Clear Lake Triathlon

While Jeff was on his little jaunt from Seattle to Portland, I raced in my second (and final) triathlon of the season - the Clear Lake Tri in Skagit County. It was a really hot day and I didn't do very well; but hey I finished, I didn't die, and I didn't come in last. Here's my race report if you like to read such things.
Here's a picture of me from the Padden Triathlon a few weeks ago. I didn't actually get any pics at the Clear Lake Tri. But in this pic you can still see some of my cool triathlon race gear (that's one thing they don't tell you at triathlon school - that triathletes are "gear junkies" and you will need a lot of race gear if you want to be cool). First, I have a lovely new road bike which my race sponsor, Scott Real Estate (a.k.a. Dad) helped me buy. I also have a hydration backpack that my sweet hubby (a.k.a. Jeff) bought me for my b-day. And of course I am wearing the uber-cool and trendy combination swimsuit/bike pants that are a must when you are a cool triathlete like I am! I also received a triathlon wetsuit for my birthday from Dad & Penny.

Jeff: the super-cyclist

On July 12, after years of dreaming and months of training and long bike rides around Whatcom and Skagit counties, Jeff celebrated his 50th year by finishing the 200-mile Seattle-to-Portland Bike Classic (STP)! The STP is considered one of the 10 biggest recreational bicycle rides in the country, drawing riders from across the nation and from other nations, and has been operating for more than 25 years. Jeff finished the ride in 2 days, spending the night at my aunt's house in Chehalis (just past the half-way point).

One of the really cool fringe benefits of training for the STP is that Jeff has fallen in love with cycling. He now rides his bike to work almost every day, even in the rain! It's hard to believe that just a couple of years ago Jeff weighed over 350 pounds and could barely make it up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing. Now he is in the best shape of his life and has almost become like a different person!

We're back from Camp Meriweather

The boys and I (I'm an Assistant Scoutmaster in their Boy Scout troop) returned from a week at Camp Meriwether in Tillamook, Oregon. We really had a lot of fun and it was a beautiful camp, situated on a bluff high above the Oregon coast. We did everything from rowing and swimming to archery, rifles, and just playing on the beach. Since we were at camp over the July 4th holiday, we also got to witness a moving ceremony where a US flag was retired. Oh, and I was a finalist in the camp chili cookoff - I lost to a guy from Texas, and I'll admit his classic Texas chili was amazing. But my white chicken chili was pretty good, too, and it earned me 2nd place. Not bad for my first-ever cooking contest! One of the best parts of scout camp was just getting to spend some quality time with the boys, and watching them with their friends. One of the worst parts was that, late one evening, I was returning alone from the restroom and a mother bear and her cub crossed the path right in front of me.

The "Schooner" crew prepares for battle at

the sandcastle building contest (one of the

boys in our troop won)!

Nolan (in red) and his scout friends dig a

fortress on the beach.

Bailey prepares for a tomahawk throw.