Bikes and Hikes

Part One of my posts!! 

Can't believe it's August 1st already and summer is halfway done! It's been a bustling and hustling time for me as usual with some stitching done in between (in the next post).  Since my last post, I have been going to farmer's markets, exercising, visiting friends and family, biking and hiking.  My hubby and I went for a short two night bike trip to Porpoise Bay and loved having the cyclists campground to ourselves the first night.  We tried swimming the next day in the Bay but the wind was so vicious, as though it had chilly teeth clawing out our bare skin, that we could only go as far outas our knees.  The following day we encountered some rain just after we packed up, which was a relief.  Cycling in warm summer rain isn't so bad.  In fact it was nice to feel warm yet be cooled by the rain.  The mists coming down from the mountains was so mystical it felt like we were a part of a Tolkien book!

Then on Monday, we headed out for my first hike, hubby's 4th, deep into the Coastal Mountains in North Vancouver.  At first I thought, oh this isn't so bad for hiking, but when we passed the "Be prepared sign", it got ridiculously hard.  As I've said, I'm not a hiker really, so scaling steep mountain sides and up rocky creek beds is more for experts than lil' ol' me.  Well, I managed to do it with a weakened ankle and an arm that was nearly broken by a falling rock.  Yes, I did it even though my heart was in my mouth from fear of falling.  My hubby says I earned my Wolverine, Valor, Endurance and Bull's Strength badges (I suppose those are scout badges??) since I persevered and did this crazy, hard hike.  We couldn't get back in time and I was so weak, we had to pitch our hammocks.  The temperature dropped so low that night, I awoke shaking from freezing.  Thankfully, my survivor husband, had emergency blankets in his pack which we wrapped around me like a cocoon.  I think I got 2 more hours of sleep that night then we hiked back.  Every muscle in my body ached! Muscles I didn't know I had! I think I'll stick to cycling though.  I feel much more safe on my bike than on my own two feet!! Enjoy some of the photos.

Survivor man with morning sun on his back

This mountain is a lot steeper than it looks...my heart was racing

Part of the rocky creek bed we traversed

Relief from scaling that mountain

The final stop after all my injuries...the creek water was so clear and pure

Our sleeping accommodations

That's all so far for my adventures in July.  This month, we are hoping to travel some more, where, we are still deciding but somewhere new.  With bikes!! 

Stay tuned for the stitchy post next!!

Hugs

Anne