Tri-Island

The 29th annual Tri-Island Bicycle Trek was this weekend. This was probably the last one. That's very sad, it's the end of an era. It makes me wonder if i should see it as a sign.

I moved to Washington exactly 20 years last Tuesday. First i lived in Olympia and then Issaquah. I moved into my apartment on Eastlake to start a new life December 1st 1992 and six weeks later i got involved with the Tri-Island. It's been an incredibly important part of my life since then. Even today much of my social network is people involved, or formerly involved in that ride.

Tri-Island a three day charity ride for the American Lung Association of Washington has run every September since 1983.  The past few years it has run only once, but for many years it was three times, three consecutive weekends in September. I have ridden it twice, and volunteered for road staff 23 times. It's a heck of a lot of fun. It got me into the amazing San Juan Islands very soon after moving here, got me involved with HAM radio and gave me platform to teach cycling.

Most of the times i volunteered as road staff i was a HAM radio operator in a vehicle, such as a mechanic or medic vehicle. I love working with the radio. I had been wanting to be a HAM radio operator since i was 9, but it had not happened. When i got involved with Tri-Island i met a bunch of HAMs and they taught me, and have mentored me ever since. On December 12, 1994, with the help of Joe & Tom, i got my HAM license. I was thrilled.

I have long admired many of these people and i enjoy working with them. This is a tight solid group of hard working volunteers. We've lost a lot of folks as volunteers have peeled off for various reasons now and then, but there is still a core there. I have 15 years service, there are more than a few with 18, 20, 25, even a few with 29 years service.

I worked almost every position on the ride possible, over the years. But my dream from the beginning was to be sweep rider. Few of the volunteers are actually cyclists, so being a HAM operator and a cyclist was an advantage. It took a long time but, finally in 2007 i got that position. I loved it. I got to ride my bike, in the San Juan Islands, use my radio and help people all at the same time -- four of my favorite things.

I was sweep rider for four years and i assumed i would be this year too. A couple of months ago the new director of the event called me up and asked if i would be Command this year. I was floored. I've got a pretty fertile imagination and yes, i had i worked every other position on the ride, but i have to admit that i never even imagined i would one day do Command for Tri-Island. This was beyond my dreams.

But i thought i could do it. I was nervous, but pretty confident. I've watched a lot over the years and i've done a lot of other HAM radio events, including doing Command for several. I thought i could do it, but i didn't feel like i was the best choice. I suggested to the director that there were better choices than me. I suggested Tom, my long time mentor who i work with every year on the ride; Tom who taught my HAM class back in 1994.

Laura's response: "He recommended you."

I was honored. And amazed.

So i worked my butt off in the weeks before hand preparing and for four days i ran the meetings, made the position assignments, controlled all the radio traffic and directed all the volunteers. It was hard work. It was fun. Everyone said i did well. And i had a great time in the Islands. Man they are beautiful, relaxing, wonderful.

I slept a lot this week recovering from it. I would really look forward to next year, i'm always better at things the second time around, but there isn't likely to be one. This ride once had 950 people a year, this year we took 75. The culture has changed and the organization has not supported the event. They are no longer interested in it. So it was sad too.