Flying High this Weekend?

Whidbey Island Kite Festival this weekend, September 26th and 27th at Fort Casey!  Should be lots of fun.  Visit the Whidbey Island Kite Flyers website for more information: http://www.whidbeykites.org/

or http://www.whidbeykiteclub.com/.  Word has it that the festival is from about 9 AM to 3 PM, but I would check those times, just in case.  There will be many fun events, including kite making for the kids.

Above: Kites at Fort Casey, picture courtesy http://www.whidbeykiteclub.com/gallery.asp?Category=Fun%20Flys

For fun, visit this person's web stream of pictures that are taken form atop their kite, above Fort Casey!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30901290@N03/

Northwest Bicycle Rides and Events: Get Biking this Summer!

Northwest Bike Rides and Events

http://www.cascade.org/Community/Bike_Rides.cfm

Of Special Note are these Biking Events located in Washington:

• Ride Around Mt. Rainer in One Day (RAMROD) Enumclaw, WA on July 30, 2009, distance 154 miles http://www.redmondcyclingclub.org/RAMROD/RAMROD.html
• Tour de Peaks, Snoqualmie, WA on Aug 9, 2009. Distance: 61 miles http://www.tourdepeaks.com/
• Seattle to Vancouver BC on August 14-15, 2009, distance 184 miles http://www.cascade.org/EandR/rsvp/index.cfm
• RAPSody 2009 (Ride Around Puget Sound) Tacoma, WA on August 22-23. Distance: 170 miles, a 2-day event http://www.rapsodybikeride.com/
• Headwaters Century in Enumclaw, WA on September 27, 2009. Distance: 45- 65- or 100 -mile http://www.twbc.org/Kitsap Color Classicevents/headwaters/
• Tour des Lacs: Spokane, WA on September 19-20. Distances: 40, 72, or 120 mile courses. http://www.roundandround.com/TourDesLacs/TourDesLacs.php
• ***Tour de Whidbey, Whidbey Island, WA on September 26, 2009. Distances vary from 10 miles to 100. http://www.whidbeygen.org/whidbeygeneralhospitalfoundation/tourdewhidbey
  
• Kitsap Color Classic, Kingston, WA on October 4, 2009. Distances: 14, 25, 36, or 64 miles. Check it out at http://www.cascade.org/EandR/kitsap/index.cfm

***our very own Whidbey Island event!

Watch it Now, Online: "Home" a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

http://www.youtube.com/homeproject

Dyeing the Chicago River Green. . . Is it safe?

Originally the Chicago River was dyed to trace sewage that illegally contaminated the river (1962). Due to the bright green color, it was decided that it would be a festive event to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Apparently there is some environmental impact. . . (only!) 40 pounds of dye is added to the river now, whereas in 1962 it was 100 pounds.

A link with some pictures and commentary of the river:
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/03/happy_st_patricks_day.php
More pictures and explanation:
http://www.pbase.com/tianphoto/chicago_river

New Playground on Langley Road: Grand Opening Saturday March 7th

There will be a grand opening for the park on Saturday, I encourage parents to check the park out. It is lots of fun! The playground is located on Langley Road by the new soccer fields. A trail connects the soccer fields on Langley Road with the Community Castle park on Maxwelton Road. For pictures of the unique park (climbing rocks anyone?) checkout my blog entry: http://notesfromtheislandblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/your-sneak-peak-new-playground-at.html


The Grand Opening is 12:00 -2:00 pm, and includes a ribbon cutting ceremony with our newest South Whidbey County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson and FREE COOKIES! (thanks Sarah for the info!)

Langley's Soup Box Derby: Saturday September 20th at 9AM

Anybody who is anybody will be there. . . =) I encourage everyone to come to the Langley Soup Box Derby Saturday, that is tomorrow or today or perhaps you are too late! In any case, watch the blog for pictures of the derby and race results. Luc and his Lively Landscape Mobile, plants and all, will be BUZZZING (you'll just have to wait and see what I mean by that =) down the 1st Street hill in Langley. Last year Luc placed 2nd, and this year we hope to WIN! Or at least make it into the newspaper! That's the ultimate goal. Come on over and cheer us on!