Sharry Miller

Crow Pass 2 Turbid Creek to Icicle Creek

“I saw the brush moving in the middle of the night and was sure it was a bear going after our food,” Jenny said after I’d pulled our intact food bags up from where she’d hung them off the side of the bridge over Turbid Creek. “I kept imagining that we were having a huge earthquake and the bridge got taken out. We were on opposite sides and couldn’t hear each other over the river.”... Read more →

Fireweed 400 - Headwinds, Sidewinds, but No Tailwinds

It's been a week since the 2014 Fireweed 400, a series of 50-400 mile races and one non-race 2Day300K ride. Earlier this spring I'd decided to challenge myself by riding the last of those, what I keep calling the "tourist class" of the Fireweed: ~200 miles in two days. The first day is 110 miles from Sheep Mountain Lodge on the Glenn Highway to Tonsina Lodge on the Richardson Highway. The second day is about... Read more →

Not Quite Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Today's adventure was to address something on my vacation bucket list: stand-up paddleboarding. Happily, our friend Kyla has three paddleboards and was willing to take us out. Thane rented a fourth board so we could all go together. We left about 11:00 from the Kona pier at the south end of Ali'i Drive. The shallow lagoon was calm, but there was a swell right outside of the entrance. I managed to get upright and paddle... 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 →

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 →

The King is Coming!

April 21, 2012 - Bhutan "The King is coming! The King is coming!" Like a gaggle of giddy school girls, we clustered together on a wide spot on the side of the road, positioning ourselves and our bikes to best see and be seen. We'd heard rumors that Bhutan's fifth (and current) King was supposed to be coming down the road behind us, and we were all hoping to get a glimpse of His Royal... Read more →