DoubleDay 2009

DoubleDay 2009 was a great success... with lots of family and friends.



The weather was beautiful and HOT.... it rained (and thundered!) at night, and got to about 90-95 during the day. Whew!




We were at a new (larger) location this year - Mt. Vernon High School. It was great... and we had (drum roll please) 320 riders and raised $110,000 day of!
Mom and Jim Walker





















Me and Mark

Rachel and Kristina

There were family friends everywhere! Below: Mike Wilson (aka Big Willy), Casey, and Steve Wilson (aka Little Brother).

They are the behind the scenes men that deliver all of the rest stop supplies, put up all of the signage... go have lunch and a beer at the brewery... and then drive the route again and pick everything up. The ride wouldn't happen without them.

MaryBeth Falkner (aka Bizz) came up for the ride this year so I had a partner to ride around with!

Bizz was really great and let me drive her "Lady Liberty"... we had fun! We also found a few interesting items along the way:

Our favorite police officers (Officer Chris on the left and Sargent Paul on the right) were FANTASTIC. They blocked streets, held traffic, and just were pleasant and really nice. Last year, Cindy Wilson even got to sit on the bike!

They give great hugs and always make me giggle.

Then we were off! (Josh talking to the cyclists about single file, helmet wearing, sunscreen, etc.)... or as Jose-Luis calls it (with the accent), sun scream.

At the end of Day 1 came the Pasta for Pals dinner... and Carina came in time for the Conway Tavern and Day 2!

Mom and Bizz

Angela Ter Louw

My Mom and Rosie Mae Ter Louw

Jose-Luis (Josh's roommate from India) even came in to town from Spain! It was great to practice my Spanish. (i.e. Mayamo Sarah) (yeah... hmmm... not so much)

Day 2... more fun...

Kristina, Mom, Cindy, and Carina

Walker/Liljengren family pic

And then we were done... and ready for the "after-party" at Mom's house.

Here is Team Rhino 2009:

We had fun "wind-down" time at Mom's on Sunday night, and Jose-Luis and Josh spent the night before heading back to Tacoma for a week of adventures.

I'm now off to the Cascade Mountains!

Seattle 2009 - Day 1 to 4

I am lucky to fly around the country for my job and as I flew back to Houston from Denver on Friday night...



I couldn't wait to go home, re-pack, and head to Seattle the following morning on a flight that was distant from work!

Claudia was wonderful (getting up at 430am to get me to the airport) and I was off! I took a short tour of the Las Vegas airport. I got off the airplane and heard "ding-ding-dada-dingdingding" - Did I win?! No. But it was fun to be around for a bit.

As I navigated the airport to my new terminal, I stopped to ask a police officer how to get to my new gate without leaving security. This is where the "You know you're in Vegas when..." story is applied.

You know you're in Vegas when you ask a police officer for directions and they include "take a right at the Chippendales sign".

Excuse me sir, did you just mention male dancers?

The following Sunday morning the family headed to Greenlake to hangout with old friends. When I got to thinking about it, I couldn't believe I've known these people for almost 30 years!

We got to play frisbee, badminton, put toes in the water, and people watch ALL DAY LONG. It was fantastic.

Some of you may know Bizz - she made her way thru Houston about a year ago. She's also known as my little Sis.

Playing on the grass...

My flips... takin a break.

Down to the water to put my toes in and take pics of people diving in...

The cooler had a picture of our families 20 years ago...

Then it was time to recreate the moment (of course)

Joshie and Bizz

Monday was pretty relaxed... my mom's sisters and the families got to hang out in the sunshine. It's always interesting when we get together!

On Tuesday Josh and I headed to the Goodwill to handoff the items we couldn't sell on craigslist... and although Josh got lost following me to the store (2.3 miles from Mom's house) (he was jammin' out to music) - we had a great time and ended up with some true treasures!

When we were kids, my dad would take us to the Goodwill and give us $1 to spend on ANYTHING we wanted. It's fun to go back together and find treasures... although not as good as my 3 foot stuffed carrot.

Then... I was off to Fremont in Seattle! I got a pedicure, and treat for Max for house sitting...

I stopped by Dad Watson's (http://www.mcmenamins.com/), had a beer, and read The Stranger. I sat on the stoop...

I went to the Triangle... which very sadly has been converted to a new establishment called "9 Million in unmarked bills" - retarded.

Then headed to El Camino for happy hour.

Bizz came down and met me for a beer up at the Buckaroo, then we headed down to Nickerson for dinner (and to watch the bridge go up and down).

I'm heading to Tacoma tonight to hang with A&T (and Joshie) and then back to Everett Thursday to prepare for DoubleDay this weekend! (http://webwa.alsa.org/site/PageNavigator/WA_Bike_homepage)

Woo Hoo! Conroe here we come!