Me and My Shadow

Me and my shadow, (or should say I, my shadow and I) also known as JoPapa Bear, have driven and pedaled our way from "sea to shining sea" this year. It wasn’t a plan in January, but that's how it turned out!

This spring we had an opportunity to go to Florida. We dipped our toes in the Atlantic Ocean.

Windy Daytona Beach with Dave Esser and JoPapa.

We visited Cousin Dave, toured Daytona Beach and had a great time thanks to Dave's hospitality.  We met up with Susan Morales our "angelita" foreign exchange student (whom we hadn’t see in 12 years). She was in Orlando starting a honeymoon cruise. What a sweet hubby she married ! He took time from a honeymoon for a visit with us!

Susan has a happy reunion with PapaJoel. Thanks for taking time, Arturo!

We then rode our bikes into the sunset in the Keys, in the Everglades with alligators, and stopped at every beach along the coast of Florida.  We were surpised when we ran into our friend Shelby from Bolivar when we stopped to watch the dolphins.



Sunset melting into the water in Key West, Florida.




My Shadow on 7 Mile Bridge



It's a small world, Shelby! Who knows when you'll run into someone from home

He's just a little alligator coming up to say hello to me on my bike!

Of course we've spent time on the Ozark Greenways Trail.  One perfect day in August (excluding that little bike crash at the beginning) we rode to Springfield and back.  



Can you see me and My Shadow looking over the edge into the Sac River? No alligators, just fish, turtles and snakes.

In September, we drove to the Pacific coast for a visit with Joel Jr. and Mary in Oregon. We biked and ate our way around Portland. While we were there, we stayed at a lovely AirBNB hosted by Ada.  Next time we go to Portland, we'll be staying there again! The acommodations were great. Contact Ada at orangeada@gmail.com if you plan to visit Portland. 

We got to join The Joel and Mary's friends for a float trip on the Clackamas River. It was a perfectly warm day...to help keeps us warm from the cold river. Rapids, a rope swing, laughter!

While The Joel & Mary were being great wedding photographers on Saturday, we drove to Seattle. We had a lovely visit with Doug, Rita and nephew Mike. We went to a festival and toured the Mukilteo Lighthouse. Back at Doug's grill, we enjoyed a fabulous salmon dinner. 
And a free car wash! Thanks, Doug!!



Then we spent three days camping on the Oregon coast with Joel Jr and Mary. They cook some amazing meals over a campfire! I highly recommend their smoked nachos!

Me and My Shadow camping in Oregon. 

Me and My Shadow with Joel Jr and Mary at our campsite on the Oregon Coast.

Joel Jr - kite sailing on the beach. The kite is WAAAY up there!

Watching the sunset on the ocean off the Oregon coast.

After our fun camping adventure, we had to say goodbye to the kids.  We then drove to South Dakota where we rode 109 miles on the Mikelson Trail Trek.

Me and My Shadow at a rest stop on the Mikelson Trail Trek.

Me and My Shadow on the Mikelson Trail. No alligators here either, but we saw a large herd of buffalo!

The following weekend and closer to home, we fought the cold and wind (no I’m not whining, I’m bragging) as we pedaled to raise money for a cure for Multiple Sclorosis. We did the Bike MS ride from Olathe to Lawrence and back again. This was Joel's 29th year of riding to raise money for MS research.

See the frost on my glove? Me and my shadow are in the mirror.  I took the photo while freezing and pedaling but we didn't wreck this time!

We are blessed to have had the time and health to ride across this beautiful country. What a blast we’ve had! It's a great day for a bike ride and I’m always ready for more. Next weekend, we get to do the Dam Stockton Ride. We love to find new places to ride and enjoy. Thank you, God for my shadow who finds fun, sun and bicycle trails for us to ride!