Pierce County Executive, Bruce Dammeier announcement.
Milestones in your personal and professional life are important. They mark significant events that give you a chance to pause and reflect – and, in many cases, celebrate!
1983 was a big year in my life! I graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and began my active-duty service in the Navy. But far more significantly, I married then Lauren Anderson. On October 1st, we committed to face life together, before God, our family, and friends – through all its ups and downs. And the 40 years since have been one adventure after another – not nearly the life we expected.
So, when thinking about how we should celebrate our 40th anniversary, it seemed only appropriate to have another adventure. So, we chose a bike trip on the coast of Maine! Living in the most northwestern state (sorry, Alaska), a visit to the most northeastern state sounded interesting and fun.
And it was!
We joined a 5-day bike ride with “Backroads” – a company focused on bike tours and other active adventures – starting in Portland, Maine. For two days we rode in the Acadia National Park, including part of the 45-miles of rustic carriage roads built and gifted by John D. Rockefeller.
One ride included “climbing” to Cadillac Mountain. While no Mount Rainier, (14,411 feet versus 1,530), it is the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the U.S., and I definitely earned my lunch while enjoying the view of Bar Harbor!
We then shifted further down the coast to Camden for our last three days of riding, including out to Owls Head Lighthouse. We ended up riding over 135 miles and +8,000 ft of vertical – not huge but respectable.
Along the way, we saw and experienced Maine at a nice pace. The coastline was spectacular, the leaves were just starting to turn, and of course lobster was everywhere – lobster rolls, t-shirts, decorations, and dog toys! But I did not know that Maine is the number one producer of wild blueberries, too! Mainers are hardy, as featured in the art of James Wyeth at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland. And they have a rich connection to the sea, highlighted at the Maritime Museum in Bath.
All in all, it was a great way to celebrate our 40th anniversary – remembering where we have been and excited for what adventures lie ahead!
How have you celebrated milestones in your life?
P.S. We have a number of employees who will be marking a fun milestone in their lives – come join us as we celebrate Standing Ovation Award winners and other honorees on November 1. You can get your tickets and more details here.
Bruce Dammeier,
Fun article and photos. Thank you for sharing your bike ride adventure.
I wish I had known you were on the East Coast. I would have invited you two to ride your bikes down to Joe’s Bar located at my home in Delaware. We could have enjoyed a Cuban Espresso or a glass of BSB (A classy bourbon originally distilled in Gig Harbor) together as we swapped some stories.
I like hanging out with winners. You, my friend, are obviously a can do, let’s do, will do, accomplished winner.
Keep having adventures.
Joe Boyle – Former Pierce County Resident 62 years.
My birthday is this weekend – my family is really upset we are not getting together to celebrate but I have repeatedly told them this is and has been a week of celebration – my late husband was honored at the pinning ceremony hosted by Rep Strickland and two of my daughters attended – I attended 2 Bible study groups – participated in the monthly meeting of the Human Services Advisory Board for the City of Lakewood – had a skin check and a biopsy was taken – saw the street crew cleaning the lights in a hanging light at an intersection (never entered my mind they needed cleaning) – finally got the correct email address for a family who lived on the same stairwell in 1970 as we did in Germany – talked to a grand daughter in California who is due anytime – learned great granddaughter has a soccer game in Longview today and her grandparents are going down and probably will spend the weekend – planing to go to the Mannheim Steamroller concert Thanksgiving weekend with partner and a neighbor military wife whose husband will be on duty – oh almost forgot – have about 25 daffodil bulbs to plant – am going to the Celtic Fair at a local church today – and I got a birthday card from my pastor! Wow! what a celebration