My Grand Adventures

Summer Happenings

2011-07-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

Steve and I at Riverfloat on the Wenatchee River

Our tent on the river

Cheers to another fun, sun-soaking float!

Floating and drinking

Cycling the Centennial Trail for the first ride of the season. The Stillaguamish River.

Our gorgeous Hannah

Joe, or Jobin as we now call him, just soakin' up the sun!

Hanna and Wojtek, visiting from Florida

Steve and I all dressed up for my friends Dana and Tim's wedding

at Treehouse Point in Preston, WA

Dana and Tim, married on a warm Washington day

Summer has finally reached the Pacific Northwest and I'm happy to see the rain go. The dogs get to play outside more and so do we! Here are some of the random happenings of the early summer. Can't wait to visit Michigan in a couple of weeks!

Welcome Joe to the Family!

2011-05-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Steve and I, after long consideration, decided to adopt another dog! His name is Joe and he is half Weimaraner and half Boxer. He is pretty calm and Hannah and he get along great! Steve is very happy to have his dog since Hannah and I have formed our strong bond in the past year. Enjoy the pics!

My Birthday Adventure!

2011-04-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

(These pics are all in reverse order on here. Hannah definitely didn't start out tired!)

For my birthday this year, Hannah and I (it was her adopted Bday that day as well!) drove north where we could find some sunshine. We drove first to the border, Blaine, WA, where we walked around Peace Arch State Park. It was really cold and windy up there! Next, we headed south to Semiahmoo Park and Spit where we hiked along the rocky beach and where Hannah saw many birds she wanted to chase. After that, we drove to Birch Bay State Park and did a little in-the-woods hike. Then, we drove into Bellingham so I could grab a quick bite to eat. Afterward, we headed over to Whatcom Falls Park and did a nice long hike. Hannah particularly enjoyed drinking the freezing cold river water. We ran into another German Shorthair Pointer, more white than brown, and Hannah was very happy! Hannah passed out in the car ride home. Later, Steve took me out for a birthday dinner, ending the evening with a few drinks at the Lodge with our friends. Overall, I must say, I had a nice, adventurous day!

Hannah at the Beach

2011-04-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Spring Time and Flowers, Oh my!

2011-04-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

Super Moon!

First Mow of Spring!

Kung Fu Tulips!

A very small preview of what is to come!

Andrea and I in the rain and mud!

Here's a collection of photos that I've taken in the past few weeks. The start of the Skagit Tulip Festival was April 1. Fooled me into believing there are tulips! It has been so cold and rainy that they are all still hiding.

Hannah the Dog Live!

2011-03-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

January-February 2010 Images

2011-03-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

Tree man during the winter snowy weather

Steve sent me gorgeous flowers for Valentine's Day!

Hannah and Floyd, best buds! Floyd is Becky's dog. They came to visit us in January.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Hannah and Floyd at Becky's apartment in Portland, Oregon.

Steve and I in Chinatown, Portland, OR

Becky and I holding up the arch near the waterfront in downtown Portland.

Steve and I in Portland.

Becks and I at the waterfront.

Hannah watching for birdies at Camano Island State Park.

Becky and I visited the Troll under the bridge in Seattle.

Just a few shots of what I was up to January through February. I took my Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist exam March 11. I won't find out results until late June. Until then, I'll just have to play more and put up pics more regularly!

New Years 2010

2011-01-02T14:40:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011!

Lazy Dog!

New Year's Eskimo Kisses!

Steve and I stayed home for New Years this year. It was nice to laze around the whole day. Here's some shots of the night! Happy New Year to you all!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-31T17:10:00.000-08:00

Yeah! Finally a family member came to visit us! Andy, Sara and Jonas the dog spent 4 days with us. We went to Seattle, Bellingham and around the Island. Hannah and Jonas had a blast and now she is sad that all she has to play with is us. :)

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

Squirrel!!!

Proud Doggie with her Daddy!

Hannah loves to warm up by the fireplace!

We spent Thanksgiving tucked in away from the snow. It's not that the snow was that bad considering some of the Michigan snowfall's that I've lived through, but it was enough to decide to be lazy and just enjoy a relaxing day inside. Steve and I watched football, cooked up a yummy meal, watched movies and ended the night playing Nintendo Wii sports resort! Hannah got to enjoy some turkey and play frisbee in the snow! By Saturday, the snow was melted and we headed up to Anacortes to hike up Mt. Erie. It was a fun hike and we were able to see the sun set from the top.

Happy Holidays 2010

2010-11-27T09:15:00.001-08:00

Fall update 2010

2010-11-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

In Queen Anne for our friends engagement party. What a view!

Steve's 1964 Dodge Ram named Brutus. This was his dad's old truck.

Steve and I in Wenatchee/Lake Entiat before heading to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth.

'Madmen' themed party for our friends engagement.

Hannah's banana Halloween costume!

Here's some of the latest pics from the end of summer beginning of fall. We're enjoying the first snow of the season and ready to eat Thanksgiving dinner!

2010-09-01T17:21:00.001-07:00

Steve's trout fishing pole he got from his buddy for his Birthday!

Jay, Jeff, Matt and Steve toasting Irish Car Bombs for Steve's 31st Birthday!

Steve and Zach after their ride up Norway Hill

Melissa, Hannah and I on the top of Mt. Si

Hannah and I at the top of Mt. Si. She sure wanted to be let loose to catch birds and chipmunks!

View from the top of Mt. Si

Lots of accomplishments for the end of August! Steve turned 31 and we hosted a BBQ to celebrate with our friends. Hannah and I hiked Mt. Si (in North Bend, WA) almost 4500 ft or somewhere around there. Steve finally got his new old bike tuned up and went for his first ride up Norway Hill, a hill that took me time to build my climbing skills to get up. He did it on the first try. That's a Marine for you. :) All in all, I think we have enjoyed summer, but the weather is turning cooler and the rain will set in soon for sure.

Hannah and the stick

2010-08-18T19:40:00.001-07:00

Portland Summer 2010

2010-08-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

Headed to Portland to visit Becky a couple of weekends ago. Had an awesome time!!

Mount Pilchuck!

2010-08-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

Me just near the top of Mt. Pilchuck

Steve near the tippy top

Steve scaling the rocks...or trying to be a model?

Melissa at Lookout Tower

The very rocky terrain below us at 5340 ft.

Two tough Physical Therapists!

Up, Up and Away!

Family Photo Op

Grant, Melissa and I

There a Banana in this picture. Can you see her?

Halfway up Mt. Pilchuck

I've been wanting and waiting to hike up Mt. Pilchuck for about 2 years now and finally did it this weekend! It was the first mountain I've ever summited! Steve, Hannah and I, and our friend Grant, and our new friend Melissa (who is interning at OPT), hiked the 5340 ft mountain to the look out tower above. Unfortunately, the clouds never went away, so we were unable to view all the other mountain peaks and cities from above. Not to worry, we had a great time and Hannah is laying next to me on the couch completely wiped out!

Tour De Whatcom

2010-08-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

My riding buddy, Joan, and I

I completed my first Bicycle Tour of the summer this weekend! I had a blast being back in the saddle again! I even met someone who knew the Houghton area of the U.P and had an immediate riding buddy for the tour since I went solo. It was a 25 mile ride, less than what I've done in the past, but it was a great workout and I look forward to participating in more bike tours before the summer's end!

Ice Caves!

2010-07-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

Flowers in our backyard

Hannah giving Steve kisses

Our gorgeous dog!

Steve and I headed to the ice caves with some of our pals to get out an enjoy all this beautiful weather we've been having! Hannah got to have fun with a few doggie friends also!

Painting Hannah Green!

2010-07-12T21:34:00.001-07:00

I painted the bedroom over the 4th of July weekend. Hannah and I had girls' night on Saturday since Steve went fishing with his buddies. She watched my transform our very white room into Guacamole Green! It was a lot of hard work, but it looks great! Hannah worked hard at laying on the ground as I painted. She even got a little green paint on her nose from being a little too curious about the can of paint!

Summer Fun and Our island Garden

2010-07-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hannah just loves her Steve-O!

Boulder River Trail Hike

Boulder River Hike Waterfalls

Hannah's trail in the backyard

Not sure what kind of plant this is...

Our first garden! I planted corn, cucumbers, green beans, yellow and red peppers, tomatoes and even The Great Pumpkin!

Oh and my favorite lilies!!

Just before Hannah discovered the baby birds nest on the ground next the big tree. She had them in her mouth and I got her to open wide and drop them. Steve is contructing a fence so Hannah can't get in, but the parent birds can. What can we say? She's meant to hunt birds!

Our Trip to the Beach

2010-05-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hannah and the Sleeping Bear

Tight rope walking on the beach

And for her second act, Hannah will jump from one log to another!

Me and my Banana!

Steve and I took Hannah for walk on the beach. She actually walked us, but that's besides the point. This is Port Susan, between Camano Island and the mainland.

Spring Update

2010-04-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

OUR FIRST HOME!

MASTER BATH

MASTER BEDROOM

GAME ROOM

MAIN BATH

GUEST BEDROOM

LIVINGROOM

KITCHEN

STEVE TAKING CARE OF THE LAWN!

HANNAH BANANA

HANNAH PLAYING BALL WITH STEVE

HANNAH

So, it's been about 3 weeks since Steve and I bought our home and it's super awesome! Mostly everything is unpacked. We are living farther from work, but it's well worth it. It's a 3-bedroom, 2 bath with a fully fenced in yard and beautiful landscaping. The best part is that it is so quiet out here!

Steve bought me a great birthday gift! A gorgeous German Short Haired Pointer, 2 y/o, named Hannah. She is still a bit of a pup, full of vigor, but she is very smart. She starts her Good Manners training next week!

Michigan 2009

2010-01-15T15:59:00.000-08:00

Mikey finally owns his own vacuum!

Mom and I

Aunt Cathy and I

Me and my Shorties, Colleen and Elyse

My bros, Andy and Mike

The family! Dad and Mom, Andy and Sara, Steve and I, Mike and Ashley, and Jonas

Steve and Jonas ready to play in the snow.

Super Jonas!

The Polar Bear at Michigan State University campus- Physical Chemistry Building

Steve and I by Sparty at MSU

Yup, it was about that time that I headed back to Michigan for some good old fashioned freezing cold, snow, and endless rounds of Euchre. I took Steve along with me to meet the family and, since I'm such a kind person, I wanted him to be freezing cold with me. :) Here's some pics of the week. It was nice to just hang out and relax and even cooler that both my brothers were there since Andy, Sara and Jonas decided to drive up to Michigan from Tucson! I got to see Mikey's new apartment, my parents new home and visit with a few friends and family. It was great to visit, but I'm glad to be back in warmer climate!

Thanksgiving 2009: The Oregon Coast

2009-12-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

Pacific Ocean just south of Cannon Beach, OR

Whale skeleton at Long Beach, WA

Steve and I at a light house in Ilwaco, WA

Steve and I at Cannon Beach, OR

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR

Steve and I at Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR

Steve and I headed to Seaside, OR for the holiday. It was a very nice and quiet vacation. I think we were due for a little adventure!

Happenings of Summer/Fall

2009-11-08T19:15:00.001-08:00

Puget Sound from Marine View Dr., Everett, WA

The stunning Olympic Mountains through a break in the clouds

View of Puget Sound in Everett

The big tree slab

Downtown La Conner

Sunflowers while heading into La Conner

Dana and Tim preparing for Skee Ball!

Steve and I in Ballard

Dana and I in Ballard playin' Skee ball!

Well, I've been crazy busy at work and trying to enjoy the most out of my weekends. Thought I'd share some pics from the past few months. I'm ready for time off at the holidays for sure!

Sailing to Sucia Island

2009-08-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

Yet another awesome summer adventure to the high seas; sailing to Sucia Island (pronounced "susha", not the Spanish "sucia" Andy!) part of hte San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound. My friend Liz's parents own a 32 ft sailboat and were gracious enough to let myself, Steve, and my other co-worker Rick and his wife Sarah join them on an overnight trip. It was more than I imagined it would be! We all went for a small hike on the island and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset while eating salmon and steak for dinner! This was a trip I'll never forget!

Summer Fun

2009-07-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

AQUAFEST in Lake Stevens, WA

The rest of the pics are from my boss's wedding held in the mountains at Steven's Pass, WA where there was thunder lightning and beautiful mountain sights!

Liz and Tina (co-workers)

Zach (co-worker) and his wife Stephanie and their unborn daughter

Steve and I

Chris and Liz (Co-workers)

Katie (Co-worker) and her husband Todd

The newlyweds! Sean and Betsy!

Meet the Dryden Family

2009-07-15T00:37:00.000-07:00

It's been an exhausting few weeks at work, really busy and I haven't had any time off since March to just relax. So, for the 4th of July, Steve and I drove to his family cabin to enjoy the outdoors and for me to finally meet some of his family! (of course, he still hasn't met any of mine...this is a hint to you all to come visit me!!!!) We all had a fantastic time hanging out in the woods! The mosquitoes were fierce, but nothing 5 coats of the superman bug spray couldn't handle. Steve showed me around his old stomping grounds in Spokane before we headed north to the cabin. The Dryden family cabin had an original character about it that made it feel quite comfortable, knowing all the hard work that went into constructing it over the years. I was a bit nervous meeting his family, but they were all very welcoming. They taught me how to shoot a few types of guns... (don't worry mom and dad, I didn't hurt myself :) ) I shot a couple of rifles and handguns. Kind of unnerving intially, but I felt like a somewhat knew what I was doing by the end. Other than that, we went for a nice flat hike, a rugged, steep terrain hike (which was worth all the pain I had in my legs for 4 days afterward because the view at the top was spectacular), and we all jumped (I more or less waded) into the freezing glacier water that is the pond by the cabin. It was really great to meet some of the family! Now it's his turn!

Flight to Friday Harbor

2009-05-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

Steve and I headed out to see his friend Mati and his girlfriend Helen for breakfast on the boat. What we didn't anticipate was the flight in a 4 person plane commanded by Helen with views of the Puget Sound, Seattle, the San Juan Islands for lunch and sights from Snoqualmie Falls from above!! Talk about an awesome way to spend Memorial Day!

Elyse's trip to Seattle- Saturday/Sunday

2009-05-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

Elyse's weekend in Seattle- Thursday/Friday

2009-05-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

My friend Elyse made the 5 hour flight from Michigan to come hang out in, yes, SUNNY Seattle. Thursday was spent hanging out around town, then heading to downtown for dinner with the rest of the crew. Friday, we made the trek to Mt. Rainier, to Paradise, and then a BBQ later that evening.

Easter 2009/Tigers vsMariners baseball

2009-04-17T15:49:00.001-07:00

Marine Rifle Drill Team
After the game.
View of the Olympics and the Sound from the top of Safeco.
Micah and Steve tryin to get some Rally fries!
Griffey Jr at bat
Micah, Elisha, me and Steve-O all not looking at the correct part of the camera...
Boyz got some skillz!
Steve and I at Easter with his pin stripes....or should I say "pimp" stripes?
I spent Easter with my Washington family again this year! Steve wanted to dress in his super cool pin-stripped suit for the occasion. I got to dye Easter eggs! Adele, Alea and Kim prepared a delicious meal of cornish game hen and all the fixins. I supplied the dessert. William and Viktor were there to celebrate, as well.
Steve and I went with Micah and Elisha to the Tigers vs. Mariners game the following weekend. It was military night, so Steve and Micah were trying to get some Rally fries. Steve decided to be be a part of the winning team and buy a Detroit hat!! ;) Tigers won. Granderson had this awesome throw from center to home to make a out. He's got a rocket of an arm! Also, got see Griffey play which was pretty sweet.

29th Birthday!

2009-04-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Lake Sammamish State Park
Snoqualmie Falls trail
Red Hook Brewery for my B-day!
Steve and I at Snoqualmie Falls
Steve says this is the present he made for me...umm... :)
Snoqualmie Falls

So, here it is. The last of year of my 20's. I think this my best birthday yet! Steve and I went for a hike at Snoqualmie Falls. We climbed off the trail onto the rocks to get a closer and water-spraying look. Then, we headed off to Lake Sammamish and walked the beach a little ways. Later, we stopped by one of the wineries by my place and got a few bottles of wine. Then we went to Red Hook Brewery for dinner and good ale with good friends. It was a really good day! :)

Whidbey Island

2009-04-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Steve and I headed out to Whidbey Island to enjoy the awesome sunshine! We took the ferry over and stopped off at Fort Casey. Then, we checked out Deception Pass for a gorgeous sunset. We had dinner in Anacortes before heading back home. Check out some of the awesome shots!

Little bit o' sunshine!

2009-03-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

Headed to Tucson, AZ to see Andy and Sara for a week. I really needed some sunshine since it's been quite dismal in Seattle. We went for a hike, went mtn biking, Suns basketball game in Phoenix, 4th Ave window shopping, mini-bonefire at the house, wine tasting, and I even crashed a wedding. All in all, the trip was well worth it! Enjoy the photos!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-02-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

It's official! I've been living in Washington and working as a Physical Therapist for one full year! My boss had flowers sent to me yesterday. It's so cool to think I've been doing this a year already. I've learned and have grown quite a bit professionally.

The Amazing Sights on a Bike Ride

2009-02-10T22:20:00.000-08:00

Went on a 30 mile jaunt to Marymoor Park and around the roads of Woodinville on Sunday. It was a sunny, decently warm day. I saw this huge eagle perched on a simple tree right along the trail. What an stunningly handsome bird!

Roller Derby night!

2009-02-08T11:39:00.001-08:00

My co-workers and I went to support our fellow co-worker in her debut at Key Arena as the captain of Grave Danger, a roller derby team in Seattle. Lacey is seriously awesome and it was cool watching the bout! Her name on the team is Carmen GetSome. You can check out info at www.ratcityrollergirls.com Enjoy the shots!

La Connor and Silvertips Hockey

2009-02-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

Steve in the town tree slab in La Connor
Someone's dream sailboat...
Hockey, eh.
I was fortunate to get 4 3rd row tickets to the Silvertips hockey game, which was a ton of fun. They lost, but that's okay. On Saturday morning, Steve and I headed up to Arlington for a good old fashioned/small town breakfast. Then we went to La Connor to see the houses he worked on for Habitat for Humanity and hung around the town for awhile. It's tulip country up there, and in April the tulips are everywhere. We also met up with one of Steve's friends in Mt. Vernon for lunch and trip to the local outdoor adventure store. I like the little weekend side trips!

Magnolia at Elliot Bay

2009-01-29T20:25:00.000-08:00

Steve and I headed down to Ballard to check out an outdoor gear store, had coffee at Starbucks, then a late lunch in Magnolia right on the water. We were inside of course because it was a bit chilly outside. It was a nice relaxing day.

A Friday Full of Flowers!

2009-01-27T20:20:00.000-08:00

So, I was busy treating patients on Friday morning, anticipating leaving on time and getting home. Around 10:30am, I had to quickly head back to my desk to grab something for my patient, and what do I see sitting upon my desk? A gorgeous bouquet of lilies and tulips, my FAVORITE flowers, from Steve. I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face for the rest of the day!! :)

New Year's Randomness

2009-01-21T12:01:00.000-08:00

Lake Washington, Kenmore
Alea and I
Steve and I
Kim and Victor
Alea and I
Key Arena minus the Sonics
Steve and I at Key Arena
Steve and I on a FREEZING bike ride
Mario, Tim and I at the Alibi Room, downtown Seattle

I've done lots over the past month and a half, visiting friends, cycling in the freezing weather, met a man, Steve, who treats me well, and even purchased my first basil plant that is growing well from just seeds! I went with Alea, William and Steve to see Seattle University basketbal play Loyola of Marymount at Key Arena. Kim and Victor held a housewarming/Happy Bday Vic party that was fun. Andy's friends, Tim and Mario flew up from Tucson and invited me out for a night on the town. Other than that, I've been quite busy at work. Hoping to head to Bellingham at the end of the month and I'll be attending a Rat City Rollers Roller Derby match to watch my co-worker kick some booty. She's the league MVP, so I'm sure she's tough!

Washington Christmas!

2008-12-26T15:57:00.000-08:00

I spent this Christmas with Alea and Adele. Alea's friend William was also there. Pretty much a small gathering of Midwestern fun!

Michigan Christmas!

2008-12-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

I headed back to the hometown to see my family and friends for the first time since I moved. Had a good time with everyone despite getting the flu at the end of the vacation. I got see a little bit of snow and re-visited Ciao Amici's and Lu's for a holiday hoorah!

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

This was my first Thanksgiving away from my family and I was able to spend it with my favorite friends! We all made part of the meal, which was nice. I made butternut squash soup- the first time I have ever made soup that didn't come out of a can. It was actually pretty tasty. Adele and Alea made the turkey and a few other side dishes and Kim and Vic made stuffing and green bean casserole. Random desserts were brought and devoured. It was a fun weekend! I leave for Michigan in a week, so it will be nice to see everyone!!!

Becks B-day Surprise Bash

2008-11-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

I snuck into Portland again this past weekend to surprise my friend and old college roomie, Becky, for her 28th birthday. The big surprise was that her sister Amy also flew in from Michigan as a HUGE surprise! We headed out to dinner and other bars for some drinks. It all felt like old times at State! We all had fun, some maybe too much fun :)

Work party wine tasting!

2008-11-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

I was invited to my first wine tasting extravaganza at a fellow co-workers home as a Good-bye party for Amie, one of the therapists I worked with here, and a congrats on attaining US citizenship for Raafa, one of the front office staff members at work. We all had to bring a Cabernet, cheese, crackers, and chocolate for the shin-dig. We all had a great time chatting it up, playing foosball, ping pong and Nintendo Wii golf/guitar hero. These are the folks I see everyday of the week, so they are pretty much my family!

Halloween in Portland

2008-11-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

I spent a nice Friday evening in Queenanne with Dana and Tim. We went out for dinner then to a little hole-in-the-wall bar to play darts and pool. It was my first (and last) experience with Rainier beer. The next morning I got up early to help my boss at a ski clinic, teaching skiers, young to old, the importance of and how to recruit the lumbar multifidi and transversus abdominus for proper neuromotor control while skiing. Sounds boring, but it was fun!

I also headed down to Portland to visit with Becky, Pete and Floyd the dog and to dress up and enjoy Halloween. It was a fun and well-deserved weekend away since I've been working my tail off at work. Everyone needs a mental break and this was mine!

Oktoberfest Brew-haha

2008-10-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Alea and I met up in downtown Seattle today for some window shopping. We didn't buy any windows, but a good time was had nonetheless. Later, we headed to Kim and Vic's for their little Oktoberfest gathering since we couldn't make it out to Leavenworth this year. Anyone who's anyone was there to enjoy some beer, food and good times. This morning, I'm headed out for a ride out to Viewpoint Playyfield to play soccer (non-competitive).

Kitsap Color Classic

2008-10-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

I headed out with my friends to enjoy a nice cool fall bike ride from Edmonds (across the sound by ferry) to Kingston to Hansville and back. I was surprised how steep and long some of the hills were. I felt I did really well on all but one of the climbs. There was one switchback type road that I was for sure thinking I would slide into the guardrail because the road was slippery from the rain the night before. It was a fun ride that ended with a warm coffee. Stephanie and Zach rode their tandem with lots of new components and they had a great time, as well. That tandem hauls butt downhill!!

Later that day I went for walk at a local park in Kenmore and saw this wicked cool spider chillin in a web. The leaves are really starting to change color here. I love Autumn!

Whistler and the Broken Nose

2008-09-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

I set off to enjoy Labor Day weekend in gorgeous Whistler, British Columbia. I had a great drive up the Sea to Sky Highway, despite the major construction going on to prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Every corner I turned was yet another beautiful scene. I planned on staying in a small B&B just a bit north of the main village. I went for an awesome long ride on paved and dirt trails for about 2.5 hours. I can't believe how heavenly it is there. WOW is all I can say. I went out shopping after my ride for some souvenirs and treated myself to my favorite meal, medium steak with bleu cheese topped over it with a good, healthy pint of local amber. I walked around a bit more and got to listen to a local artist in the center of the main village rock it out. I decided to head back to the B&B and I read for awhile then decided to go to sleep early so I could get up early and ride my bike forever the next day. Unfortunately, lady luck is rarely on my side and, I'm subtracting a few details, but I ended up breaking my nose and had a laceration that went down to the bone. Only a few pints of blood loss later, and I finally composed myself. Needless to say, my vacation ended more abruptly than I imagined and I drove 5 hours south across the border to get treatment. One week later, I have a re-set nose and minimal pain. Funny enough, I had a similar episode when I was about 8yrs old, where I tripped on some stairs at Niagra Falls, Ontario, and put my bottom teeth through my lip. I think Canada hates me...

Vela Bella Bicycle Tour

2008-08-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Dana and I headed out to Leavenworth for a bicycle tour at the foothills of Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains. It was a beautiful to ride, except for the 108 degree heat that eventually took the best of us. We managed to complete 75 miles of cycling with grueling climbs (especially at the last 25 miles) and we enjoyed all 5 and 1/2 hours of it! Later, we headed to downtown Leavenworth for burgers, fries and a cold brew. We ended up deciding not to camp that night since it was disgustingly hot and we desired to sleep in our own beds. The night drive through the Cascades on US-2 is great, especially with the sunset and full moon! We had a great time!

BBQ on a Belltown rooftop

2008-08-07T22:34:00.000-07:00

Headed to Kim and Vic's for a BBQ on the rooftop of their apartment. It was a gorgeous evening with a beautiful sunset, a full moon, and great company.

Also here is my new plant, Bajito Verde. Since I couldn't take Verde, my first plant from Michigan (it was so huge!) I wanted to try to keep another alive!

Cycling to the Arboretum

2008-08-07T22:14:00.001-07:00

Nothing like biking down to the Arboretum in Seattle to see pretty flowers and soaring birds on a beautiful Wednesday morning! I had a little lunch consisting of goo, a granola bar and water for my 28 mile ride, then I was off to work. Hope everyone back in Michigan is doing well. I miss you all!!

65.3 miles + killer hills = tired Erin

2008-07-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I completed my first metric century yesterday. It was a beautiful ride toward Snohomish, then we headed south to Duvall, west toward Redmond then back north to Kenmore. The hills on this route were okay in the beginning, then I just bonked on the last two. I need to learn to eat more on my rides. After shoveling some granola bars and drinking more water, I was able to make it up the last two hills with a little push from my friend Zach (literally, he pushed me up it 'cause my legs wouldn't do it- it was funny, yet sad). In the end, I did this wicked downhill where I finally reached over 40 mph- 41.5 mph to be exact! It was a twisty road, but wow was it fun! Sorry, no pictures from this ride. I didn't bring my camera, but take my word for it that there were some amazing sights- The Cascades, old forests, farmland, etc...

I'm planning on doing the Portland Century event (only the half century) at the end of August. It should be a good time!

52.5 miles

2008-07-20T12:08:00.000-07:00

I am excited to say I rode 52.5 miles from my apartment to and around Lake Sammamish then back to my apartment. It was a pretty flat ride for the most part, just a few hills around the lake and one hell of a hill on Hollywood rd that was most enjoyable on the decent- I made it to 38.8 mph- Oh, was it worth the climb! I heart my bike! Summer in Washington is amazing!

Summertime and oh, the sights!

2008-07-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

Went to Kim and Vic's for a nice BBQ on the rooftop of their apartment building in Belltown with Adele and my new friend, Jamie. It was simply marvelous! The food, the sights of the Sound and the company. The photos just don't do the sights justice... Mt. Rainer is the last photo, in all it's glory, taken from Seward Park on a Women's only ride I did to get to know people and the city.

Ride to Snohomish

2008-07-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

I rode to Snohomish from Kenmore this morning through beautiful country roads with the wonderful smell of manure in the air, hot air balloons in the sky, skydivers in the sky, and the most gorgeous sunny skies ever! I rode with my friend/co-worker Zach to downtown Snohomish, a ride that was 42 miles long with a sandwich break in between. I conquered some pretty tough hills (for me) and averaged 15 mph, max out at 38 mph down one of the decents and felt I rocked it out! Here's some photos from the day. Enjoy!

My new road bike!

2008-07-09T22:26:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I've become quite the cyclist since I've moved to Washington. I am so excited today because I purchased my very first road bike and clipless pedal system. I bought Shimano shoes complete with a carbon fiber soles. The bike... oh, it is sooooo awesome! It's a Felt FW35, which is a women's specific fit with Shimano 105 front and rear derailleurs. It rides like a dream and I can't wait to commute to work in the morning and ride my butt off this weekend! I'll hopefully be riding to Snohomish from my apartment about 42 miles round trip with some decent hills. My goal this summer is to ride around Lake Washington, about 75 miles. Maybe I'll sign up for the STP next year, but that's 200 miles from Seattle to Portland, so we'll see... :)

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to celebrate Memorial Day weekend with my friends while reconnecting with nature. Friday night was spent celebrating a co-workers birthday. Saturday morning, I headed to the Olympic Peninsula with Kim and Viktor. I rode on my very first ferry boat from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge Island and saw a great shot of Mt. Rainier. We spent the day at Lake Crescent hiking to a waterfall. Then we traveled to La Push, which is at the northern coast of the peninsula, and spent some time on the beach. On Sunday, I went for an hour bike ride along the Olympic Discovery Trail. I saw an old railroad bridge with the Dungeoness River below. We headed out to the Dungeoness Spit, which is quite litearally, a spit of land without any vegetation, only birds, driftwood and rocks. There was a lighthouse 5 miles out, but an 11 mile hike wasn't in the cards for us.

Monday was spent sleeping in until noon then heading to Seattle for the Folk Festival with Alea and William. We saw some great acts; my favorites were an irish group, the capoeira dance group, and and funk band called Lazybones. The weekend was fantastic, but it's time to return to work tomorrow.

Sunny days in Washington

2008-05-20T23:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I've definitely gotten outside and have explored my area so far. I am loving it out here, although still miss having my friends and family there when I need them at a drop of a hat. I'm really learning how to live alone and be happy. I am currently training for the Mountains to Sound relay race at the end of June. My co-workers and I are all participating in completing the 100 miles of racing including mountain biking 22 miles (this is what I am doing), road cycling 50 miles, kayaking 12 miles, running a 6 mile "sprint" and a half marathon. Hope my math is correct on all that. It's going to be my first EVER race and I'm a bit nervous since I have the mass start, but I'm excited to be participating at all! Here are some new photos I have taken the past few weeks, ranging from cycling scenes to nature hikes, to good friends. I hope everyone is doing well! Enjoy!

Weekend in Portland

2008-04-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

I ventured south to visit Becky for the weekend. I went for a day hike with her boyfriend Pete and Floyd the puppy at Multanomah Falls within the Columbia River Gorge. It was a really nice day, but a bit chilly in the mountains. I realized the altitude does not help my respiratory system very much. Nonetheless, we made it to the top of the falls. Later, we all went out to dinner and drinks in downtown Portland and ended our night at a Karaoke bar on the east side. Good times had by all.

Washington Fun

2008-04-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

St. Edwards State Park biking, Bellingham, my apt and flowers for passing my PT boards!! I'm officially Dr. Erin!!!

Moving to Seattle Washington!

2008-04-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

Well, the time has come for me to venture off into the wild west and find out what I'm made of. My trip started out by stopping off in KZoo for a quick visit with Jess. After a fine McDonald's dining session, I hit the road only to be stopped in Indiana due to a HUGE accident. 3 hours later, I finally got back on I-90 only to hit a HUGE snowstorm within 20 minutes. What luck, I only made it to Davenport, IA and spent the night in a hotel on a HUGE king-sized, pillowtop bed! I was able to make it to Colorado that night, by the grace of God and stayed with Justin and Susan in Denver. I spent the day lounging, studying for my boards, and even got my haircut. I left that evening after eating dinner with them and spent the night in Laramie, WY. I made it to Boise, ID that day. I loved the trip up I-84 in Utah; it was gorgeous going through the mountains! Idaho was boring. Lots of potatoes... hehe! Day Day 4 got me to Portland, OR, where I got to hang out with Becky. The drive through the Columbia River Gorge was just super awesome; every corner I turned, there was another great sight. I stopped off at a few waterfalls and hiked around in a state park that was plowed, yet deserted. I made it to Olympia, WA, the capital, and walked a bit, then off to my destination at Kim and Vic's place in Seattle. The longest trip of my life, but I'm glad I did it all by myself. I really am proud of myself for starting my new life, new career, and new friends. Not that I'll ever forget the ones back home of course!! Thanks to everyone who helped me and supported me. I appreciate it all! Miss you all!!! Love, Erin

More Michigan Randomness

2008-04-09T21:16:00.001-07:00

Here are some extra pics from my last bit in Michigan... Friends, wedding, XC Skiing and winter cycling!

January/February in MIchigan 2008

2008-04-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

I had been gearing up to fly to Seattle to interview for 5 physical therapist positions. I absolutely hated having to wear a business jacket. I decided to work for Olympic Physical Therapy and I love it there! I also interviewed in the Keweenaw penninsula of the U.P. The offer was very nice, but I really wanted to move out west! So, I did! I was able to visit with my friends I had met over last summer and survived the biggest blizzard I have ever seen while I was up there. I recall there was about 16 inches of snowfall within a few hours, 40 miles per hour winds, and -30 wind chill. Of course, I still went out to the KBC! My friend Mike drove there with me, so it wasn't a lonely 10 hour drive. Good times!

Christmas 2007

2008-04-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

The month of December was quite nice. No studying or writing last minute papers since I finally graduated! I didn't start studying for my PT board exam until Jan 1. I read fiction books, hung out all over town with my friends, visited Andy and Sara and basically recaptured all the sleepless nights I had over 4 years of grad school! Here are some random pics from that time.

Overdue Update!

2007-10-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I suppose being back down under the bridge isn't so bad. I've had a great last internship at the Therapy Institute in Haslett. One week left!!!! I've impressed myself over the past 6 months with what I know and can do for my patients. I LOVE my job and I can't wait to finally get paid for it!!! I'm planning a trip to Tucson at the end of November to see my new doggie nephew Jonas and mountain bike/hike. I'm also planning a return trip to Houghton to attempt some cross country skiing and visit with the friends I made while I was there this summer. Then in February, I want to get to Ireland to visit with family and see the country itself.

Besides all of that, here's a pic of Mike and myself at his house after watching football all day long.

One more...

2007-09-03T19:33:00.000-07:00

Cynthia, Jennifer, Pat, me, and Diane at the end of the Fat Tire race

My Keweenaw family!

2007-09-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

My "see you later" gathering - These people are extraordinary and I will miss them like crazy. Owen, Margaret (Owen's mom), Susan, and me.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!! See you all in December!

Fat Tire Bike Race in Copper Harbor and the final farewell

2007-09-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

Oh, where to start...Copper Harbor was a blast! Good friends, tough bike race, great music and dancing, and lots of wind! The pics are of Diane and myself, Diane, Kevin, and myself, Ryan and Kara, then Pat and Diane during the race. I volunteered my time again to help out at the short/long split and also helped out at the Kids race. The weekend was a nice close to my time here and I enjoyed every minute of it here. I'll be back in December to experience cross country skiing. Thanks to everyone for a great time in the Keweenaw!

Great Deer Chase, PT Team, and Michigan Tech Trails

2007-08-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

So here's the last update before I head back Down State. I volunteered my time at the Great Deep Chase bike race in Calumet's Swedetown trail system. The first photo is of Arlyn and Sandy on their mountain tandem as they passed where I was stationed. They were the sweep for the race. The second photo is the PT/PTA crew at HCMCF (Sandy, Cassie, Jim, and me). The third photo is Diane in the Michigan Tech trails. The trails were awesome that day. The fourth photo is of course me at the Tech trails and the last photo is a shot of how FANTASTIC it is up here (sideways, but you get the picture). I'm heading to Copper Harbor this weekend to volunteer at the Fat Tire bike race and camp with the CH crew. Then, I have to come home... :( I don't want to leave!!!!

1st Annual Portage Paddle Fest

2007-08-19T07:52:00.001-07:00

The 1st Annual Portage Paddle Fest was held last weekend. I took 3rd place in the Women's Fun Race and Owen took 2nd place in the Men's Fun Race. We had to paddle about one mile to the Lift Bridge, paddle across the Canal to a certain spot, paddle backwards into shore, do 10 jumpropes, paddle across the Canal again to a certain point where we had to half paddle in, catch a water balloon, throw it through a hula hoop (which I totally missed, but in my defense my hand was really wet so it slipped out) then paddle another 1/2 mile back to the finish line. It was kind of a misty rainy day, but it turned out to be beautiful later on. The boy in the kayak with Owen is Adam, one of his friend's son. He's a really good kid.

Copperman Triathalon

2007-08-05T08:56:00.001-07:00

I headed north to Copper Harbor again this weekend. The Copperman Triathalon was happening and it was really cool too watch. There were 317 people in the race (only 300 are supposed to be admitted but apparently there are always exceptions to the rule!) I knew a few people in the race from last week's trail rides. It was beautiful day. I would have gone biking again, but I took a little tumble at the Tech trails on Thursday night and hurt my hand. Kind of tough to bike with a tender hand! So I hung out with Gromit again while her owners went riding. We walked to Copper Harbor marina and took a boat ride...her first ever...to the lighthouse and hiked around for a couple of hours. I met a couple from Minnesota and showed them what aThimbleberry was and enjoyed eating a few on the trails. Later, I just relaxed at the campground then visited with other people I had met a few weeks ago here at the music festival. I am going to return to Copper Harbor next weekend ( I hope!) and go kayaking! I also want to hike out to Manganese Falls and Lake Manganese up there, so i'll see how much time and energy I have left! Only 4 weeks left :(

Freida Beach

2007-08-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

Went to Freida Beach this past week and enjoyed some more of Lake Superior. We went to escape the 95 degree heat here and ended up watching a nice thunder and lightning storm roll onto shore. There were some peaks of sunlight which reflected on the water with some great colors. Gromit the dog went swimming in the bigger waves after big sticks and my friends and I ate dinner then hiked a bit. We drove to this old damn that was made back in the 1800's, so I got a little history lesson. I was glad it rained...took all the humidity out of the air and the residents at the nursing home weren't as grumpy. :) and me too!

McClain State Park

2007-07-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

Well here is yet another post. It's really hot here today. Supposed to get to 100 degrees tomorrow. This is the house where I'm staying with the ever growing garden. They just pulled up garlic plants the other day- 6 different kinds! Below are photos from McClain State Park. It is usually 10 degrees cooler up there. I was told today that the sand never used to be that dark grey color. Apparently, once the Mine across the way closed down, the coal somehow made it's way to the state park. Anyway- off for another ride at the Michigan Tech Trails. It's kids night so I'm helping set up a bit then go for a good ride.

I hate Canon!

2007-07-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

So, remember i bought a brand new camera before i left for this venture? well, it decided to delete all my pictures that I took while in Marquette this weekend so you all can't see them. SORRY! but i can tell you that I had a great time at Art in the Park with Susan, Owen, and Owen's mother, Margaret. It was a beautiful day and i hiked out to the light house which got quite treacherous halfway through with big jagged rocks. I didnt' buy anything there...everything was quite expensive, but i chatted up photographer from Chicago who just returned from Ireland, so that was cool. It was Owen and Susan's wedding anniversary, so we all went to Red Lobster and devoured the cheesy biscuits and tasty seafood dishes! Then the cats got into the leftovers bag and had a feast of their own! At least they didnt' get into the cheesy biscuit bag, 'cause I would have been so ticked!

I rode for the first time on a mountain tandem bike on the Maato Hiito trails. It was scary at first, but I was told I did quite well. I saw some BEAUTIFUL country and bear doo-doo. That's all for now, but hopefully I'll have some more pics up this week for ya'll!

Hope everyone is doing well!

People

2007-07-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

People can simply amaze you. I am amazed at the laid back, kind, and helpful individuals I have met up here. I have never felt so welcomed and appreciated by complete strangers. I am in awe. I just thought I would share my thought with you all.

Copper Harbor Music Festival

2007-07-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

Northern Exposure Trail from Keweenaw Mountain Lodge heading toward Copper Harbor downtown area. This is a hiking/mountain biking trail. The puppy with me is Gromit, a border collie/black lab mix. She gave my arms quite the workout for being so small. The music festival was a blast; lots of bands playing anything from folk to jazz. It was a LONG day, but I had tons of fun. I'm planning on returning in a couple of weeks to go sea kayaking on Lake Superior with some people I have met up here.

Eagle Harbor Sunday

2007-07-17T18:30:00.001-07:00

Waterfall in Eagle Harbor (top left), Host Family Owen and Susan (top right), Lake Superior from Eagle Harbor (bottom left), Eagle Harbor Lighthouse (bottom right). This was a fun trip out. We had a BBQ lunch which was so good at the house then headed up to Eagle Harbor for dinner with some of Owen and Susan's friends. I'm going to try to see the new Harry Potter movie this week, then try to head up to Copper Harbor for the weekend, depending on the weather. Ciao!

Out 'n' aboot!

2007-07-15T07:00:00.001-07:00

This is Rosco, a hound and shepard mix. Mack is the other dog and Gus and Nicki are the two cats. I forgot how much i miss having a pet. I went out with my clinical instructor Sandy, and her husband to a friends place out in the woods for some good eats and good wine. It was nice meeting some new people. I'm going out for another mountain bike ride on monday...hopefully I'll be a bit better than last week. Apparently, I'm out of shape! I bought a membership to a local gym...a bit bigger than HealthStyles, so hopefully I will gain some strength and endurance. Well, I hope everyone is doing well. Miss you!

The Mighty Mac

2007-07-10T18:40:00.001-07:00

The Mackinaw Bridge on the Mackinaw City side - This is how I spent 7/7/07. It was a hot drive up to St. Ignace and my forearm was sunburned! I enjoyed sleeping a REAL bed that night and treated myself the following morning to a wonderful breakfast compliments of Lorraine at the infamous Northern Lights restaurant in St. Ignance.

Lake Superior

2007-07-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

Lake Superior on the West side of the Bunny Ear at Calumet Water Works Park. The water was crystal clear with quite a rocky terrain. The water didn't feel too cold... :) It was nice to have Monday off to explore a bit.

Portage lift bridge between Houghton-Hancock, MI.

2007-07-10T18:22:00.001-07:00

Portage Lake/Canal taken from Houghton side.

Honorary yooper!

2007-07-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

Well, i made it to Houghton on Sunday afternoon. My "host family" is very nice and fun to hang out with. They gave me a personal tour of the town Sunday evening and treated me to a nice dinner. Monday I headed out on my own since i didn't start my internship until Tuesday. I bummed around town and gathered some flyers for things to do while I'm here. I saw a posting for the Calumet Theatre in Calumet, where the Gaelic Storm will be performing, so i'm going to get tickets for Friday. Apparently they are very good.
I also drove north along the 203 (for those of you inclined to look on a map) and did a bit of hiking on the shoreline of Lake Superior. Lots of rocks and crystal clear water! I'm going to attempt to download the software on the computer here so i can show you all pictures, but probably not until this weekend.
Anyway- i'm having a blast so far and can't wait to show off pictures! Take care, eh!

Erin!

This Is the Beginning of the Rest of My Life...

2007-06-30T05:31:00.000-07:00

So, I decided to start a blog. What in the world is a blog? Who thinks of these things? Anyway- I am leaving for the Upper Penninsula in one week and thought this would be a great way for my family and friends to see what I'm up to for the two months I'm in Houghton. I'll be on my second physical therapy internship. I plan on doing a lot of hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking in my spare time...something I haven't seen the likes of in quite sometime so I'm excited to share my adventures with you all. I hope I meet some cool people that will make me feel at home. Well, wish me luck and I will see you all in 2 months.

Ciao,
Erin