Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Up, Up & Away

Day 32  Mile 4995
Vancouver, Canada
The word for today is, “SKY.”

Much of our activity here in this wonderful city has involved looking, going, and being UP. With amazing weather, waterfront pathways & trendy restaurants, it’s hard to stay inside in Vancouver. We’ve enjoyed daily walks and runs in leafy Stanley Park.  We’ve biked for miles for a well-deserved libation in the Olympic Village or Granville Island. We enjoyed a stunning flight over the city and harbor in a small aircraft. On nearby Grouse Mountain, I once again tackled the heart-pounding, sweat-inducing Grouse Grind, locally known as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster.” The 2,800 foot vertical gain never fails to kick my butt. Then we hit the skies for zip lining over the mountain’s gorges and valleys.


But a highlight of the trip is the annual fireworks competition. The three-night event, now in its 25th year, is the largest public event in BC. The competition pits teams from China, Brazil and local favorite, Canada, against each other for pyrotechnic and musical extravaganzas. The first evening was nothing short of spectacular. The Chinese fireworks danced in perfect precision with broadcast music for the entire 25 minute show.  It truly exceeded all other displays I’ve seen (sorry, Macy’s!)  It will be interesting to see how Brazil fares tomorrow.

You Had Me at Disco Water Station!

Day 30   Mile 4931
Vancouver, Canada
The word for today is, “DISCO.”
We’re settled into one of our favorite cities, Vancouver, and ready for two weeks of active fun. Our friend, Fred, is up visiting from Florida and we are participating in Vancouver’s annual PRIDE Run/Walk in Stanley Park.


Local runs are a great way to really see an area and learn about the residents and local businesses- all while getting exercise and having fun. Today is no different.  I’m used to large races so it was a fun & different experience to participate in a small (500 athletes!) event. A retired service dog in a pink shirt accompanied the race organizers as they readied the crowd. A Zumba warm-up session readied the runners. Along the course, it was great fun to visit the disco water stations. ‘Nothing like a little Olivia Newton-John and Pointer Sisters to add a bit of zip to your step.  If you got lost, you could just follow the trail of boa feathers along the path. Now, I think a hearty breakfast is in order! If I could only get “I’m So Excited” out of my head… 

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Sitting by the Dock of the Bay

Day 24   Mile 4774
Victoria, Canada
The word for today is, “CONTENT.”
Have you ever had a room on vacation that was so special that you were half-tempted to never leave the property? You know what I mean- a place where you put on your plushy robe, use all the wonderfully-scented toiletries and enjoy the thick pillow-top bedding. 

That’s our predicament here in the Pink Dishrack.

It’s not the Ritz or a glitzy Caribbean all-inclusive resort but the Pink Dishrack is a special and unique abode. It’s a float house tucked into a marina on Victoria’s harbor.  Yes, a
“Sleepless in Seattle” float house.

Named for the pink plastic dish rack given a permanent place of honor in the bay window of the kitchen, our floating home boasts of a porch with two Adirondack chairs so close to the water I can lazily toss cheese tidbits to eager geese. In the harbor, we watch tiny boats ferrying passengers to and fro and in the distance, cruise ships are in dock.  We’ve both agreed our floating home is far preferable to any stateroom Carnival could offer.  We’ve even made new friends who had us over for sunset cocktails on their live-aboard (I know, it’s crazy- us making new friends?)

Before a wedding last fall brought us to the Pacific Northwest, I’d barely heard of Victoria. Now, it is hard to get it out of a hearts. We thoroughly love cosmopolitan Vancouver but smaller Victoria boasts of a special charm and a kinship with nature.  With a temperate climate, showy hanging flower baskets adorn most streets. Miles of rolling coastline are lined with bike paths and verdant parks. One path, the Galloping Goose traverses much of the island and being Canadians, motorists cheerfully yield to bikers and pedestrians. Jeff was even thanked by a policeman for walking his bike on a pedestrian-only path. The city’s love affair with the sea is evident- whale watching boats, SUPs, kayaks and ferries crisscross the harbor, narrowly avoiding landing seaplanes.

Today was spent entirely in motion. Beginning with a bike ride to the tony eastside coastline, we happened into a classic car rally, a farmers’ market and a large annual art festival. Covering the several mile length of Moss St., artists shared their talents along a backdrop of manicured Craftsman homes. A favorite sign alerted visitors that a nearby street also offered live music, chill space, water & love. Later, we lingered along the wharf enjoying the Busker Festival. In its fifth year, the event brings together top street performers to entertain crowds in random locations throughout the city. We enjoyed bubble tea while watching gymnastic juggler Kate Great perched precariously over torches and machetes as she juggled. Elsewhere, fire-breathers, acrobats, contortionists and others entertained the milling crowds.

But on our last night, we’re happily back at the Pink Dishrack, nursing a wine (or three), listening to the distant gulls and taking in a final pink sunset- happy and content.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Fare Thee Well & Adieu

Day 22  Mile 4617
Friday Harbor, WA

The word for today is, “QUAINT.” A west coast cousin to Martha’s Vineyard, from the moment you exit the ferry from Anacortes to the cacophony of sea gulls circling the marina
Adieu from Roche Harbor
you can feel your BP drop. Welcome to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.


It’s hard to believe we are a mere 100 miles northwest of Seattle. With 176 named islands in this archipelago, 60 are populated and only a handful can handle the influx of visitors. San Juan Island, while the most popular for visitors with its charming inns, locavore restaurants, craggy shoreline and rolling hills. First settled by the Lummi Indians, the beaches are still desolate- mainly visited by families hoping to spot whales, porpoise or otter. We couldn’t resist a stop by the local alpaca farm or shops carrying local lavender.


On a long and bit arduous bike ride (hey we don’t have hills in FL!), we happened into Roche Harbor.  Originally settled in 1882 as the largest producer of builder’s lime on the west coast, owner John McMillin and his wife worked hard to create a welcoming home and lodging for their many guests and dignitaries, including Teddy Roosevelt. Their guesthouse is now Hotel de Haro, a traditional wooden structure now filled with photos and artifacts from the heyday of the quarry. Under new ownership, the cobblestone waterfront is now home to a tony marina, expanded luxury cottages, cozy restaurants and even a pe
tanque court.  The stunning garden still remains - its pergola still painted with sayings to wish farewell to friends and businessmen as they left the grounds to return home by boat from the harbor. My favorite: “Your coming gave us pleasure, your going gives us pain.”

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Is This Quinoa Kombucha Organic?

Day 17  Mile 4208
Portlandia, OR

The word for today is “EXTREME.” Folks in Oregon don’t do things halfway. They either totally relax or totally go for it.


Even the cars are green in Oregon
Bend totally goes for it. They say most people in Bend are either athletes or microbrewers. The lovely town tucked neatly into the middle of the state, boast of 23 local breweries, weekly festivals and farmers ‘markets, and countless extreme athletic endeavors. On one Saturday alone, I had the option of doing a 5K run, a 7,25, 50 or 100 mile bike ride or, if I was willing to miss brunch, a 24-hour extreme mountain bike race. Kayaks, SUPs and families in inner tubes dot the Deschutes River that meanders through town. Being a city girl, I had to place little rock cairns along my forested running path so I could find my way home from my run.


While Portland equally embraces outdoor activities, it proudly wears its quirky and relaxed badge of honor on its tie-died sleeve. Portland is often tagged as the city where young people go to retire and apparently, many do it at an early age. Legions of both young and old leisurely hang at cafes and on stoops enjoying a cup of fair-trade coffee and locally grown sprout muffins or later in the day, relishing an organic quinoa burrito with a cup of kombucha at one of the town’s squares loaded with festive food trucks. This comfortably-sized city is quite livable with tons of green spaces, squares for concerts and markets (of course the Saturday market is on Sunday as well- go figure) and ever-present bike paths that snake along the river. We've just picked up our Walmart bikes to go enjoy the scenery then off to the San Juan Islands.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Movers & Shakers

Day 14   Mile 3956
Sun Valley, ID


The word for today is, "BIGWIG." When we drove past tiny Hailey airport on our way into the Sun Valley area, it looked as if a flock of white seagulls had roosted along the air strip (remember, we live in Florida!)  Upon
closer inspection we realized what we were seeing was a flock of gleaming white Gulfstream G5s, Lear Jets, and the occasional Cessna. We knew Demi, Clint & a number of bold faces live in the area but this was a bit over-the-top.


Then it dawned on us.  We weren’t the only big deal coming into town. It is the week of the annual Allen & Co Sun Valley Conference. This annual weeklong conference hosted by the private investment firm draws a “who’s who” of the business elite. Most of the tony Sun Valley Lodge was reserved for the private event with media (mainly an assertive Fox News gal) and the hoi poi like us held at arm’s length. The event is most famous for the deals done during down time- every late night tête-à-tête between participants leads to rampant speculation of mergers and takeovers. It’s a harder ticket to score than a Super Bowl box seat.


While I was in one of the shops, Jeff enjoyed time on the outside bench as an assortment of bigwigs strolled by in their lanyards and ID badges (much like us at a Pfizer launch meeting.) We spotted an odd assortment including NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, author Thomas Friedman, presidential hopeful Chris Christie (who is no taller than Jeff but about 3x larger) and my favorite, Diane von Furstenberg (you should have seen my appalled face when I had to explain to Jeff that she was the creator of the classic wrap dress. Duh!) I most hoped to see Elon Musk- I wonder if he would have come in a Tesla or a SpaceX shuttlecraft.  Take that, G5!

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Born to be Wild

Day 11 Mile 2503
Sturgis, SD


The word for today is “BIKER.”  Blink and you’d miss Sturgis- a small speck of a town miles north of the major tourist stops in South Dakota. But in early August, get ready- this place will rock as close to a million motorcycle aficionados descend on Sturgis for the 75th Annual Bike Rally.

I always wonder- how does a small town like Sturgis become the mecca for all things “biker?”  Why not Des Moines, Reno or Orange Park, FL?  I think it is relentless and committed marketing. Sturgis all started with the local Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club and a race with nine bikes and a small audience in 1938. Since then, crowds have grown to an all-time high of 600,000 who converge in Sturgis to party, race and do God-knows what else.


This year, the 75th anniversary, promises to notch things up to a new level. Imagine Daytona Beach on steroids. There aren’t even a million people living in South Dakota- where are they going to put all these party animals? Huge bars line the two-lane main drag. Full Throttle, an infamous bar made famous on TRU TV, even has a lot next door lined with hundreds of tiny trainer/cabins so patrons can stumble home without even hopping onto their bikes. I can imagine it now, “Hey babe, want to come see my tiny 200 square foot beer-stinky closet?” And you won’t want to miss Topless Tuesday or Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert. Hey, as a frequent Mardi Gras participant, I guess I can’t throw any stones. Or beads. Party on, Garth!

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Where the Deer & the Antelope Play

Day 9  Mile 2406
Keystone, SD

The word for the day is, “Tatanka,” the Indian word for buffalo. We’ve loaded up, cameras ready to take in the sites of the Black Hills.  It abounds with astounding fetes of mankind- Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, just to name two. We’re both overwhelmed by the perseverance, tenacity and vision of the sculptors. Gutzon Borglum envisioned a majestic ode to American birth, growth, preservation & development, as signified in the faces of four great leaders. The sculptor died before the project was finished.  Similarly, work on the gargantuan Crazy Horse Memorial has outlived its designer and continues slowly with just his 87 foot head teased out of stone. 

But the majestic Tatanka are what leave us breathless. Custer State Park is home to nearly 1,500 head of buffalo- many who weigh as much as a ton. Once, more than a million roamed the continent but they were nearly hunted to extinction. At Custer, they feed alongside our SUV, crunching grass loudly, enjoying the sunny weather and nursing their offspring.  It’s odd to know that if one gets cranky, he could take us on.  Imagine what they could do to the many motorcyclists down visiting from Sturgis.

We Are 'Ear!

Day 7 Mile 1923
Mitchell, SD

The word for the day is, “CORN.” It’s everywhere.  Sweeping vistas of corn fields align the
highways. They say it’s “knee high by the fourth of July” but these crops are tall enough to carve out a corn maze (those things always frighten me as invariably some mass murderer lurks within the stalks.)  Our corn adventure began in Lincoln, NE, the home of University of
Nebraska and, you guessed it, the Corn Huskers!  The stadium is enormous, holding over 90,000.  Home games have been sold out since the year Jeff was born.  He takes issue with the sign over each gate stating, “Through these gates pass the greatest fans in college football.”


 There are plenty of “corny” things in this neck of the woods- Wall Drug Store (the Midwest equivalent of South of the Border, the tourist trap on I-95 with ubiquitous signage for hundreds of miles along the highway.) We visited the Prairie Dog Camp where 50 cents buys you peanuts to feed the alert little creatures who dart in and out of their holes.

But the mecca to corn is in Mitchell- the famous Corn Palace. Let me share a few “a-Maiz-ing facts about this 113 year-old icon to the yellow stuff.  600,000 pieces of corn in nine colors adorn the palace and intricate murals each year. The palace has served as a community forum and celebration of all things corn and now the wonder draws thousands of tourists off the highway to sleepy Mitchell, SD. We were “ear!”