We Love Our Wing

This morning we got up early to take part in our first ride event of the year…Green Freeze II. This was kind of a “second date” with the Auburn Valley Wings, the GWTA Chapter we were considering joining. The Green Freeze is their annual ride event which is actually three separate rides in Jan (I), Feb (II), and March (III) to kick off the riding season. We arrived at Hinshaws and were awed by the number of bikes onsite, waiting to ride. It was even more impressive because so many of them were Gold Wings as it was a GWTA sponsored event, though open to all kinds of bikes and riders.

We headed to the registration tables and were delighted to find that we got a pin for the ride.

Green Freeze 2011 participant pin

After registration we headed back outside for some coffee and donuts. We resisted our natural tendencies to sequester ourselves and instead mingled with the crowd. A simple comment that we were considering getting a trailer led to a group conversation about all the brands and options with more info than we could take in. But one comment about “the kind of traveling you do” got us to thinking about what we really needed and eventually led to our decision to buy a real hitch but, for now, simply buy a Pakit Rak for some extra storage room rather than a full trailer.

Though directions for the route were provided we were invited to ride with a group and simply let them lead the way. Though a little cool it was a beautiful day for a ride. The route took us through Issaquah, up Tiger Mtn Rd, across Mercer Island and into Renton where we ended at Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse. After checking in and pulling our point chips (points pulled at each of the three rides are tallied for a total score), we joined one of the chapter presidents at her table and had a nice talk over lunch about the ride, the chapter and Angry Birds.

While some of the group joined up to ride the route backwards, we broke off to ride to Kent to snag our first Wing WA site pic in front of Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant.

Lucky Star Chinese WW#1 Photo

From there it was across the bridge  and along the peninsula to Belfair where mom and the Grents were not. After a quick call we headed over to Twanoh State park where they’d gone after finding out Belfair was closed due to flooding. We visited for a couple hours before finally heading home after a wonderfully long, full, yet relaxing day. This is what having a bike is all about. Offered the same opportunity – but in a car – we would never have left the living room.