Race 3 of the Budu Racing Series took place out in Issaquah at Soaring Eagle State Park.  What can I say, this one was a mud pit.  The course itself is not terribly technical but there are definitely some fun little sections.  Four Sturdy Bitch Racers entered and two hit the podium.  Congrats to Katie and Virginia - Katie for a 1st place in Expert and Virginia for a 2nd place in Sport.  Goooo Bitches!!

Race 4 of the Budu Racing Series was out at Fort Ebey.  Think this is going to be one of my favorites all season, not so much for the race itself but because the drive out there is beautiful, the weather was a pleasant surprise, and I got to spend an entire weekend with Bandit.  Normally you'd think, a weekend with the dog - not super exciting.  For us though, with 3 dogs, it's rare to travel with all the dogs, it's rare to travel with just one, and it's even more rare for it to be just "me and the dog".  But...let's start from the beginning.

Fort Ebey is out on Whidbey Island and it was a coastal defense position in World War II.  Concrete areas mark the gun locations along 3 miles of beach (note there is no actual beach access from the park - you're on a bluff above the beach).   There are also miles and miles of trail to hike and bike and the state park has showers, hookups, etc.  On a side-note though, if you like history and old military sites, look up Fort Casey - i don't think there are bike trails but there are bunkers to explore and lots of underground bunkers, tunnels, and turrets and it is a great historical site for kids and adults to explore. 

It has been raining consistently in the week since Race 3 the weekend before and the forecast was for, you guessed it, more rain.  The ferry was out of service and that was yet another negative - that meant you either had to take the Edmonds ferry and drive further up or drive up and around Deception Pass.  Normally I have no issues getting up early and getting to a race.  For some reason, I just wasn't motivated to drive on Sunday morning and no one wanted to camp so I wasn't going to drag the trailer up and over.  As the weekend approached, interest in the race was low so, knowing my friend Sara would be up there, I made the call to just drive over Saturday and sleep in the back of the truck with the Bandit.   Katie, Marie and Ady were going to drive over the next day though Ady & Marie were still on the fence. 

So, a girl and her dog headed out and up I-5 towards Deception Pass.  We got sprinkled on a little but the day was sunny and I was hopeful I'd get a pre-ride in before the predicted rain came through.  If you haven't been through Deception Pass, and I hadn't been for many years, it's a beautiful area.  Deception Pass is located at the northern end of Puget Sound, is a treacherous, narrow channel with turbulent waters, rapid tidal action, and rocky outcrops.It separates the high bluffs of Whidbey Island from those of Fidalgo Island.   So, in typical tourist style, since it had been more than 20 years since I had been through the area, I stopped at the lookout and took in the view.  I walked across the bridge, down to the trails below and was, once again, awed by nature.  I love my bike, but I did  have a moment to reflect that when I used to hike, I "saw more" and had a little more time to stop and smell the roses or whatever little plants I saw along my path.  So, I'll save the hiking for a few more years and stay on the bike until I'm worried I'll "break a hip".  So - 'nuff said - beautiful sunny day, amazing views of the inlat, the sound, the Olympic mountain range, the islands, the kayakers in the rapids, and back to the truck. 

Finished up the two-hour drive and got to the park to find sun and about 5 campsites left.  Got the bike out, and headed out to see if the course was marked yet.  Turned out it wasn't and I wandered through what I remembered of the course for an hour or so, snapped a few pictures and headed back to the campsite to see if Sara and their crew had arrived.  They weren't there yet so Bandit and I wandered down to the bluff, caught the view our soldiers had when they manned the turrets in defense of our country back in World War II. We breathed in deep, the wind blown, salt-laden air.  Cold but sunny, an absolutely amazing day.  Think Bandit could feel it as he was pulling on the leash and seemed to be feeling a little salty himself.   We got our fill of the view, the flowers and the cold air and headed back to camp, passing the Cub Scouts doing their part to clean up the trails.  Thanks guys!!

Went out and got one more pre-ride in with Sara, this time with the course mostly marked, and we got a lap in before it was time to cook up some dinner, snuggle up with the dog in the back of the truck and hold our breaths that the good weather and the sun would stick around for Sunday's race. 

Fortunately for us, the rain shadow over Whidbey is more than a rumor - it stayed warm, dry, and the sun came out as we started our race.  The course has a fair amount of climbing but mostly in short bursts.  It begins with a quick sprint to the single track and immediately into a rooty descent with a few switchbacks thrown in and then straight up a root-strewn hill that caught some by surprise (yeah pre-rides!).   After that it ducked and dived through more root and rock ascents before smoothing out into buff single track.  The single track climbed through a few areas with double track, a few muddy sections, and threw more roots/rocks in up switchbacks before dumping is out towards the bluff area.  The trail became a little sandier but with good traction and another big switchback climb.  As you turned away from the bluffs, you head back town a path of pine needles that welcomed you back into the trees through a fun ripping descent.  One more climb and up and out for lap 2.   The course has a great mix of climbing, fun single track, technical ascents and descents. Definitely one to keep on your radar as a ride or to add to next years races. 

After my race I grabbed a snack and Bandit and I came out and waited for Katie's Expert laps to finish.  We had a beautiful sunny day, he got lots of attention from people and Katie got first in Expert.  A great day for Sturdy Bitch Racing and an amazing weekend with Bandit the Wonderdog.  So far in my life I've lost 2 dogs and that was one of the worst things.  Remembering this weekend hanging out with the dog will always be with me even when, years and years from now, he won't be.  Bandit - you really are a wonder dog and as we always say, the "Best Dog Ever"!

OK - enough of that crap - gotta get the bike ready to hit the muddy trails again.  Ride on Bitches!!