Knights of Knee

This blog is dedicated to the Knights of Knee walking team. Give us shrubbery (a nice one, not too expensive) or we shall say Ni! Between our quests, we sequin vests.

Thursday, December 30, 2004

Walking New Years Weekend

Saturday, January 1: Let's walk in Tualatin from my house and then those who so desire can stay and watch the extended version of "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" as I got the DVD set for Christmas.

Time: Meet at Wendy Bumgardner's at 10 am. We can do 5-10K depending on who comes, and I plan to walk pretty slow as I am recovering from the sclerotherapy vein imploding treatment.
Then: cook a pizza, pop popcorn, watch the movie, maybe walk a bit more to discuss it.

Sunday, January 2: I'm available for more walking. It should be nippy.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Walking Christmas Weekend

You can't sit around swilling eggnog all weekend. Well, I could actually, but I shall not.

Here are some opportunities to get out and move:
Saturday 25th: Meet at Tigard City Hall & we can do the Fanno Creek trail up towards Beaverton. It'll be a nice quiet walk. Start: 9 am. RSVP to Wendy.

Sunday 26th: Brockman Road fire station, Tigard. Some good choices from there. I'm thinking a 9 am start, RSVP to Wendy if you want a carpool, directions, etc.

Other thoughts:
We may want to try an evening walk of Peacock Lane in the next week - anybody up for it?

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

We Saw 3 Ship Come Sailing In (More, Actually!)

Saturday Dec. 18 we had a nice bunch for walking. Sue, Rachel, Wendy, Will, Michael, Ariel!!!!, Carolyn and her new friend Tom. We all found Madison's and found each other. After requisite photos around the Christmas tree, we headed out down a bleak street into the night. But we soon hit the Hawthorne Bridge for a genuine treat. The Christmas Ships were sailing round and round and round and round and round in circles just south of the bridge, and we were all able to get a great gander of dozens of them at a time. And me without my camera!!!

It was great to walk with Ariel again, home for 3 weeks from Cornell. Proud papa Michael chatted away with her. Carolyn and Tom elected to turn back and just do a 5K. The rest continued to past Pioneer Square and the city Christmas tree. Then past the Meier and Frank window decorated for the 12 Days of Christmas. And into Pioneer Place II to the checkpoint at the New Balance store. At that point, Sue and Rachel said they would continue at a gentler pace. The other 4 of us enjoyed the views along both sides of the river, especially the gorgeous view from the East Bank Esplanade.

It was a glorious walking evening.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Walking: Christmas Ships Sat. Dec. 18

We shall be walking the Christmas Ships Night Walk on Saturday, Dec. 18.
Meet at the start at 6 pm. (Rachel, Sue, Zims plan to meet us there)
Or - carpool from Tualatin Starbucks leaves 5:20 pm, picking up Will en route.
RSVP for the carpool.
Bring flashlights, flashing lights, and holiday merriment.

Directions to the start at Madisons Grill if you will meet us there (also RSVP so we know to look/wait for you):
Madison's Grill, 1109 SE Madison, Portland. Banquet Room
Directions Northbound: Take I-5 over Marquam Bridge use Water exit. Turn Right on Water. Go to Clay St.and turn Left. Go to either 10th or 12th St and turn Left to start. Madisons is on the corner of 11th and Madisons.
Directions Southbound: I-5 take exit 300B, turn Right onto Ramp towards OR-99E/US-26E/OMSI/Oregon City. Keep left to stay on Ramp towards Oregon City. Keep right to stay on ramp.Keep straight onto SE Belmont. Turn Right (South) onto SE Belmont. Turn Right (South) onto SE11th Ave. Madisons is on corner of 11th and Madison.

Planning ahead Christmas weekend:
Anybody want to walk on Christmas weekend? Rich is working both days and my family is celebrating Friday evening, so I'd love to go walking one or both days.
RSVP and let me know when and where you'd like to stroll.

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Where We Walked

Saturday: Dave had new doggies to take care of. Carolyn was off to the coast. Krista was busy. The Wizard of Oz watching was postponed. That left Wendy and Will to explore the 5 Parks Walk year-round event. Luckily, this starts at West Coast Racquet and Fitness Club. I say lucky because when signing in, I didn't notice that I left my wallet in or on the start box. It was an unexpectedly mild and nice day with no rain. We enjoyed the walk, and took a detour to Uwajimaya oriental grocery and superstore. I had never gone inside, and it was fun to browse past all the strange fruits and veggies and meats and fishies. We made another slight detour to the Bike Gallery bike shop where they have some bike maps that Rich had on his wish list. That's where I discovered that my wallet was gone, and it hadn't had a chance to leap out of my fanny pack. We were at 9K. I trusted in the Lord and sure enough, back at the health club they said they had the wallet and returned it intact. So, kids - we need to look out for each other's senior moments!

Sunday: Rachel, Will, and Wendy converged in Tualatin to carpool to the Albany historic homes and lights walk, hosted by my cousin Rozy Weatherby. I had Will take the wheel for the drive south. We discussed long distance motorcycle rides, with Will telling of his Portland to Cheyenne odyssey. I'm lending him my "Long Way Round" book by Ewan McGregor. The walk in Albany followed the path similar to their historic year-round walk. They have a great many old houses dating from early in the 1900's. Over a dozen of these were open for viewing, but we mostly walked along and enjoyed the decorations. It was a windy day up in Portland, but in Albany the air was calm and it wasn't cold. It was quite pleasant. Rachel took the wheel on the way back - oops, I think she likes my car a little too much!

Next weekend: the Christmas Boats Walk on Saturday evening.

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Saturday Dec. 11 Walking Plans

For Saturday, Dec. 11: Will suggests walking a year-round walk from West Hills Racquet & Fitness Center on 2200 Cedar Hills Blvd., Portland. There are two YRE's from there to choose from. The Five Parks walk is nice, and theWallhouse walk is being discontinued after this year. The Five Parks walk has better restroom opportunities.

Time: RSVP to carpool from Tualatin Starbucks or to meet us there. I think leave Tualatin around 8 am, get to the start a little before 8:30, otherwise openfor suggestions.

Elizabeth's Knee: We send our healing thoughts and best wishes to Elizabeth for her knee surgery done this week. May she soon be back among the walking!

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Walking Plans - Sunday, Dec. 12

The Albany club, led by my cousin Rozy, is hosting a Sunday afternoon "Stroll Through Christmas Past" on Dec. 12. Details

I propose we meet at 1:30 pm the Tualatin Starbucks to carpool there. That should get us walking by 3 pm and me back home in time to watch the Survivor finale. If anybody wants to join us in watching the finale, you're welcome to join me and Rich! Carolyn and Rachel are interested in going, and Will previously expressed interest. RSVP.

Fa-La-La

Between me and Elizabeth, I got my house into presentable order. I love my artificial tree - it went up in minutes, and looked just fine undecorated as it has all the lights attached. Luckily, "The Princess Bride" was playing on TV, so I put it on while I decorated the tree. I try to limit any travel souvenirs to either an ornament or a coffee mug, so many of the ornaments hold special memories.

But through the day, more and more Knights of Knee reported, or were reported second hand, that they probably wouldn't make it. I began to have visions of just me and Rich and a bottle of Frizzante, like every night but with a cleaner house than usual.

And so 3 of us ended up at the walk - Krista and I met up with Carolyn. We were all agreeable to keep the walk short and so we strolled down to Old Town Sherwood to watch the tree lighting and to eat a free hotdog. Back to my house, Rachel joined us and the Larry and Nancy rolled in, with Nancy all dolled up in her mink jacket and lovely walking cast.

Rich allowed us to have a bottle of Frizzante, which all truly liked. You can buy it at Willamette Valley Vineyards. We enjoyed Krista's husband's secret-recipe deviled eggs, pasta salad from Rachel, edamame salad from Carolyn, artichoke parmesan dip and salmon spread from Nancy, and I provided chicken flautas, homemade guacamole, a pumpkin pie, and chocolate-covered fruit.

We had a lovely evening of talking and laughing.


Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Plans for Saturday Dec. 4

Team Housekeeping: I still have 3 Portland to Coastfinish photos that belong to some of you, I know notwho, please claim them this weekend. I also plan to force you all to sign the forms for the Willamette Valley Relay so I can send in the registration next week. I have Krista's and Chris's. This might be a good time to "repatriate" anything you have belonging to another team mate (except Chris) as most of us will be here.

Saturday: Meet at my house at 3:45 pm to carpool to Sherwood, or at the Sherwood YMCA at 4 pm. (meeting at my house ensures you get a parking space on our streetwhen you return).Or, you can just come for the potluck, anytime after 6pm. Directions sent via email (not to be publicly posted, please!)

Bring:
1. A finger food. (But don't bring deviled eggs unless you are Rachel or Krista - they have those covered. Or else we could turn the whole thing into a deviled egg judging contest, which sounds like fun!)
2. BYOB unless you email me about what you prefer to drink. I will be providing:
a. Chilled spring water.
b. Oregon Nog festive red fruit wine
c. Oregon Chai tea (with non-fat milk)
d. Hot water for tea steepers, but I have only a tiny variety of tea bags.
e. I can brew Starbucks coffee (Verona or decafHouse Blend) as requested.

3. For Our Soldiers:
Larry Brown at the VA is collecting items to send to our soldiers in Iraq, through a project at his church. See the list below. If you want to participate, you can hand these over to me on Saturday and I'll get them to Larry by Tuesday. I plan to make a trip to Costco to pick up items to donate.
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
hard candy/gum (chocolate not recommended)
lip balm
presweetened kool-aid or tea
international calling cards
beef jerky
handi-wipes
sanitizing lotion or gel
flea collars (they put them on their ankles as sandfleas are a big problem)
DVD's/CDs
small toys to give to the Iraqi children (coloringbooks, stickers, colored pencils