April 15th- May 7th Florida, Triathlon, visitors

We are in Florida!!

Our first bike ride on the trail

Lia and Mona on the beach

Mike relaxing on our little balcony overlooking Boca Ciega Bay.

View of but one of many beautiful sunsets. This one being from the roof top bar at Billy's, a local hang out.

When we first arrived, we had Laila, Magda and Maggie over for dinner. It's always great to see Maggie. We've known each other for nearly 30 years, is that possible? She's the kind of friend that I can just start talking to as though we'd just seen each other yesterday. We hashed over old times while Mike listened intently. I know how he felt because I have been hearing about his past in Seattle for years. I'm glad he got a glimpse into who I was way back then. Maggie and I continue to talk several times a week. Last Sunday we spent hours talking endlessly about our lives, our kids, our past. Mike preferred to stay at the condo to bask in the sun by the pool (a wise man). He is very tan and it looks great with the contrast of his white hair.

Waiting for Lenore and friends before our mid week bike ride.


Mike's great tan!

Lia came into town a week aftere we arrived. We tried to hit all the areas around St Pete so she would get an idea of what it's like here. Several times she commented that it was like Hawaii in a lot of ways. It was nice seeing her, and easy having her around. On her last day, she came down to St Pete to watch the triathlon. Before we knew it she was gone.

The triathlon: St Anthony's Olympic turned out to be a duathlon! After some confusion in the morning we were told that the water in the bay was too choppy and downright dangerous for 4,000+ athletes to swim in so the swim was cancelled. I was disappointed because I've been working hard at swim practice and wanted to see if I had improved my time. Later on I heard that two pros had to be taken out of the water, I realized it was a good decision on the part of the race organizers. I finished in a better than expected time on the bike and the run...especially the run because I had only been back to running for a couple of weeks. I was slow, but ran a consistent pace. For those of you interested, my time was 2:35 17.5 mph avg on my new and wonderful bike, and 10:33 min/mile on the run. I came in 11th out of 18 women in my age group, which isn't too bad. I would have come in 8th had I been able to swim.

Shopping at the St Anthony's Expo. It was huge...so much to buy!

Later in the week we joined up with my friend Lenore and her riding buddies Molly and Joel. I met Lenore so many years ago through my running club. We used to run 13-15 miles every Sunday and a couple of times during the week waking up at 4:30 am to avoid the Florida heat. We met at the Suncoast Trail and rode 70 miles. It was so much fun riding in a pace line, one after the other drafting as you see cyclists do. Everyone took turns taking the lead so as to break the headwind and make the cycling easier for the rest. We came upon some 'rollers' in the trail, which they called 'hills'! I had to laugh and said "I hate to tell you guys, but these are not what we call hills in Seattle!"

Lenore is 65 years old and a strong cyclist..she tired us out the last 10 miles! She's amazing. She'll be doing the IMF with me in November and I dare say, I wouldn't be surprised if she came in first in her age group.

Mike, Mona, Molly, Joel and Lenore

Now John Hahn is here visiting. He's rented a bike and we are looking forward to showing him all the trails in the area. Today John and Mike are exploring the Pinellas Trail riding about 40 miles. Sunday we are riding 75 miles on the Withlachooche Trail. The day before he goes home, we'll do an easier 50 mile ride on the Suncoast Trail. Funny, but now a 25-30 mile ride is just a quick workout to me when just awhile back it was my 'long ride'.

Mike and John about to take off on the Pinellas Trail.

April 7-April 10th: LA visit with Pj

I can't believe it's nearly the end of April and I haven't posted in so many weeks. I have an excuse, however. I've been traveling. I was determined to visit Pj before our six weeks in Florida, so I managed to squeeze in a couple of days visit to LA in the beginning of the month. It was perfect timing as Pj was not yet starting his new school because the kids were off for spring break. I stayed at Tahani's small, but very cute one bedroom apartment on Beechwood Drive. I mention the address because her street is quite well known in LA. When looking up the street (winds up about 2.5 miles) you can see the famous Hollywood sign perched on the hill. As you get to the end, the homes get more and more exclusive and you know they've got to be worth millions. The street then ends at the famous Griffith Park which is a beautiful untouched 43 acre park with many trails. I didn't expect natural beauty in the middle of LA!

After arriving at Tahani's place I immediately called Eric and Lauren so I could see Pj that evening. They live smack in the middle of LA in a fancy high rise building complete with a concierge person in the lobby who asks everyone to sign in...very LA! In the street there were all kinds of movie equipment and New York cabs waiting for the next day's shooting of some movie or other. Yep, a true sign we were in LA. After a few agonizing minutes Lauren and Pj appeared in the lobby, Lauren holding an adorable baby who I later learned was her sister's newborn. Pj and I hugged very tightly...it was the best hug ever! He looked so very grown up! Taller, more mature...amazing, it all happened in only 1 1/2 months.

The apartment is a dream...a very large loft with 2 bathrooms and one big bedroom. Pj's 'room' is set off in an alcove open to the rest of the place. Eric says he'll block off the area so Pj has more privacy. The view is magnificent and the place has tall windows that let the sunshine in. On the roof there is a pool...very nice.

After a short visit with Lauren and her sister and baby we packed a bag so Pj could stay with me and Tahani. We were all three together for the next 2 nights/3 days visiting and exploring. Tahani drove us all over the place which I surely appreciated because I know us being there cramped her lifestyle. We went to the observatory in Griffith Park, the LA zoo, shopping, played Monopoly, and generally had a great time just being together.

Pedal Tour - 60 mile spring bike ride

Saturday April 4th we did the Pedal Tour starting in La Conner and biking 60 miles all around Skagit County...the day was perfect and the scenery beautiful. Mike got down his ancient road bike and spruced it up by buying new shoes and pedals. I rode my fancy new tri-bike with all the bells and whistles: does this surprise anyone? You know how it is with Mike-if it still works, why buy another?