Tandeming in Turkey:
Our tandems only tour of Western Turkey was the absolute highlight of our tandem year. We began with a pre-tour in Istanbul and then moved to the Aegean Coast, starting in Selcuk near Ephesus and riding along the Aegean and then Mediterranean Coast to finish not far from Marmaris. Good weather, good food, warm and welcoming people, and mostly the world's best travel companions - these describe our experience there.
Tour de Lavender and Ride the Hurricane:
The first weekend in August found us on the Olympic Peninsula to enjoy a day of riding the Lavender fields, followed by an early morning climb from Port Angeles up to Hurricane Ridge. Both are organized events and both are well worth spending a weekend on the peninsula. The Park Service closes the road up to Hurricane Ridge for the event. Wow! The last time we rode there, ten years ago, we had to mix it up with the RV traffic.
2014 - The Tandem Year in Review
2014 was a year of continued recovery from Chris' hip replacement surgery, so we had more miles and more varied riding than 2013, but not yet up to our usual levels. Here are the highlights:
Local Rides And Activities:
We continued to ride as often as weather and schedules allowed, working out new daily routes around Bellingham, and riding some of our old favorites. We hosted several tandem get togethers, usually including a group ride, and sometimes ending with a group snack or meal. The year saw quite a few couples join the tandem community, or express interest. We started an email list of local tandem teams which is growing all the time.
The scenery was incomparable.
Tandeming in Wisconsin:
We have friends and family in Wisconsin so we visit there often. When we visit, we like to ride our tandem (we keep one there for just such occasions). The entire state, and especially the Madison area, has excellent riding, much on trails. Here we are enjoying a beautiful Fall day with friends.
Tour de Whatcom:
In late July we rode in the Tour de Whatcom, a ride that highlights the beauty of our county and that served to preview some of the routes for next year's rally.
Including a chocolate spoon with your coffee at Dunyasi in Bodrum!
There were so many ancient sites to study....old rocks as we like to call them!
Lopez Island:
A group of tandem friends joined us for a weekend tandeming Lopez Island in August. This was a bit of a run up to our main event for the year, our tandem tour in Turkey. Most of the island riders were also going to Turkey with us. We had 2 gorgeous days enjoying the pastoral beauty of Lopez, including a visit to the Farmers Market on Saturday. We stayed at the Edenwild Inn and enjoyed not only their hospitality but also the incomparable breakfast. In our opinion, any trip to Lopez should include a stay at the Edenwild and dinner at the Bay Cafe in the Village.
Looking forward to 2015:
2015 holds even more promise than 2014. Best of all will be the Northwest Tandem Rally right here in Bellingham! We wish you many safe and happy tandem miles in 2015!
These images capture just a bit of the beauty of the mosques in Istanbul. We spent 2 very busy days touring the city, mostly in the old part around Topkapi Palace, but also to Dolmabache Palace and Pierre Loti Park.
The food in Turkey is delicious, fresh, and plentiful.
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The riding and our travel companions were the best!
TANDEM Diversity
Northwest Tandem Rally in Pendleton, Oregon:
The July 4th Holiday found us in Pendleton, home of the Pendleton Roundup. We shared tandem rides in the beautiful Eastern Oregon hills and farmland, had a chance to catch up with friends, and took in the latest info at the vendor fair. In fact, we participated in the vendor fair; Charlie Buchalter of Atoc was not able to make it to the rally, so we manned his booth, answering lots of questions not only about Atoc and Draftmaster racks, but also about the Co-Motions we used to demo the racks.
But the absolute biggest news of all from the rally was that Tandem Diversity signed on as the title sponsor of the 2015 Northwest Tandem Rally in Bellingham! Check out the rally website at www.nwtr.org/2015/.
Also, Tandem Diversity will offer a post-rally tandem tour in the San Juan Islands.