Black Diamond Bakery

I really love Seattle's Light Rail system. It opened almost 2 years ago, after decades of attempts by the automobile lobby to stop it. It's easy and comfortable, and well, it's fun. It's well used by commuters and it's very convenient way to get into the city for a day shopping or to go to museums or a ballgame. It's quickly become the preferred way to get to the airport. But best of all, for me, it's really extended my cycling range. I frequently take the train south of the city to start (or return from) a ride.

Today I was planning to take the train to Tukwila. Fromt here i would ride down the big hill into Renton. Most of that is riding on very busy streets with narrow or non-existent bike lanes. I was daydreaming as the train pulled into Rainier Beach station but i suddenly i realized that Rainier Beach is about the same distance from our meeting point as Tukwila, so i abruptly hopped up and grabbed my bike.

I rode down Rainier Ave S, with wide shoulders and bike lanes, to the Boeing plant and airport in Renton. A pleasant ride around the airport and through the parks in Renton brought me to the start of the Cedar River Trail where Karen & Nadine were waiting.

The Cedar River Trail is is a strange trail, the first 4 miles or so are very popular and have experienced some conflicts between bicycles and pedestrians. The city of Renton has set a 10 mph speed limit, which many cyclists are angry about. It does mean some awfully casual riding that first part. The next section is alongside a major highway and isn't really that pleasant to ride, but then the trail turns off into the woods and becomes one of the most gorgeous rides i know of.

my Bianchi stops for a brief rest

This trail, like other trails made from old railroad right of ways, there are some beautiful old bridges. I really like them -- maybe it's because i like trains, but i do think they are beautiful.

I handed off the camera to Karen and she got a photo of me on the bridge. The beautiful river was very high.

I'm still riding with a backpack, i haven't mounted the rack and trunk bag on my bike since the rebuild. It gets a little annoying, but i have a great backpack, my old MEC convertible (i'll write a review of it sometime) has many many miles on it, mostly commuting.

Karen & Nadine

Eventually this trail gets to the point where the pavement ends. What follows is the best part!

Cedar River Trail w Karen

You can see how wonderful this trail is in this photo of Nadine, who was a little surprised that i snapped a quick picture.

Ostensibly the goal of this ride was the Black Diamond Bakery, for decades a favorite cycling destination. The gravel part of the trail ends at the Seattle City watershed at Landsburg. The rail grade actually continues up to Rattlesnake Lake, but you cannot ride through the watershed. I fully understand how important it is to keep the watershed pristine, but it would be so cool to ride all the way.

We stopped for a brief snack at the park there, and then turned right (south) towards Black Diamond. Quiet roads, rolling hills and old company towns (one timber, one railroad). Pretty foothill country. I've ridden this route before and i told Karen i thought it was about 12 miles. It was only 8 but it seemed much faster than that.

The camera malfunctioned when we arrived in Black Diamond so i can't show the photo of my bike in the pioneer jail. But the goal was the bakery! We had a good meal. The King County ordinance against trans-fats has vastly improved the food at the Black Diamond Bakery after a long decline. And then there was pie. HUGE slices of pie!

Slightly out of character, i had Apple Pie. It was really good! We had fun! We were REALLY full and all had lots of leftovers!

Continuing south after lunch we soon came screaming down off the plateau at the mouth of the Green River Gorge (leaving the Gorge bridge for another day). We also skipped Flaming Geyser state park because of time concerns. We then rode the stunningly beautiful Green River road, through the valley. Quiet roads, farmland, a gentle downhill, this was a really fun ride. However it ended, as it does, at Auburn-Black Diamond Road. This is a terrible road. Narrow, concrete, with parallel expansion joints, and very fast traffic. Back in 1994 on an epic ride, my friend riding in front of me crashed on this road because the pavement was so horrible. I'll write about that ride sometime.

We made it through that and through Auburn and then were on to the Interurban trail, a straight shot back to Renton. I chose to ride up the hill to Tukwilla, just for variety. I finally figured out the unsigned trail maze that helped me avoid some of the worst traffic on the way to the light rail station. And you still have to cross a 2 lane freeway ramp, but they've added a crosswalk.

All in all, an extremely enjoyable 63 miles. Here's the map.