SNOW-BIKING STORY HITS SEATTLE TIMES (OUCH!)

My upcoming story on snow-biking in the Methow is no longer upcoming; it's right here.

SNOW BIKING IN THE METHOW VALLEY

Here's a video I shot a couple weeks ago of Joe Brown and I snow biking in Winthrop. (He owns Methow Cycle & Sport there.) The video is for an upcoming Seattle Times story and they wanted me to do an accompanying voice-over. Thus, the abundance of "Um's" and "Uh's". (Please excuse.)

BROKEN COLLARBONE UPDATE, ALMOST 3 YEARS LATER

For a little collarbone-related peace of mind before I leave for Luxembourg, I saw Dr. Bergman yesterday. He's the surgeon who plated my collarbone in May 2010 when I Supermanned over my bike handlebars on the Boulevard Trail in Bellingham.

I'd been wondering if I should have the titanium centipede removed (see above X-ray shot yesterday) because a screw, or something, visibly protrudes. (See here and other posts throughout this blog.) And while it doesn't hamper or limit my mobility in any way, sometimes my collarbone aches and with such a protuberance (that's an upsetting word), I wondered if it was time to have it taken out.

But Dr. Bergman says no. The X-ray shows that the clavicle has healed well and there's no sign of a screw working its way out, which had been my concern. He prodded around a bit, said everything felt good and that the protuberance (there's that word) might just be bone growth atop one of the nine screw heads. "Whew!," say I. I was loathe to have more surgery.

In the above photo, please also take a moment to admire my first-ever Fu Manchu mustache. Or maybe it's a biker mustache. (What's the difference?)        

UPCOMING LUXEMBOURG ADVENTURE AND OPEN HOUSE

Sorry I've not been writing much in the way of words lately, but I am frantically packing up the house in anticipation of our family's grand relocation to Luxembourg. We leave Valentine's Day, a little less than a month! Pretty darn excited though I will certainly miss Bellingham, the Northwest and the terrific friends I've made here. And of course, we'll be back at some point in the future so there's no point in me getting all weepy-sad.

See the bottom of this post for details about next Sunday's open-house kinda sorta good-bye thang that my good friends John and Nancy Clark are hosting. All are welcome! 

Glenn and John (who's laughing, not having some sort of fit) on Saturday, above the clouds on Burnout Road at the southern flank of Chuckanut Mountain. That's Lummi Island in the foreground with Orcas behind it.

Last Wednesday, I rode the snow bikes with Joe Brown of Methow Cycle and Sport. Lots of fun! I'll be writing a story about it for The Seattle Times. 

Today, John and Scott try to figure out what the heck this solar-powered, beeping, toilet-looking thing is.  It's up at Galby just east, and a little below Whoopsie Woodle. 

Glenn and John yesterday climbing Fragrance Lake Road. 

Partially frozen Lake Padden, today.

Hey y'all, I am deeply humbled by my good friends John and Nancy Clark who are hosting a "So Long for Now" Open House for Mike McQuaide (that's me) on Sunday, January 27 from 2 - 5ish (or whenever). Everyone is welcome and should feel free to pass the word on to whomever the heck you want to. (I mean, John Clark'll be there so you know it's pretty much open to anyone.) 

Here are deets from the Clarks themselves: 

"We are hosting an Open House to wish Mike (and Jen) McQuaide a wonderful new adventure in Luxenbourg. They came to Whatcom County and jumped right into the community many years ago, making us laugh along the way and showing us things us "Nativies" had ever seen or experienced! Hope you will join us! Jen has already started her new chapter in Luxenbourg with Mike and Baker joining her in the next few weeks.

Feel free to BYOB and bring an appetizer if you choose!

At John & Nancy Clark's, 2133 Walnut Street, Bellingham (671-5953)

Please pass the word on to anyone you know that might like to attend!"

CHILLER CROSS PHOTOS

Words to follow.  Thanks to John Clark for the running pics and the pre-race shot of Glenn and I. ... 

Here's the video I put together. (Sorry it's shaky.)