The back yard of our lodging on Galiano Island. Here is a video slide show of memories from the islands.
And leave we did, but not to return back home to the Northwest, at least not just yet. Instead we stopped off in Madison, Wisconsin for a week-long, self-supported tandem tour in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, riding a mix of trails and quiet country roads. Among other things, significant sights were Galena, Illinois where we visited the Grant Home and Museum, and Spring Green, Wisconsin, where we toured Taliesin. We really enjoy touring in Wisconsin.
The Cascade Mountains portion of a planned tandem adventure in Oregon was put off by a wild fire in the area, but nonetheless the six of us enjoyed riding in the Willamette Valley, including participating in the Covered Bridge Ride put on by the Mid-Valley Bicycle Club out of Albany, Oregon. Again, scenery was incomparable, roads were quiet, and the company was great. It was hot!
2023
The Tandem Year in Review
2023 was another quiet year for our tandem life, but it was still fun, fulfilling, and packed with plenty of gratifying experiences with customers, tandem friends, and of course just the two of us. We participated in one tour and one fund raising ride across the border in British Columbia, but that was the extent of our international travel for the year. There was sadness in the loss of some very dear friends, one of whom was a long time riding/tandeming/travel/touring buddy. We also lost our oldest brother-in-law and the entire family feels the loss.
Weather in our neck of the woods has been a bit challenging for a couple of years now at least. In 2023 this was manifest as tons of cold, rainy days. My lovely stoker is now an avid Zwifter; 2023 was her first full calendar year riding Zwift, so even though it's not tandem, cold and rain no longer prevent our riding together.
A gorgeous Spring day found us hopping a Washington State Ferry from Anacortes to Lopez Island, where we spent the day riding, eating, and soaking up the quiet and restful atmosphere on this island paradise, so close to us as to make a day trip quite easily done. We shared the day with 3 other like minded couples.
The inter-island vessels are brand new.
Our trusty Co-Motion Speedster Rohloff (Tallie) was our ride for the Oregon adventure.
And here is a brief video slide show.
Our evening meals were enjoyed at the outdoor food court in Albany.
The very next day took us across the border to Richmond BC where we participated in a fund-raising ride for Myeloma Research. It's always a delight to ride in the Vancouver metro area, especially with a few hundred new friends!
Labor Day found us in Fort Wayne, Indiana, attending the Midwest Tandem Rally. This was one of the best rallies we've attended. We had our vendor booth, did the rides, and presented a seminar on tandem gearing. We reconnected with old friends and made new ones. We loved every minute of it and were sad when it was time to leave.
TANDEM Diversity
We put together brief video slide shows of memories from both our Midwest adventures:
A warm, lazy summer afternoon in the valley. Does it get any better than this?
We picked up a picnic lunch to enjoy at Fisherman Bay.
The Buena Vista Ferry takes us across the Willamette River near Independence, Oregon.
Still taking advantage of good late Spring weather, we and long-time travel/touring buddies loaded our tandems onto our trusty Draftmaster rack and crossed again into Canada, this time for a week-long ferry and tandem tour of the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. After the tour we wrote up a little summary of taking bikes on BC ferries.
We sampled the delights of Pender, Galiano, Mayne, and Saltspring Islands. If you go, expect breathtaking scenery and breathtaking hills! Pack light!
We even got in some hiking and beach walking.
As in most years, there were also many non-tandem adventures, mostly involving family and our fun, growing, maturing grandchildren.
We wish for all of you a very happy and healthy 2024. Please send us an email to let us know how we can help you on your own life tandem journey.
Safe travels!
Ahhhhh.........
The island roads are quiet. Life on Lopez is pretty laid back.
Here is a video slide show from the fun Lopez Day!
The captain waits for the ride start signal.
Here is a video slide show from this great day.
The Coast Tsawwassen Inn made for an excellent starting point for the tour, including free parking for our vehicle while we were off touring.
We are fascinated by covered bridges. There were 5 of them on this ride.
Here we are walking our tandems onto the Lopez-bound ferry.