Exploring Lopez Island

Exploring Lopez Island

Leave the intervals, the watches, and all sense of urgency at home and enter island time.

I’ve lived in the Western part of Washington State all my life and I have never taken the time to explore MANY parts of the state I call home, but when I tell people I’ve never explored the San Juan Islands, I usually get a funny face. The ferry terminal to the Island’s is an easy hour drive from my house. Taking the island in by bike, we parked the car, loaded up some additional belongings onto the bikes (like a change of clothes, swim suit, and beach towel) and pedaled our way to the boarding area.

The reason to ride is for all the snacks, what to eat while riding?

Food! It’s tasty and gives us energy to move our bodies, allows us to explore into the depths of the forest and reach mountain tops. The curious question tho, what should we eat while we’re out on our adventures? What should we eat when we’re doing that really hard workout? What should I eat after I ride? How do I fuel so I can wake up tomorrow and do it again?

What's in YOUR pack?!

With temperatures increasing, the day light longer, we’re seeing more and more longer days on the bike. Longer days requires more supplies and a better preparedness if something goes wrong.

There’s no denying I love riding my bike, and having a plethora and variety of bikes to choose from, I can take my adventure in any direction (except west) I want. Feeling up for a road adventure? Sure! Gravel, mountain bike? Anything I want I can do and I’m lucky to live in an area that allows me to do such things straight from my doorstep.

Reflections - 1 year PO...AGAIN

Last year I reflected on my nearly 1 year post-op hip surgery. This second time around has been such a different experience all together. Without as many unknowns, I haven’t found myself celebrating the little things that make up the entire journey. I don’t know if it’s because a “been there done that” type of thing, if it’s me putting my head down telling myself no one really cares, or if it’s me trying not to think about everything I’ve been through with surgeries and recoveries the last 2 years, but it still doesn’t mean I shouldn’t take the time to reflect on the last year.

The closing of a chapter

Two years ago I wrote a blog about life being like a chapter book. Each segment of life is a chapter, and when one ends, a new one starts. I originally wrote about my stepping out of the fitness industry (with full intentions of coming back), closing that chapter while I open a new one. One filled with a bike racing journey full of highs and lows, a journey where I could focus 100% of my time on racing, just to see how far I could go. How far can I push my body? What are my limits?