August 31, Ellensburg, Wa.

From Switzerland to Ellensburg.   I guess they both have cows.   Have not posted up much in the last month since our return from Europe.  Francine has gotten a couple of rides, but I have been pretty much enjoying not biking.   Also, got a little spoiled with the gondolas/ trams/ trains in Europe.   It was nice to cut out large chunks of climbing.   Well, I finally was feeling motivation to get a good climb on.   Headed to one of our favorite spring rides in Ellensburg.  The Manastash ridge area has a great assortment of trails that our pretty much sun baked hard pack this time of year.   With temps forecasted for low seventies the weather was perfect.   We even tried out a couple of new downhills.  Great day proving that you don't need to go to Europe for great riding.  Actually, when we were in Italy, one German guy wondered what we were doing in Italy when everyone he knew wanted to go ride the Pacific Northwest.   Did about 15 miles with about  3,000 feet of climbing.

July 30, Pischa Trail, Davos Switserland

Last trip report from Europe!   What a month.  Can't say we had any problems on our month of Europe.  Never missed a train connection or got lost.  Pretty much perfect weather.  One day of rain, when we were ready for a day off.   Totally successful trip.

We finished our last day on an ebike again.   This was a loop with no gondola or chairlift help.  Perfect for ebikes.   We passed a couple of regular bikers on our climb and they were definitely walking up some the steep pitches.   This loop was nice in that it was almost all singletrack.  The first climb is not overly exciting , but as we broke out above treeline was very nice.  Fun downhill until the final stretch that ran straight downhill.