Haul Ash

Redhook Brewery hosted the Haul Ash bicycle ride commemorating the eruption of Mount St Helens. I cleaned up the tandem, put on new handlebar tape and brake hoods. Do you know how hard it is to replace twenty year old brake hoods? I do.

Dad and Veronica setting off from Jane's house.

The ride started at the brewery in Woodenville on Saturday morning. Gracious Jane picked up our ride packets earlier in the week so we did not need to get their early and stand in line. Jane's house is only four miles from the ride start so Veronica and I parked the car at her house and made the short ride. This would put our ride mileage at about 44 total.
 

The ride start included several hundred riders and some unusual vehicles.

The unique feature of this ride is the use of off-road trails. The Sammamish River Trail crosses the driveway at the brewery. As we head West, the trail connects with the Burke-Gilman so you are never on the city roads until the turn around point. In Freemont, and staff member stood alongside the trail and directed participants North on about two blocks of city streets to LTD Bar and Grill in Fremont. Those streets were very low traffic, I think I saw two cars total.

This is the half way mark (20 miles) where we turned around for the return. Behind us is all the valet parking for the ride.

Our return trip was much quicker. I passed on a beer at the bar. Veronica was restricted from entering and I did not want to fight the crowd. Veronica and I hit 35 mph on the short ride from Jane's house to the ride start and she hoped we would top that on our return.

Typical Trail Section

I mentioned all the trail riding to give you a feel for the terrain. The sudden slowdowns really took a toll on me when we crossed surface streets. With short sight lines any speed over 18 proved hazardous. We survived with only about five near misses and witnessed only one major crash. No serious injuries, just some road rash and his bike was OK.

The highlight for me was the last four miles. I had one woman drafting off the tandem. Others tried but soon fell back. Veronica and I held a very steady speed and with the light pedestrian traffic we could make wide passes. I was careful to signal all hazards to my wheel sucker. After the ride I felt I did a great job navigating the trail. I smiled when the woman that followed us thanked us for the pull and complimented our riding etiquette.
  

3 hour 4 minute ride.                                   Top Speed 34.5 mph                                   45.64 miles

The ride distance includes the short ride from Cousin Jane's to the start where we hit our max speed.

Syttende Mai 2013

Our Seattle neighborhood of Ballard was founded as a Norwegian fishing village, and they have had a Syttende Mai (17th of May - Norwegian Constitution Day) festival every year since 1889. All the Ballard schools have an entry, and Loyal Heights Elementary asked everyone who had been in the Willy Wonka musical to wear their costume, though any student could march. (Veronica's middle school is the assigned school for almost every elementary student in Ballard, it is actually outside the neighborhood and they did not have an entry.)

A gaggle of Oompa-Loompas lined up to march... Étienne is on the left.

Steve and Étienne marched in the parade, while Veronica, Carlton & I watched along the route. The Seattle Police Department lead off the parade with the colorguard behind.

There were many middle and high school band from NW Washington in the parade, but since Ballard High is the local they got to march right behind the colorguard.

BHS Viking Robotics team and their frisbee-throwing robot.  The rest of the team is walking behind catching the frisbees.

Smoke-blowing Viking boat!

Then came Loyal Heights Elementary!  The students who played Charlie, Willie Wonka, and Grandpa Joe are riding on the back of the car, driven by the principal.

Steve and Étienne...and a friendly squirrel.

It was quite a long parade! Ivars Clam, and the Deadliest Sweeper.

All the Seattle-area Norwegian social clubs march. Norwegian boats, and an accordion player.

A Viking gorilla, and a ladder truck from the Last Resort Fire Department. We need to go visit that museum this summer.

Unicycle riding is a thing here in Seattle. Whittier Elementary, which is just east of us, has every student learn to ride one. Veronica has several friends who attended there, and we had to buy her a unicycle last week so she could learn too. There must have been close to 100 Whittier students riding unicycles in the parade.

Veronica has also been telling me about these "giraffe" unicycles that some students learn to ride. There were several students riding them in the parade. Then the group came to a halt, and most of the kids grabbed on to their parent's hand to balance. But this one awesome girl did a track stand for several minutes!

Steve was carrying a camera and took a picture as they reached Ballard Avenue. The judging stand at the base of the flag announced each entry as we passed by.

The gaggle of Oompa-Loompas handed out lots of candy! Seattle rule, no throwing candy. I understand not throwing hard sugar, but this is Syttende Mai, Steve hoped they would throw pickled fish!

What a great parade! Already looking forward to next year!

Bike to School Month, as if we needed an excuse.

The boys and I head to school in Seattle!

Loyal Heights Wonka Jr.

Here is our favorite Oompa Loompa ready for the final dress rehearsal. The socks and Oompa shirt will be changed for the show.

I regret not having a picture of Étienne in full Oompa dress on my tandem flying down the road heading to his performance. For reference, this second picture shows Mr. Gloop and son, the roll played by Veronica for the Whitman production.

Finally, our favorite Oompa Loompa. Can you spot him? Étienne got to keep his full costume. Perhaps I will let him wear it to school today! Étienne did a great job. He joined the company after practice started. With a great attitude, patience, and practice, Étienne maintained high energy and enjoyed the full experience. I hope he looks forward to another part in a future school production.

Carl's New Glasses

Check out my little Ballard hipster's new glasses!

Now he won't have to sit in the front of the room for math class.