Sarah's Day: I have Returned!

Gosh, it’s been a while, I think, but I’ve returned to the fold at last.

Funny, my last blog post had me going to and coming from Seattle too. I really don’t go as often as it seems. But apparently I go often enough.

This trip was a long one—two weeks—and full of fun things. Well, one fun thing.

My main goal this trip was to run Ragnar NW Passage from Blaine to Langley. I didn’t actually fun from Blaine to Langley though cause we started in Bellingham.

So, I flew out on the 12th with not one but two bags and I hate taking two bags. Just saying. But I needed my running gear for Ragnar so two bags it was. I decided to run this particular Ragnar because I have done the Great River Ragnar between Winona and Minneapolis 5 times. It’s always been hot and humid and fun….but not that fun because it was so hot and humid. But NW Passage is by the water and in Washington and would be cool with ocean breezes. Dang was I wrong. Very very wrong.

I started out by having lunch with Grampa and the cousins in Olympia on Monday.

Mercatos=delicious

It’s not the best picture but you get the idea…..

I worked Tuesday and half a day Wednesday and then it was time to prepare for Ragnar! Tiff came in on Wednesday around noonish and I picked her up at the airport and of we went to Olympia.

We stayed at my sister’s house overnight and had clams and oysters for dinner. Gawd it was good. I love some seafood. I really do. Especially shellfish. Especially fresh shellfish. Especially fresh shellfish. Cause it’s not that fresh when it gets to Minnesota. Just saying.

And although I thought I took a picture while I was there, I didn’t. (A whale in the bay in front of Debbie’s house)

It’s one from last month-yes we were there last month too.

We stopped at the fruit stand and got some delicious fruit, not to mention a quick trip to Fred Meyer.

The next day, Thursday, we headed up to Bellingham to do some Ragnar Volunteering. We made one stop to pick up our team mate, Kimberly, who was in Van 1. (We were in Van 2). The fun thing about joining up with a team is that you get to meet lots of different people. We did for sure.

30 miles an hour on I-5 because that’s how the 5 rolls. Or doesn’t roll.

Interesting giant stump at rest stop.

We did our volunteer and the next day, Friday, it was time to start.

Decorated Van-the Sunset Sweats!

Van 1--

Van 2

I’d like to say that it was cool and great running weather but in actuality it was hot. Upper 80’s, possibly 90’s on Saturday. Gawd.

Bad selfie waiting to start.

My first leg--

Looking cool and collected but getting ready to run up a big hill and then sweat…a lot. I guess Sunset Sweats was a fitting name after all.

Tiff feeling the heat and Random Van Shots

Our only boy in the van--

Scenery from the first legs

Bad selfies on the road-

Our last leg before sleeping eating and resting!

Our Tent! It was a 12 man and we could stand up in it. Too bad we couldn’t take more time to be in it!

Mount Baker over tent city!

We ran in the night and then rested again. (Not many night pics, cause, well, it was dark)

Going Homeless on my bench.

Our little homeless camp…..

Our team waiting on Van 1’s last runner

Mostly Bacon

Really beautiful scenery on Day 2

Mountains and Honeybuckets

And heat…..

It’s so dry and brown, and that day, hot in the pacific NW.

But we finally finished and here we are--

It’s so bright and really warm right then. We finished an hour and a half under of our estimated time.

We rocked it.

While you are doing it you hate Ragnar more than anything. However, I guess, when it comes right down to it….I’d do it again. At least the NW Passage. Was out running this AM in the soup and decided definitely not Great River. I just can’t take being that wet again when it’s not even raining.

We made it back to Bellingham and I fell asleep by 9 and don’t think I moved throughout the whole night long.

Tiff wasn’t scheduled to leave until late Sunday, so we were able to mosey to Seattle at a leisurely pace, only having to stop for traffic once.

I was looking for some Seahawk swag for Blane, but couldn’t really find any. We were somewhat confused by the amount of Seahawk fans going to a Mariner game, especially when the Mariners were out of town. Turns out it was a Seahawk charity softball game. So I did get in the middle of a little bit of traffic there. But not bad. We got 8 dollar parking in the garage downtown (yay) and had lunch at the market which was packed with people.