Sharry Miller

Happy 11th

It's a day early, but I want to take this opportunity to say Happy Birthday! to my darling daughter. I'm finding it hard to believe she's going to be 11 tomorrow, having now crossed into an age that is more properly written with digits than spelled out with letters. I anticipate many joys and many challenges in the year ahead as she continues to embrace being a tween, makes the transition to middle school, and... Read more →

Valdez Summit 2 Sound 2012

After standing out it the pouring rain and 40 degree temperatures for four hours yesterday, I managed to learn a bit about taking action photos. I'd volunteered to help out the Valdez Summit 2 Sound race by taking photos of the cyclists as they came through Keystone Canyon, and then of the runners as the crossed the finish line. Volunteering to freeze was not on my agenda, but at least I hadn't had to ride... Read more →

Glowing Glass Mosaic

Now that I've finally finished writing about my Bhutan trip, I can get back to sharing other things with you. First on my agenda is to brag about the wonderful mosaic glass blocks Celeste and Rachelle made this weekend during one of my Sea Turtle Arts classes. These blocks are designed to have a light inside of them (either a strand of clear twinkle lights or a single nightlight-style bulb) so that the mosaic glows... Read more →

Leaving Asia

April 28, 2012 (sort of) Usually, when I come to the end of a trip, even a wonderful mid-winter vacation in Hawaii, when it's time to go home, I'm ready. I think part of my attitude is that just knowing it's time makes me look ahead to the next step, anticipating the flights and drive home, and in my head I'm ready to be there, even if my body is still craving the sun. This... Read more →

The Tiger's Nest

April 27, 2012 - Bhutan Today was the absolutely perfect end-of-trip day. We didn't pedal a stroke, but I worked my butt off nonetheless. The goal for today was Taktsang Palphug Monastery, the Tiger's Nest. To reach the monastery, we drove to the end of the road we cycled to yesterday, and then climbed 3,000 feet straight up to 10,200 feet where the Tiger's Nest perches on the cliff face. Darn that persistent haze hanging... Read more →

To the End of the Road

April 26, 2012 - Bhutan I'm going to quote directly from the beginning of my journal entry for this day, as it not only sums up today's ride, but most days' rides. Thirty kilometers today, out of Paro as far as you can drive to the west, and back again. In typical Yeshey/Rinzin fashion, we were assured there were no hills, but the second half was one long climb. My granny gear and I are... Read more →

Support a Friend, Buy a Book!

Just a quick interruption of my Bhutan narrative to let you know about a new book just released by one of my trip mates, Frankie Rinaldi. She previously completed another trek I want to do, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a 500+ mile pilgrimage across Spain to St. John's Cathedral. After completing this 6-week-long walk, Frankie was inspired to write a novel based in part on the trip. Published under the pen name F.R.... Read more →

Headwinds, Of Course

April 25, 2012 - Bhutan Bhutan and Alaska have at least one thing in common: there are very few roads going anywhere. It's inevitable that if you're going to travel around a small area for very long, you're going to keep going back over the same routes. Our group has been doing that with mountain passes. Today we drove back to Dochu La, the pass with the 108 chortens. This time, we rode down it... Read more →

Hiking, Biking, and a Birthday

April 24, 2012 - Bhutan "Beaver one, beaver all, let's all do the beaver call!" Fifteen grown women stuck their front teeth out and made little chewing noises. By the end of the song, our honoree, Judy, was looking at us like we were crazy. Perhaps we were, but how often does a girl get to celebrate her 74th birthday in Bhutan? We were ready to go all out to make Judy feel special. Judy... Read more →

Momos, Butter Tea, and Yaks - Oh, My

April 23, 2012 - Bhutan My legs and lungs keep getting stronger, but they were thoroughly stressed by trying to ride up hill on a full stomach, not to mention on a day that was, for me, too hot. I'm always eager to try local delicacies, but, oh my, this was too much. After a very pleasant ride along the Dang Chhu, we arrived at the cafe/shop owned and operated by Rinzin's wife (hmm, I... Read more →