alex (my nephew). We all laughed at childhood escapades and displayed amazement at how the boys have grown up so big and too quickly. How did that happen? Thank you to everyone who has wished me safe travels!