Beauty coming and going…

The prairies are beautiful at this time of year…IMG_20150724_142629829

IMG_20150724_154220243Cycling to AirdrieIMG_20150728_173154875_HDR

As are the little people who live there…

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As are the mountain vistas we pass coming and going…

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

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

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And now safely home once again, we are grateful for travelling mercies, P1180089

for work accomplished  IMG_20150727_155234274_HDRIMG_20150728_123714206_HDR

and for good memories made with family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(… 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…

P1180088I got to discover a new trail this week, thanks to new friends who know this neck of the woods…

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

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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…)

P1180074As we got to the lookout, the rain came down in earnest, preventing my getting any really clear pictures of the view!P1180082

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

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

–LS

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Road Trip and Tandem Rally

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

—The Northwest Tandem Rally!  IMG_20150705_090100404

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…

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…even spectacular!

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[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!

IMG_20150704_075332129That’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!

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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!

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And it was good to get back to the coast again

 

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After the Rally we took our time heading home to do some favorite rides…

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And visit some favorite people–two of our daughters!

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Whew! It was quite a week.

–LS

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore.
Ps.121:8