We planned to ride RAPSody 2013 (Ride Around Puget Sound), a two-day event, this weekend. However, Paula took ill during the week with a cold that would keep her off the bicycle. With a gorgeous August Saturday in offing Timothy opted to do a ride closer to home and found one listed by John Kay, a fellow High Performance Cycling member. John is training for the High Pass Challenge and put together a route featuring a number of climbs. Paula felt well enough to drive Timothy to the start at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.

When you slow down a bit and actually talk to people on a ride you sometimes come away feeling rather privileged by the company. John Kay retired from an electrical engineering career with Boeing over a decade ago. He’s taught karate since 1974 and he and his wife run a martial arts school. He also rides a Harley Davidson. He’s done marathons and mountain climbing and now enthusiastically embraces cycling. Mike runs a physical rehabilitation center in Issaquah. Both have businesses and families. The two of them swapped too many stories to recount here, but they’ve certainly gotten around.

Mike Hatzakis (left), another High Performance Cycling member, joined the ride. John Kay (left) ready to go.

We weren’t the only group setting out. This team was just getting their group together.

Looking at Seattle from the top of the first climb

Lake Washington seen through the trees.

The top of the Tiger Mt. climb in the rain. Sadly the climb doesn’t go very far up Tiger Mt.

John Kay shows off his Tiger tatoo.

His eagle tatoo.

On his back John has a rendition of the Frank Frazetta painting of Conan the Barbarian.

A brief lunch stop in Ravendale.

A study of saddles.

John and Mike chatted quite a bit.

Mike going for it

A farm off of SE Jones Rd.

The Renton Municipal Airport.

The Renton Municipal Airport.

Post ride bliss. Timothy succumbed to the siren call of woodfired piza at Pizzeria Pulchinella.