Planning the Annual Meeting

The Triumvarate is taking the job of planning the Annual Meeting* very seriously. We met this evening to review the 2011 schedule and to develop an agenda. But to prepare for this difficult task, we decided we should ride a little first to be in the right frame of mind.

Jo-Ann is back in the saddle and promises "No surgeries" in 2011.

Rose showing us the way around the Moose Ridge Trail.

Rose working on her assets


We even tried to recruit a future Diva to help with making the Annual Meeting more fun but she wanted to keep riding with dad


* The Annual Meeting is on April 6th at 7:00 at Paramount Cycles. All current, former, and future Divas are encouraged to attend to find out more about the 2011 season.

we're planning a fun 2011 season

A bevy of Divas met this afternoon to talk about the 2011 season. Thanks to Karen for hosting! We talked about who's going to publicize rides, count the money, apply for trail permits, track membership and riders, and handle the various internet connections. We tossed around some ideas of skills clinics and backcountry rides on weekends. Stay tuned for details about the 2011 calendar, which hopefully we'll post in the next few weeks. We'll also be announcing the Annual Meeting to officially kick off the season - most likely April 6th. And thanks to Lori and Katherine for working on a Divas logo!


After the meeting, most of us headed to the trails for a ride in the warm sun.

Lori, the ever-stylish Diva, has crafted some fantastic pogies* for winter riding.
The Triumvirate** - Jo-Ann, Corinne, and Rose

* These were the only monkeys that we saw on the trails.

** Wikipedia has an interesting definition of triumvirate: "a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir. The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case." This was originally a Roman structure, and the Chinese used it. They called the three Excellencies. I think Excellent Diva might work for us; maybe Most Excellent Diva for Rose.

White Rim Photopalooza!

So many photos, so little time! The Divas who went on the White Rim adventure in late October are home and still sorting through our photos, finding grains (or clumps) of red sand on our gear and wondering what the next trip will be. Because, I think everyone agrees, it was awesome.

Yes, even when the wind blew and clouds rolled by, even when the temperatures dropped or we were pushing our bikes up an impossibly steep climb. I would do it again in a second.

We plan to offer a slide show sometime this winter so we can share our stories and talk about where to go next. Meanwhile, Corinne put together a Picasa site and so far three people have loaded their best photos. Be sure to visit it a few times because I'm sure more pics will be loaded soon. Enjoy!

posted by Rose

5 days, 4 nights: a white rim teaser

How to pack for the White Rim: expect Alaska weather. A little rain, some wind & hail (yes, hail). Sunny days and cold nights that dip below freezing. Like I said, pack like you're here in Anchorage in September. But without the bears. And mostly without the mud. Mostly. And without the clear-running streams or the pushki overgrowing the trail.

The White Rim was all about layers. Layers of clothes added and removed at different times of the day. Layers of rock of red or white forming canyon walls that rose above us; dropped off below us. Layers of stars that emerged at sunset only to be washed from view by the moonlight. In the campsite circle on the final evening, we all took turns donning Maggi's magical flashing glasses to see what wisdom would be revealed. Two words came to me: challenging & joyous. That about sums it up.

We'll have a bunch of photos posted as soon as everyone has time to sort through the hundreds of pictures they took, but here are a few (I'd like to take credit for them; instead I'll take credit for bringing Jon who took all but the campsite pic):

home, sweet dome.

sunrise on day three.

Divas conquer the White Rim

Divas Gloria, Bonnie, Maggi, Anne, Karen, Diane, Bev, Rose, Corinne, and Lori; Dean (auxiliary, left), and fabulous guides Brin and Ben (right)

at the end of the White Rim trail

eklutna in september

September weekend
Serenity Cabin
A dozen mile bike ride
A dozen women
at any given time

Coffee
Wine, food
hike, stretch
sunshine
breathing
tai chi
lunges


Wood stove
campfire
full moon
clear nights

Dusted mountains
River
Rocks
earthquake
snow falling
bikers riding

Until next time...

Red Mountain Adventure

Let the adventure begin!

For the Divas to go on a camping trip, all you need is one instigator. The rest, as they say, are just details. In the middle of the winter, Stacey proposed the bike-camping trip to Red Mountain.


View Larger Map

Getting there involves a road trip to the coastal town of Homer, followed by a water-taxi adventure across Kachemak Bay to the Seldovia area. Then, it's time for the bike ride.

Fully-loaded trailers and panniers

Crossing the water - even a few guys joined the fun.
It was a rough ride out to Jakolof Bay.

Were the waves really 9 feet high on the way out?!
The return trip was much calmer.

Adventurous spirits! Just how many Divas & guys
can fit under one Alaskan tarp?

Never mind the rain...
Check out that fire ring.

Just part of the camp.

The rocks are very different here.

"Hey! We found a snow patch!"

There was mining here in earlier days.

Day-hiking Divas ham it up in the rain.

There's a saying in Alaska: There's no bad weather, only bad gear. Add to that: good friends to make light of the situation when it seems your tent is about to be blown away with you still in it!

No rain on the 18-mile bike ride to Seldovia with its stilt homes...

...to catch the return taxi back to Homer.

Thanks to Mary V. and Gloria M. for use of the photos and for providing an account of the trip. Next year, I'm there!

posted by rose