I *did* something on vacation! August 13, 2008
Posted by kimayars Cycle, Half Marathon
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We went for a bike ride today! Jeff had an idea to rent bikes for all of us and do this 8-mile loop. I suggested a 2-mile loop. I’m glad that he saw the error of his ways and agreed to the 2-mile loop. The girls would have never have made it. Here’s a picture of us before the horror began:
Looks like a peaceful scene, right? Samantha is on the tag-a-long for the first time, Veronica is on her own really cool mountian bike, and Jeff is handicapped enough with Samantha that I’ll be able to keep up with him. Me? I rented a “Comfort Cruiser”, a 30-pound squishy sluggish couch on wheels.
What ensued is Samantha screaming at the top of her lungs, “DAAAAAD! BRAAAAAKES! UUUUUUUSE THE BRAAAAAAKES!” (*whimper*) Meanwhile Veronica would try to reach terminal velocity down gravel trails that left me trying to remember where the emergency care facility in Whister was. We finally made it to Lost Lake, a really nice park with a fabulous view and a cute little beach. The girls promptly collapsed and claimed they couldn’t ride any more. We’re only 1 mile in:…
Jeff and I finally motivated them by promising Veronica that she could do a small mountain bike obstacle course on the way back. We returned much the same way we left: Samantha screaming and Veronica taking off out of sight. When we made it to the obstacle course, Veronica took to it like a fish to water. I was pretty proud of her — she was going over small jumps and ramps like she had been doing it all summer:
Then two older girls showed up who obviously had been doing some mountain biking for a while (and by older I mean maybe 10 or 11). Veronica suddenly quit and came over to pout. She declared rather glumly that she was done and wanted to return the bikes. She wasn’t good enough to ride it. Jeff and I tried to convince her that she was pretty darn good for the amount of experience she had, but at the tender age of 7 she has already mastered ignoring her parents.
So our 4-hour bike rental only lasted two hours. Overall we did have fun, but it definitely wasn’t the experience that Jeff and I expected. The ride was no problem at all. What was exhausting was making our children have fun… 
Tour de Peaks July 27, 2008
Posted by kimayars Cycle
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Today was the 20th Annual Tour de Peaks — a fun little bike event out here in our small town. They have lots of different scenic rides, including a cute little 4-mile family ride which we did as a family this year. Jeff (weakly) tried to borrow another tag-a-long so that I could take Samantha and he could take Veronica. Since that didn’t pan out, Jeff had the dubious honor of carting both girs: Veronica on the tag-a-long and Samantha in the sidecar:
Along the family route they had a “rest area” complete with sidewalk chalk, an obstacle course, and face painting. And I’m not kidding when I say face painting…
The girls had a great time, I got to deal with my fear of riding in traffic, and Jeff got lots of comments on the sidecar. Overall, a splendid outing! (Although my butt is REALLY sore.)
