July 2015 – Skelton Sketches

Beauty coming and going…

Posted on July 30, 2015April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

The prairies are beautiful at this time of year…

As are the little people who live there…

As are the mountain vistas we pass coming and going…

It isn’t very nice to have family so far away from us,

but it does give us the excuse to traverse some beautiful landscapes.

And now safely home once again, we are grateful for travelling mercies,

for work accomplished

and for good memories made with family.

(… a lesson in whistling by Grandad)

–LS

By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; … so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. Ps.65:5-6,8 ESV

The View from Here…

Posted on July 23, 2015April 28, 2017 by lindaskelton

I got to discover a new trail this week, thanks to new friends who know this neck of the woods…

The rain we’ve been needing for so long decided to come just as we set off for our little hike..

It didn’t stop us from picking yummy blue berries along the way–Huckleberries, I think, but so much tastier than the red ones we had on the coast. (Sorry, no pictures, too busy munching and walking…)

As we got to the lookout, the rain came down in earnest, preventing my getting any really clear pictures of the view!

I was impressed nonetheless and hope to go again soon for some post-worthy pics! (and a chance to sit awhile without getting drenched!)

Till then…grateful for rain, new trails and new friends.

–LS

Road Trip and Tandem Rally

Posted on July 16, 2015April 30, 2017 by lindaskelton

We traveled back to the coast last week for what has become an annual event for us

—The Northwest Tandem Rally!

Having moved away since we had registered meant we had a longer drive to get there than anticipated. Bellingham, Washington used to be relatively close to home—not any more.

But the 9+ hour drive to and fro was scenic…

…even spectacular!

[This is Diablo Lake. The surreal color is the result of glacial silt suspended in the water and reflecting its surroundings.]

And the Rally itself was a grand one with 400 other tandem teams joining us for 4 days of rides in and around Bellingham, Washington!

That’s my captain in the front as 400 bikes gather to kick off the Rally with a 4th of July ride, a 61-miler for those who chose the long route!

How do you capture 400 tandem bikes in a picture? I couldn’t. But Jim put together a little video of snippets from the rally which will give you the flavor of the thing without the sore muscles!

Join us for the ride!

Though there’s nothing quite like riding a tandem bike in the company of other tandem bikes (think FAST and FAR), the very best part is the few special couples you get to know a bit and look forward to seeing for years to come. It’s a pretty special bunch of couples that have figured out how to ride together and enjoy it!