Summer Break

After riding two back-to-back long days (61 and 71 miles) July 10 and 11, and a short ride on July 12, Nancy left for Colorado to visit her daughter's family.  She has been in Colorado for a week and returns to Oregon today.  While she did no bike riding (except for a 2 mile ride with her granddaughter Lauren the day she arrived), she has been active (how can you not be active with granddaughters ages 6 and 8 ?!?).  The day after she arrived Nancy, her daughter & granddaughters went on a 4 miles hike up to Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park; not a long hike but it was 2 miles of ascent at 11, 000 feet - not easy when you left sea level the day before).  On another day we walked around Denver's beautiful botanical gardens.  On Saturday the whole family went on a 2 hour horseback ride in Rocky Mountain National Park (Nancy hadn't been on a horse in 25 years but used to ride frequently, and even had horses for a few years, so this was a real treat, and she was glad she didn't need help getting on!).  The next day we took the train up to the top of Pikes Peak, an elevation of over 13,000 feet.  Yesterday, Nancy went bowling with her granddaughters (please do NOT ask our scores!) and also swimming; the girls are excellent swimmers so Nancy actually swam several laps for exercise.  It has been a wonderful week, and a good break from all of the cycling.  Also, a good chance to get her body accustomed to the high altitude she will be experiencing soon.  While Nancy was gone her bike was in Bike Newport getting ready for the trip which starts in less than 2 weeks.