When I was a kid three activities ruled my summers: Root Beer popsicles, great books, and riding my bike as fast as possible. I’m a little afraid to try Root Beer popcicles today for fear they won’t live up to my memories but I always have a book to read and after a long hiatus I can proudly say I haven’t forgotten how to ride a bike.
Lopez is the most bike-friendly island in the San Juan’s and even though I don’t have a bike of my own my sister-in-law arranged for a loaner so I wouldn’t be left out of the fun of a big family ride along the beach. We filled our backpacks with snacks and followed the twisty island roads for an early evening adventure. The kids explored the beach skipping rocks and climbing logs while the adults relaxed in the sun until it was time to pedal our way back to the BBQ and dinner.
With a view like this I didn’t want the ride to end. 🙂
Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Summer Lovin’.
Northwest Frame of Mind 
My grandfather, who lived in Las Vegas NV, used to make the most awesome root beer ice cream floats when we visited in the summertime. Thanks for prompting the good memory.
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You’re welcome, Eric. 🙂 A root beer float sounds great right about now…
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You KNOW I can relate to that! Just came back from. A 31 miler along the samamish river. Loved it! And for me it was cream cicles for the summer. Had one on thE first Seattle to Portland ride and it was heaven. Haven’t had one since fearin it won’t live up tone last one.
Great post! And love the bike pictures
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I thought you’d like this one, Tony. 🙂 Today was a perfect day for a riverside ride and yep, creamsicles were another favorite of ours.
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Totally evocative of summer, those images, Lisa – totally ! I grew up living on a very big bay of a river, and we all had bikes … Lovely shots.
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Thanks, M-R. 🙂 A river bay sounds like the perfect place for kids to be free on their bikes.
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Summer = BBQ
Now that brings back summer memories.
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Yes! We’re bbq-ing again tonight. 🙂
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Oh, I wish I had outside space to do that.
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Fun and relaxing summertime in NW! 🙂
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It sure is, Amy!
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Wonderful memories of your childhood that I’m sure inspires you to build similar ones with your children.
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Yes they do, Sally. It’s so great to watch Ryan be perfectly content with nothing more than his bike, a stick and a beach. Popsicles are just icing on the cake. 🙂
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Sounds like a great way to spend a day…and nice, flat riding! 🙂
janet
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Yes it was, Janet. 😉
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It’s so open and flat. I wouldn’t blame for not ending the ride. Did you cycle the whole island?
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The kids weren’t up for that long of a ride but strong riders certainly can cover the whole island in one day.
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Beautiful view! Ah.. 🙂
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Thanks, Andy. 🙂 Lopez is a beautiful Island and full of great views.
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How lovely! I’m working on my own post for this challenge and never considered what was once my favorite activities; reading and bike riding. Thanks for the memories. Great post!
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Thanks so much, Dawn! I’m looking forward to reading about your Summer Lovin’ moments. 🙂
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I’m with Tony – it was creamssicles and bike rides for me! Great memories in this one!
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What fun, Tina! Believe it or not my husband just came home with a box of creamsicles for dessert tonight. 🙂
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What a perfect image of NW summer! I need to get my bike out …
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This should be a fantastic week for some bike riding, D’Arcy. 🙂
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In all the US TV and movies I’ve seen, I’ve never heard of creamsicles, but I am now consumed with curiosity! A friend just brought me back two bars of Theo’s chocolate. I haven’t even cracked them open yet…
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You’ll love the Theo’s chocolate! Creamcicles are an orange flavored ice cream bar on a stick with a vanilla cream center. Fruity and delicious. :). If you make it back here to the US again they will be waiting in the grocery stores. 🙂
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Thanks! We had a few different Theo’s bars on our last visit, and I told Deb she had to try them too – so of course she brought some back as well – dark choc with Chili, and Fig, Fennel and Almond dark choc (which we had for ‘lunch’ at he Seattle sculpture park, along with a packet of Pop chips – nearly 3 whole years now, and a memorable meal!)
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What an absolutely beautiful place for a bike ride or even just a walk.
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Thanks, Ruth it was a great place for vacation.
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looks a nice and calm place 🙂
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You’re right, Joshi. It was. 🙂
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Absolutely stunning view there, Lisa. I could sit for hours there just looking at it. Doesn’t look like it’s too windy too. Root Beer popsicles. I never had that but I loved drinking Root Beer when I was a kid. I think when summer rolls around in Melbourne I will make my own 🙂
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I hope you try them when the weather heats up, Mabel. 🙂 I was surprised that evening by the calm air as we usually have a lot of wind off the water but every once in a while we can enjoy the view without hair in our faces. 🙂
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I love this! It brought back so many summer memories when I was a kid. Thanks for that gift. Being in Austria, doesn’t leave much room for a good popsicle…not to mention a root beer float or anything of that nature…but italian ice cream from organic milk products is a wonderful substitute . 🙂
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Oh, Italian ice cream sounds fantastic! It’s great that we can share a moment of fun summer memories even though we live in different parts of the world. 🙂
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I used to make root beer popsicle too but not from scratch. I’d simply freeze Hires Root Beer onto a posicle stick. Good stuff!
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Frozen Hires Root Beer sounds great to me, Allan! I’ve had homemade root beer before and have to admit I prefer the commercial grade, store bought stuff… 🙂
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Lisa, it sounds like your vacation was fantastic! Thanks for sharing these glimpses with us!
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It was a vacation to remember, Nancy. 🙂 I’m glad you like the views I’ve shown so far because there are plenty more photos to share!
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[…] https://nwframeofmind.com/2014/07/26/weekly-photo-challenge-summer-lovin/ […]
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What a view. I wouldn’t want to end the ride too, esp. if the weather cooperates. Have a wonderful weekend Lisa!
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Thanks so much, Bebs. 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
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Great summer memories. I don’t know that I’ve had root beer popsicles, but I definitely used to ride my bike everywhere, barefooted at that. And I spent long hours absorbed in a good book. Oh those summer days as a kid! I’ve head the San Juan Islands are wonderful!
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I felt like we got a small taste of those fun summer days with this trip, just enough to bring back all sorts of memories. 🙂 If you ever make it up to Western Washington the San Juan’s are beautiful and I think you’d have a wonderful visit!
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I bet the whole trip was lovely, especially savoring those memories. We thought about coming up that way next week, but because I wasn’t sure I’d have my passport to get into Canada (I had to drop it at the Chinese embassy for a work visa), we changed our plans at the last minute to Puerto Rico. Maybe next year!
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Puerto Rico sounds great too! Enjoy your trip. 🙂
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Thanks so much!
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