For those of you who have noticed and commented that I have been "missing" from the knitting world, I'm not lost. I have been knitting, although a lot less than usual, I just haven't been blogging or spending much time on Ravelry, either looking or commenting.
Exercise has been my main pursuit lately, specifically, biking. This is because we, DH and myself, have 2 longer planned and scheduled rides coming up, and I want to be prepared so they don't "hurt" too much.
The first ride isn't until July, The Fireweed 400. This organized ride gives riders a choice of riding 400, 300, 200, 100, or 50 miles. (Big surprise... count me in for the 50 miler!) Even 50 miles is still a stretch for me since our usual work-out times are around 1-1.5 hours and this ride takes at least 3 hours. With our short biking season, that means I have really been spending extra time on the bike trying to get used to riding more than an hour at a time. When we rode this last year, I realized that I was vastly "under-trained", so this year I would like to have a little more enjoyable experience.
Our second ride, or group of rides is in September, so there is still plenty of time to train. We are doing a 2 week tour of Vermont, riding about 20-40 miles a day, which is up to us. This tour has a sag wagon so it's not quite so critical to be in great shape. (Although I would rather be riding my bike over riding in a van.
So far, it's been a little hard to train because we are having an unseasonably cold Spring. Here is a photo from 2 weeks ago, and yes, there is still snow!
Now on to knitting...
I am still... and will be for a long time... working on Fulmar. I finally completed the front and now have around 7 inches of the back finished. Luckily, our weather has been so unseasonably cool, it's not too hot to work on this sweater... although it does make all my bike rides especially cold! Only one new photo to post, but the back looks identical to the front anyway... at least until I knit up to the top.
Then to return to Mother's Day, I wanted to post my Mother's Day present because it's so exciting that my family finally "gets it"! They got me something I love... something to knit! Rona from Virtual Yarns... I can't wait to knit it!
Oooooo. Ronaaaaahhh. The colors! The harmony! I'm so jealous!
Posted by: Kathy (Wet Ptarmigan) | May 18, 2010 at 01:41 PM
I love that picture of you by the bikes. Yikes.. it is a chilly spring! Fulmar is astonishing. VY for mother's day....well it doesn't really get better than that.
Great post.
Posted by: Toni | May 18, 2010 at 01:57 PM
I love you, Carolyn! And your family is wonderful! (slip that Rona box into the mail straight away, will you?) haha
Great post!
Posted by: MichaelJames | May 18, 2010 at 03:32 PM
Fulmar is looking wonderful. You'll love Rona. Well done with all the exercise!
Posted by: Jeanette / ramblybear | May 18, 2010 at 07:07 PM
Thanks, Toni... I appreciate you taking the time to read about bikes... of all things.
(Since I usually "natter on" about knitting!)
Posted by: CarolyninAlaska | May 18, 2010 at 10:21 PM
I got it, but don't know when Rona will be on my needles. Impatient to see yours !!
Posted by: Rebby | May 19, 2010 at 03:57 AM
Carolyn- Life does get in the way of our knitting, but it's nice to get outdoors and see the world.
What a terrific gift.
Posted by: Lorraine | May 19, 2010 at 03:59 AM
Rona! So cool! Well, warm.
Good luck on your training! That should be a fabulous ride.
I love your franken-mitts.
Posted by: Carrie K | May 20, 2010 at 02:01 PM
Rona! Yay! I have that one too!
Look at you, all decked out for cycling. I haven't been on my bike once so far this spring.
Fulmar. *sigh*
Posted by: Brigitte | May 24, 2010 at 02:24 AM
Your Fulmar makes me swoon! I can't wait to see your Rona progress. Your bike tour of Vermont sounds wonderful.
Posted by: Sonya | May 28, 2010 at 03:59 AM