From the Mountains – Back on the Bikes
Back in June, Wife and I headed up to Canada for some much-needed R&R. This is a post we finally decided to finish so it might be a little off seeing as the trip was 6 months ago and don't remember everything exactly as it happened. Enjoy!
After the our first day of cycling around Whistler we knew that we wanted to do it again. So we rented two bikes once again and headed for the trails. This time we wanted to be a little more daring and try some of the harder trails. Most of the trails we handled quite well, even the paths with off-angled bridges, but some proved too difficult to even start (darn tree root bumps).
To make ourselves feel better we headed back to Wife's favorite trail: Hooktender. As we rode down she easily left me in the dust. I might be able to take her on the hills but she has the courage to take the turns fast while riding downhill (even though one turn almost got her). Once I finally met her at the bottom of the hill, I decided to try a new route. Unfortunately, the route I wanted to take was closed due to construction. So as I tried to use my navigation skills to find a way back I put us on a large hill. Let's just say Wife was not to pleased and let me know it all the way up the hill.
We rode over once again to Meadow Park and relaxed in the shade as we jealously watched people play their well-behaved dogs. One dog even tried to help cool us down by shaking himself dry right next to us. After we dried off, and had relaxed enough, we got back on our bikes and headed down the trail to go back to the rental shop.
On our way back to the rental shop we had a bit of luck. Construction had just ended on a previously closed trail opening up a whole new area to explore, so we pedaled down the rocky path along the opposite side of Alta Lake. During the ride, we stopped off at a bird watching post (we did not see any birds but we did take some pictures) and then to another beach. Wife and I did not stay at the beach for long because we had to be back to the rental shop in less than an hour.
We dropped off our bikes for the last time and trekked back to our room sweaty and exhausted. After showering, we enjoyed another relaxing dinner at our lovely dinning room table. However, the wife felt a sweet itch for some ice cream, so we headed downtown and found her an ice cream stand. The two of us sat down and people-watched for a while and then once again walked back to our resort for a movie and some sleep, already eager to go up and across the mountain the next day.
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- Ice Cream on the Plaza
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- Our Accomodations Flags
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- Long Arm Shot
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- Looking for Birds on the Lake
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- Atla Lake from the Other Side
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- Husband’s Mighty Steed
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- Protecting all Parts of Our Heads
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- Beautiful View from the Trail
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- At the Top of the Hill
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- Almost at the Top
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- Coming Up the Hill
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- When Did That Guy Show Up?
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- Just Relaxing on the Trails
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- Go Wife, Go
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- Wife on a Bike
From the Mountains – Walking Whistler
Our travel plans brought us to Whistler right before the Summer rush. The town while not void of people did have some but not a lot which meant we definitely wanted to take advantage of the open spaces and empty trails and go for a hike.
Our Canoe Master, Larry, who recommended Rim Rock Cafe (very good) also told us about Singing Pass Trail which led up Whistler Mountain along Fitzsimmons Creek. Wife and I decided that would have to do since the other mountain trails were closed.
I dawned my new hat and hiking shirt while Wife wore her new hiking pants and tank top. We filled up a backpack with our picnic supplies sunscreened up and headed for the pass.
We found the entrance to the trail and it led to a large hill (at least it looked large to us). We powered up the hill which eventually led us to a condo complex. We had to have taken a wrong turn somewhere and did not know where so we headed down back the hill to look at the map by the entrance. The map did not help at all so our next stop would have to be the information kiosk for hopefully a better map.
The information kiosk did not have any good news for us. Once again, the snow had thwarted our hiking plans. Singing Pass trail was closed for another few weeks for the meter and a half of snow to melt. The information lady did show us on the map a nice nature walk around Lost Lake.
Determined to hike, we walked the nature trail and it was beautiful. The sound of the water rushing by the trail made us feel cooler and the birds chirping made us relaxed. The trail had plenty of benches for us to sit on and enjoy those sounds of nature. After about an hour of shaded walking we finally came to Lost Lake.
Since it was now closer to the weekend, Lost Lake park had filled up with people and we had to search for a shaded spot. Once we found a nice spot under a tree, we sat down and enjoyed our picnic lunch. After lunch we decided to take it easy and head back to the room to relax because of the late night before and the incredible heat. It was in the 80's!
Once back in our room and after a cool shower, we prepared for our Poolside BBQ of a seasoned baseball steak, foil wrapped potatoes and onions, salad, and a fine white wine (well fine to us, wine here is expensive!). While the food cooked on the grill I jumped into the pool and enjoyed the slide while Wife relaxed and filmed me (I know, creepy right).
While we enjoyed our food by the pool some older folks came along and provided us with dinner entertainment as they played on the slide (nothing like a 70 year old man screaming down the slide). The adult pool/slide time came to an end when a birthday party full of kids ran out to use the pool. With the pool overrun by tweens, we walked over to the adult area and found it empty. So we enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi to ourselves as we recovered from the past few days outdoor activities. Especially since we were going to mountain bike again the next day and this time...we meant business.
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- Not the Singing Pass Trail
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- Husband’s Glamour Shot
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- Whistler Nature Trail
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- Alive Wife Walking
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- Contemplating More Sunscreen
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- Wife had the Camera
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- Our Couples Shot
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- Kissing Time
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- Hey Look, It’s Me
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- The Trees
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- How Do You Get Lost on a Trail
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- Ohh, Here I Am
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- Brownies are Good
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- Lost Lake
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- Not Us Sunbathing
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- More of Lost Lake
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- Wife’s Glamour Shot
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- Relaxing at the BBQ
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- Slides Are Fun
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- In the Water
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- Working on My Tan
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- Our BBQ Wine of the Day
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- Watch Where You Walk
Running Diary Part Deux – Weeks 3, 4 & 5
Back in January, Wife and I ran the Carlsbad Half Marathon, my first half marathon. Those 13.1 miles were the first in a series of three half marathons, making up the Triple Crown. We are now training for the La Jolla Half Marathon on April 26th, 2009. This is week 1 and 2 of that half marathon training program.
Wow, so it has been three weeks since I last updated the running diary. So I will try and keep this relatively short since I have a lot to cover.
Tuesday - 3 miles - 27:04 (Husband)
This is the first time since we started training back in November that Wife and I ran separately. Wife ran on a treadmill because the weather was a little to cold in Seattle for her to run outside. I ran our normal 3 mile loop. I ran my fastest while wife ran a little slower, however, she set the treadmill to change inclines on her so she would get the hills in.
Friday - 5 miles - 47:43
Just the standard 5 mile loop around the neighborhood that gives us some hills to run up.
Sunday - 6 miles - 59:23
We wanted to get away from the neighborhood so we drove down to Balboa Park. The Friends of Balboa Park have mapped out and marked some great running trails. You can download the map of the trails here. The fourth route was a little short so we knew we would have to add on .6 miles. The best part of the route was not only the sites of Balboa Park you never see but the hills. During the route you run down through the cactus garden, up Pershing (a mile plus long incline), down into Florida Canyon, up Florida canyon at about 45 degrees (this hill is killer), and then up some more to the finish line. We should be able to take Torrey Pines!
Tuesday - 3 miles - 28:00
Another fun run around the neighborhood.
Friday - 5 miles - 47:05
Our fastest 5 miles yet. And we are able to talk throughout most of the run. Funny part is I was not feeling that well.
Sunday - 7 miles - 1:07:45
Still not feeling well, I did not want to miss a run. This time we headed up to the end of Adams Ave to take a look around University Heights. Mostly it is because wife likes to do house shopping. Even while sick Wife still managed to drag me to an under 10 minute mile.
Tuesday - 3 miles - 28:58
We ran this one at night because I could not run in the morning. As you can see not our best time but a decent time nonetheless.
Friday - 5 miles - 49:51
Another quick jaunt around the ol' neighborhood.
Sunday - 8+ miles - 1:15:00ish
We were under a tight deadline and had to be home by 11:30 (Wife had to work), so that meant our plans to run in La Jolla were dashed. Instead we decided to run the Balboa Park loop with some additional mileage added on. Unfortunately our GPS watched died (I forgot to charge it) at about mile 1 so you can see that our time and length is a guesstimate. According to mapmyrun.com we ran over 8 miles (I underestimated the distance added). That made us feel good because that was an 8+ mile run with the same big hills (Pershing and Florida Canyon).
Only four more weeks until La Jolla. So far we are feeling good and ready!