I set out from home as usual to catch the 554 bus to Issaquah. A block from home i decided i should have some tights, and zipped back and grabbed them. It took maybe 2 minutes. I followed my normal route, i bombed down the big hill on Denny Way, made the first few lights, unusually, but then caught every light in Belltown. I was 2 blocks away when i realized i might not make it. While i was waiting for the red light at 5th Ave, just 80 feet from the bus, it pulled out.
When the light changed i sprinted the full block. I caught the bus middle of the next block, and i pulled up far enough to see that the bike rack still had an open spot. As we both turned onto 2nd Ave, i thought briefly of speeding down hill across town to the International District to catch the bus there. I could surely beat the bus down there, but i couldn't be sure the bike rack would be open. So i matched speed with the bus and three blocks later caught it at a stop. I was out of breath when i got on board.
At the Park & Ride in Issaquah i met up with Dennis (Linda had to work), Emily, Karen and Nadine. We rode along Gillman to the Preston-Issaquah trail. I really like this trail. Once out of town there is a short section of big gravel, but then it's smooth dirt through the forest. Karen, with her very narrow tires, was a bit worried at first, but it worked fine. Emily was on her mountain bike.
We got to ride the new trail extension at High Point which was really exciting. That trail section is less than a mile long, but it cuts off 2 miles of extremely hilly, frustrating roadway. It was looseish gravel and Karen wasn't thrilled, but we did fine. That puts you on the wide, flat frontage road to Preston, which has absolutely no traffic.
In Preston we got on the Preston-Fall City trail. This is paved, quiet, through the forest and just wonderful. Oh yeah, and a lot of downhill!
We had mentioned eating lunch in Carnation (we wanted to meet up with our friend Tom) but we were all too hungry and as we got on Fall City road at the end of the Preston trail everyone was suggesting a snack. I knew we would pass a burger joint so i suggested that. We really rode fast the two miles into town!
I got a small fries, thinking this was just a snack. It was HUGE. We all wound up eating lunch, accidentally!
We crossed the river and through the big roundabout to Rutherford Slough road. This is a trail access point that a private property owner had fenced off in a dispute a couple of years ago. Kent and i got trapped twice, once back behind the fence. I wanted to see if the fence was gone. It was. So we climbed the gravel road through the forest up to the Snoqualmie Valley trail.
Once we reached the trail we had a decision to make. We could go right, up hill, through the forest to the end of the trail, or we could go left, downhill to the flats and in to Carnation. Since we thought we still might get to see Tom we went left. It's a lovely pastoral trail. I can't get enough of it.
We stopped at Starbucks in Carnation. We weren't able to meet Tom. We rode the highway back to Fall City instead of the gravel climb. I was a little disappointed but it was a nice ride and i had a good conversation with Emily. Then it was just a rewind. Up hill on the paved Preston trail through the forest was fun and fast, downhill on the gravel trail to Issaquah was as well.
We tried to stop and see Kent at work in Issaquah but he was on a late lunch break. I hopped on the bus at the Park & Ride.
At 38 miles, and 1200 feet of gain, this was a relatively flat ride for western Washington at 35 feet (elevation gain) per mile ridden. I tend to think of over 50 as hilly, under 50 as fairly flat (for the area). The gentlest route for me to ride from my house, to Pioneer Square and back home (about 5 miles) is about 70 feet per mile.
I got off the bus on Merer Island and rode across the bridge and up the ridge to Volunteer park, because i wanted to ride a bit more. I stopped at The Black Sun in the park near sunset. I have photos of my bike in all weather there, figured it was time for another one. I wound up with time in the forest and 49.2 miles for the day. It was good for the soul.
No comments:
Post a Comment