Views looking back over 1,000 miles

Barb and I have always been proud to say that we lived in La Conner since we moved here in 1990. As my birthdays accumulated, age related issues prompted us to make a serious change in our lifestyle, which involved selling our Shelter Bay home and moving into La Conner last year.

We are now within walking distance of all that La Conner has to offer and that has always been our dream. We started out walking for errands and exercise, but having been born during the first quarter of 1935, my balance has become untrustworthy and I have fallen many times. It is no fun taking a walk when I am afraid of falling every step that I take.

It has been suggested by a few people, including my doctor, that maybe it was time to consider a walker. I told the doctor that I had thought of that, but my vanity was pointing me towards an adult tricycle. Well, wonder of wonders, he said that his mother had just such a vehicle for sale. That visit ended with a date to visit his mom’s home to try out the trike. Barb and I went over after the doctor got the rig cleaned up and air in the tires. It looked brand new and after a lesson on riding a three wheeler and a modest donation to the local book store, we went home with what has turned out to be a life changing new toy.

I started just riding around the neighborhood, then I put on the helmet and ventured down to the post office. Riding the mostly quiet streets of La Conner is comfortable and peaceful and it is always fun to see a friend or neighbor to greet. One day a friend invited me to join him and some of his neighbors to ride with them on a five mile loop of town. That sounded like fun and a great way to get some exercise.

I got the trike last August. With riding the loop and visits to the store, the post office and other short rides, I accumulated one hundred miles on the odometer by September.

Most of you do not know this, but going north on Third Street is uphill. My new ride was a single speed and by the time we got to our turnaround at the end of Pearle Jenson Way, I was pooped. The guys kept asking me if I was OK. I got a new three wheeled electric pedal assist adult trike in October 2020 and what a difference it has made for me!

Our group of riders can be as large as six members, or I have been a solo rider when the rest have had other obligations. We ride seven days a week, weather permitting, year around.

I am constantly made aware of the beauty and wonders of this amazing place. We have a front row view of the changing seasons, the farmers working their fields and then reaping what they have sown. We see the huge deciduous trees changing with the seasons. It is sad that the daffodils and tulips have retreated, but they are busy doing what they have to do to guarantee a good showing next year and now the rhodies are the star attraction.

Last winter we observed the erection of a new building at the north end of the marina. I judge it as the largest building in La Conner except maybe the Moore Clark relic, but that is another story. The new Mavrik Marine building was built to support the booming boat local building industry. We saw huge loads of prefabricated steel being piled onto the parking lot as the foundation was being prepared and cement trucks poured the giant slab. It was amazing to watch the structure going up, just like a supersized Erector set. I was always excited to return the next day to check on their progress.

They were moving the superstructure and the hull of a large catamaran into the completed building one morning when we went by, so I went back later to watch the slow and delicate process. Maneuvering the hull required some precision steering.

Just watching the changing tides every morning has been fascinating and we enjoyed seeing the tugs struggling with log booms against the current. Many days, we were privileged to see snow geese in the fields just north of town. A snowy egret surprised us by its presence on the edge of the water one day. When we took a brief breather on the south end recently, Ollie Iversen noticed a flock of unusual birds soaring overhead, which I guessed were pelicans. We will never know for sure.

La Conner certainly has a lot of dogs, but they are all well-mannered. I have never been chased, nor even barked at when I am riding, unless the bark is a friendly greeting. It is comforting to see dog owners doing the two finger carry of their pets little steaming plastic bags.

While touring our town, it is rewarding to see the friendly and hardworking town workers doing their part in making La Conner into what has to be the cleanest and best cared for city in America. I get a warm feeling when I ride by kids from town as they go about their business with happy faces and often a smile and a wave.

My little white trike has given me the freedom to be a part of this great town. The views have been most enjoyable during the thousand miles that have accumulated on my odometer. See you on the road.

P.S., I recently lost my glasses on a solo ride. A week after my ordering new ones, Barb spotted a posting for a found pair of glasses in the La Conner Weekly News. Where but in La Conner could a person be so lucky to be able to retrieve their lost item in the newspaper office?

Thanks Ken for having a policy that let Ron, the finder, post a lost and found ad and free, yet.

Thanks everyone for everything.