Empire! The Russian kind

Seattle, Washington

Out on a lovely long ride today and I have discovered a new podcast: Empire! I decided to start with the Russian Empire, which feels especially pertinent today. Some pretty gory stuff and way too chatty for my preference, but perfectly fascinating! And good for long bike rides.

And interspersing the Russian Empire with a totally silly book that is a parody of the "wellness industry" which I am thoroughly enjoying in a light and frothy way: "The Glow."

More "books on bikes":

• "The Glow" by Jessie Gaynor
• "Empire" podcasts: The Russian Empire

38.7 miles

Finally, weather for a decent ride!

Seattle, Washington

The weather has not been cooperating for bike rides over the past two weeks but today, at last, the clouds parted and I got in a good ride--even as SR 520 was completely closed for the weekend. Grateful am I!

More "books on bikes":

• "Hope" by Andrew Ridker--fun read!
• "Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry that Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East " by Kim Ghattas--this is a really fascinating read.

44 miles

The whole lake with a FANTASTIC book!

Seattle, Washington

Hadn't been around the whole lake in a long time. Most of the ride was great except a serious downpour at the end. But the book I am listening to is FANTASTIC! Not that I would ever even want to undertake that kind of bike ride (along the length of the Silk Road) but it was glorious to take the trip with the author! And what writing!

More "books on bikes":

• "Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road" by Kate Harris. Wow!

50.6 miles

The joy of fall riding

Seattle, Washington

Had a lovely ride today up Juanita Hill. Weather wasn't spectacular but fall is in the air. I feel SO incredibly lucky to be out riding!

More "books on bikes":

• "The World and All it Holds" by Aleksandar Hemon

34.3 miles

Chance encounters

Seattle, Washington

Back on my bike after 3.5 weeks--and it feels great despite the heat. Just finished another fun book on my bike, but the highlight of the ride was spotting a familiar face as I hustled along the Burke Gilman. I turned around to introduce myself this this fellow and, indeed, it was a gentleman that my family travelled with to China 41 years ago. That's pretty good face recognition after 40+ years!

More "books on bikes":

• "Avalon" by Nell Zink

42 miles

Downtown Helsinki!

Helsinki, Finland

A gorgeous late August morning and time for a stroll in downtown Helsinki. The downtown area is packed with all sorts of interesting building and churches. Turned around when I got down to the harbor and found this wonderful old Customs House: "Tull & Packhus." A glorious day for it!

Taiteiden yö - Konstens natt

Helsinki, Finland

Our arrival this morning in Helsinki happily coincided with Helsinki's "Night of the Arts." After dinner, we headed out to explore and there was so much going on that I only had energy for a few things. But I definitely fell in love with the Finnish art at the Ateneumin! On the way home I also stopped into the Svenska Teatern--what a fantastically ornate theater!

Danish minimalism, Part II

Lyngby, Denmark

Saturday morning and we stroll the 1km into the city center to buy breakfast food at the grocery store. We pass a brutalist boxy concrete structure that is clearly a church. It stands out particularly in a city with some of the most gorgeously preserved old Danish houses I have seen. And lovely old churches, too. I find myself wondering...

Sunday morning and I repeat the stroll toward the grocery store but this time I decide to try the doors of the church--it IS Sunday morning, after all. Inside a quite lovely interior awaits. I am reminded of one of my favorite churches in Berlin--a concrete monstrosity that from the inside has some of the most beautiful (modern) stained glass I have ever seen--and a delight to be inside.

Old truisms about not judging books by their covers spring to mind. Though, seriously, from the outside this place looks pretty rough...

Danish minimalism, Part I

Lyngby, Denmark

Arrived at last in Denmark, we settle into the super CHARMING home of our friend's neighbor here in Lyngby. A cup of tea is just what I want. But a mystery confronts us: how to turn on the stove?

We search, we tap, we examine closely, we open nearby cupboards, we try a nearby remote (no, that's for the radio...), but all to no avail. 

I text our friends who hurry over and repeat the steps above. Google is searched, and phone calls are made. Finally, a tap in just the right place (bottom right!) and a screen springs to life. We are saved!

I chalk this up (without irony!) in the category of the "joys of travel"!

Lake Sammamish!

Seattle, Washington

Had a lovely all-day adventure including visiting a friend in Issaquah (lunch and a walk!). Warm, but a fantastic day for a long ride!

More "books on bikes":

• "Monsters" by Claire Dederer--a really interesting read

53.6 miles

Quilting ladies

Seattle, Washington

On the way to my quilt group in Magnolia, I took a long meandering ride around Seattle--and then sat down to enjoy the company of fellow quilters, their lovely work, and some delicious flan. Thanks, L!

More "books on bikes":

• "Time Shelter" by Georgi Gospodinov

38.9 miles

The joy of Thursday morning rides!

Seattle, Washington

It was my 3rd Thursday morning ride of the summer and a big adventure, even if not such a long ride. Started out over Capitol Hill to say hi to the folks--then off to the Ballard Locks and Golden Gardens. The absolute highlight of the ride, however, was running into old friends that I hadn't seen in at least 14 years. Wonderful!

More "books on bikes":

• "A Swim in a Pond in the Rain" by George Saunders

31 miles

Thursday mornings!

Seattle, Washington

Summer is NOT quite here, but the weather IS, and I decided it was time to start taking some time off for riding. Not a huge ride today, but it was lovely--and I just finished an amazing book: "Hungry Ghosts" by Kevin Jared Hosein. It was not an easy listen (some of the content is HARD), but the writing and story-telling were both amazing.

More "books on bikes":

• "Hungry Ghosts" by Kevin Jared Hosein

40.2 miles

Back in business!

Seattle, Washington

After being "grounded" from my bike for a week, I headed out on a trial run this afternoon. Didn't go too far, but it felt great to be out again--but, ooh, where did the heat go? It was cold!

More books on bikes:

• "Pineapple Street" by Jenny Jackson
• "Hungry Ghosts" by Jared Hosein (just started it)

12.3 miles 

The whole joyous lake

Seattle, Washington

Had a great ride today, counterclockwise around Lake Washington. Even included a stop at my favorite coffee shop and a ride up my old nemesis, Juanita Hill. Felt great!

More "books on bikes":

• "The Biggest Bluff" by Maria Konnikova (fascinating!)
• "Our Missing Hearts" by Celeste Ng (meh)

50.5 miles

Elephant ears!

Seattle, Washington

With a break in the rain, it seemed finally time to try a new ride. Well, not completely new--but at least a new combination: north along the Cross Kirkland Corridor, west, and then south UP Juanita Hill. Stopped for my favorite coffee in Kirkland. And a great new book, too! Bliss.

More "books on bikes":

• "I Have Some Questions for You" by Rebecca Makkai

42.8 miles

BG doubleheader

Seattle, Washington

It may be Easter but the weather has not been very nice the last few days. Nonetheless, I headed out twice in the last two days for a ride on the BG. At least it wasn't cold and I got to finish one book, listen to several great podcasts and start a new book, too. April showers and all that!

More "books on bikes":

• "The English Governess at the Siamese Court" by Anna Harriette Leonowens (fun listen!)
• "Next Year in Moscow": newish Economist podcast

21 & 28.5 miles

Spring, glorious spring!

Seattle, Washington

Real riding weather again at last--so gorgeous! Finishing up another great book, too.

More "books on bikes":

• "The Lion House: The Coming of a King" by Christopher de Bellaigue--don't miss it!

41.5 miles

Rain, rain, go away

Seattle, Washington

Getting out on the rainy days is hard but I've had some wonderful books lately to keep me going.

More "books on bikes":

• "The Thing in the Snow" by Sean Adams
• "Butler to the World" by Oliver Bullough
• "Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution" by R.F. Kuang

15.6 miles

The power of a good book

Seattle, Washington

I set out in the rain today for a short-ish ride. Cold & wet. Then I started a new audio book and somehow a few extra miles seemed infinitely doable despite the bad weather. I call tell this is going to be a good one!

More "books on bikes":

• "Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World" by Irene Vallejo

20.3 miles

The Puzzle Issue!

Seattle, Washington

I know this is at least the second year that The New Yorker has run a "puzzle issue" at the end of the year--and this year seems to be even more wonderful than last year! Another great cover that ties into a simple crossword and THIS one called "Bagel Shop." I haven't finished it yet, but I have studied the instructions carefully and made a good start. So fun!