368 Chapter Meet and Greet

Well we had our first big outing of the year today. Ended up that we had 36 bikes and 42 people. We started at the OCB in Totem Lake and after a "hearty" breakfast we set off to make the ferry ride across the sound from Edmonds to Kingston on the Peninsula. After the ferry ride we stopped in Port Gamble and picked up some more bikes from other chapters. After all the greetings, backslapping and hugging we headed for the Geoduck Restaurant - Wow what a "cluster" they were totally overwhelmed and I think that they managed to screw up every order. The groups took off in all directions and tried to make it home in one piece. Traffic in Seattle can really suck at times and we lucked out with only two slow downs all the way home.

Springtime Snow

Well here it is the 18th of April and instead of warm balmy days we are experiencing a snowstorm of sorts. In Everett, Wa. where I work it snowed off and on all day with temps in the low 30s. Since getting home it has been snowing. The only thing that is keeping it from becoming a total mess is the temps are slightly above freezing. The deck is covered with snow and the grass is turning white. The daffodils in the back yard are really confused and may decide to not bloom next year. Our big red rhodie in the front yard has just started to bloom and I'm hoping the weather will change soon.

This type of weather certainly puts a damper on any motorcycle riding. Its tough to get started with temps below 40 and snow on the ground.

Maybe spring will come next month!

Cardinals

The post on the right is a slide show of the statues outside the new Cardinal Stadium in St. Louis. These are some of the players that have made the Cards one of the greatest National League teams in history. Its baseball season and St. Louis is a baseball town that really understands the meaning of the game. Someday Albert's statue will be in front of the stadium. The one non-Cardinal in the slide show is "Cool PaPa" Bell. He was one of the outstanding players in the Negro League and would have been a sure fire member of Cooperstown, if this country would have let him play in the Major Leagues.

Spring - RIGHT!

Okay, this weather is starting to wear on those who want to ride motorcycles. Last weekend we had 2 inches of snow Saturday morning. Yes it did melt during the day but when we woke up Sunday we had another 3 inches. It snowed on the way home Monday, it has been in the high 50's every day this week. Well, guess what is the prediction for this weekend. Yep its going to get into the mid 40's and rain. When do we just suck it up and go for a ride.

Woodinville Wine Tasting

Well we had a little wine tasting adventure today. We wanted to check out the Des Voigne Cellars new release of a Columbia Valley Red Table Wine. Big surprise!!! we had a case of wine that we had purchased a year ago and needed to pick up.
Our next stop was to Cuillin Hills Winery, they had a new sangiovese (the primary grape for the popular Chianti) that was being released.
Next stop we had some 6 bottles of Arlington Road "Monolith" that we had bought as futures some 12 months ago. This is a very big Cabernet based wine that will require it to be laid down for a couple of years.
We then headed for J&M to pick up some wine that we were owed from the wine club. Three bottle of 2005 Cuvee and 3 bottles of Tre Facelli. These are both excellent wines. They will both require some aging if you have the patience you will be rewarded with fantastic nose and flavor.

Denali!!!!

This is what we saw on our way to Anchorage the last day we were in Alaska.

Rick's Iditarod Start

At the right is a slide show that gives you a feeling of what the Iditarod Start was for Rick when he left Willow. Screaming people wishing him well and actually there were a few that even knew him. Enjoy and thanks to Heather Rogers for using my camera and capturing the essence of the start.