Training Log Archive: tommyturbo

Walk to Costco to meet Tracy

Sycamore-Gunnery with Tracy

Grand Ridge RT Thanksgiving ride: No turkey, but we are still pigging out. Tracy had BLT sandwiches ready when I got home! For the first time ever, we are not having turkey, but I am stoked for pulled pork tacos. It's an all piggy Thanksgiving for us!

DT Issy-Creekside Trail

Raging River 1.3x-Preston-Home: What's the difference between a rock climbing 100' ground fall and a 1000' fall? Not much, aside from the contemplation period length. There is a tiny survival chance with a 100' fall, just like there is if a 1' diameter tree falls on top of you vs. a 4' diameter tree, but the outcome will not be good in any case. At 7 AM, it was 30 degrees in Issaquah, 29 in Preston, 49 in North Bend, and 52 on Snoqualmie Ridge. Along with the strong inversion came the equally strong North Bend wind. RR has smaller trees than other places I ride, but I didn't take comfort from watching (and hearing) a zillion 1' diameter trees swaying to and fro. I rode the lower part of the mountain a second time, mostly because it may be a long time before the dirt is as good as it was today. I also thought I would wait for the wind to die down and for it to warm up before I rode home into the non-inversion zone.

Squak Mountain backyard hike: Feeling like a kid, even without a bike involved. I grew up in a house that backed up to a woods. I crossed the neighbor's yard to a trail that took me all the way to my elementary school. I walked to school every day in all kinds of weather, and did the same for junior and senior high, albeit not through the woods. Living .25m from a Squak Mountain TH brings back fond memories, and I have been a lifetime walker and hiker. I eventually rode my bike in those woods, and maybe that is why I dig riding a mountain bike so much.

Olallie Ridge last time in 2018(?): I know why I keep climbing to the top, but what motivates George the mountain goat? What the heck was George doing on top of a nearly bald knob at the far terminus of my route? I can only imagine he was there for the same reason I was: the 360 degree view. It's not like there was any real vegetation, and he doesn't look like he needs the exercise. George must go about 200+ pounds, and he is damn healthy looking. He was also far from where I normally see him, on the ridge below Mt. Washington. Perhaps it wasn't George at all? Maybe it was Martha...With snow forecast on Thursday above 3600', today may be my last trip high up on the ridge for awhile, and the last time I see George and/or Martha until next spring.