Tulip Loop

Ok, so the original idea was to ride the Centennial Trail from Arlington to Snohomish and back. In February we rode it from Snohomish and almost made it to Arlington. It was a great ride. This time Nadine suggested we start at Arlington, and maybe catch the new spur north of Arlington too. She had a couple of errands to run up in that area, so she figured we could ride in the afternoon after the errands.

On the long drive up to her cousin's house (Nadine seems to have cousins everywhere) it occurred to me that it was Skagit Tulip festival time and we were nearby. I suggested a change of plans and she eagerly agreed. So after her errands, instead of Arlington we drove to Mount Vernon and stopped to visit, yet another cousin!

You've got to start a big ride with a big meal. We had a really good lunch at Kelly's BBQ in Mount Vernon and then we were off.

Barbecue

Kelley's BBQ

Nadine cruising on Allen-Avon Road

Soon we saw our first field of Skagit County flowers, but i don't think it was the type of flower that the County leaders were advertising!

Dandelions

Bald Eagle

Share The Road!

We were riding in farm country here. The roads were narrow but almost empty. However we did share the road with tractors several times. The Skagit river delta is a lovely place to ride. The Tulip festival is the month of April every year, but it's a friendly area with quiet roads. And it's flat. Very flat. Of course you often have to deal with "Dutch Hills" (headwinds) but we were spared that today.

new fender

Nadine & Mark

chickens

a few flowers

a few anarchic flowers

llamas in the front yard

a sign no cyclist wants to see

another eagle

Bow, Washington

We decided to ride north first. The roads are very straight, and we rode directly north to Bow Hill, the only elevation change on our route, a bit of a short climb up, and a steep screaming descent in to Bow. I've passed through Bow on several bike rides, but mostly i know it from speeding past many times on the train to Vancouver. From there we continued to Edison. I'd never been to Edison and i was expecting a 3 horse town like Bow, but that was not the case. Edison was really cute, a nice little downtown with cafes and shops and galleries. Next ride i will make it a lunch spot. I'm looking forward to that.

Stave Church south of Edison WA

Bayview WA

view of Padilla Bay

farmer working

We discovered an interesting trail along the levee called the Padilla Bay Trail, unfortunately we discovered the south end of it, after riding paralell to it for half an hour or so. When i do the ride to Edison i will ride this trail!

Padilla Bay Trail

trail gate

Nadine drafting, Skagit county style

Once we were south of highway 20 again we started to see more tulip tourists, the roads became a bit more crowded. We stopped for ice cream at a farm -- i was skeptical, i'm a bit of an ice cream snob, but i was thrilled, this was great ice cream and much needed fuel.

About this point it became obvious that we were going to run over schedule; we had had a very nice ride, but we not made it to LaConner or seen any Tulips. We could cut off the southern loop, turn left now and ride back to Mount Vernon, and probably see Tulips on the way. But Nadine decided to skip her afternoon appointment and we pushed on south, now experiencing a little bit of the Dutch Hills.

In the town of LaConner, which was very, very busy with tourists, we got fantastic frybread salmon tacos at the little tribal stand in the middle of town and then headed back into farm fields.

strange trench

In a number of fields we saw this strange fresh trenching. I had no idea what it was for, perhaps drainage.

Asparagus

Finally, after looping down almost to Conway, and then swinging back up towards Mount Vernon we started to see the bigger fields of flowers.

Daffodils

Bianchi wants to roll

And yes, after only 40 miles in the Skagit flats, we DID see tulips!

Tulips

riding through the Tulips

purple Tulips

Nadine in the Tulip fields

more purple Tulips

Another way of photographing the tulips

lush red tulips

Rozengarden

Rozengarden

map

Bianchi

night loop

I was intensely focused. My shadow stretched far in front of me, far out of proportion with me or my bike. My friend behind me was nervous about the gravel trail in the dark. I was focused on keeping strong in front of her until we were out of the park. Her light was casting my shadow on the pitch dark trail along the edge of Puget Sound. The wind was so strong, waves were breaking over the edge of the trail. I concentrated on the cone of light from my generator, kept the bike a solid wind break moving forward. My mind was clear, so rare in today's hyper distracted world. I was focused on the shaddow, on the trail, on the waves, on the bike. Keeping straight down the trail. And enjoying every second of it!

Lincoln Park is a favorite ride of mine. I had been looking forward to riding it at night. It started as a very calm ride. Auri wanted some miles after work and suggested dinner in White Center. That's an area that i have spent very little time and i was excited about seeing it. We left downtown on Airport Way.

Auri on Airport Way

LINK light-rail car shop

The 'R' in Rail is actually the 'R' in the 'Rainier' sign for so many years on the Rainier Brewery across the street. (Not the giant 'R' that was on top of the building).

attempt to get a photo of Aurilee with the fabulously blooming cherry trees in White Center

We rode a few loops of downtown White Center and then had a huge meal at a Cambodian restaurant.

a lot of food

After dinner, and after dark, we took a nice looping ride along Marine Drive towards Fauntleroy. It was a peaceful night as we entered Lincoln Park and casually rode up to the point. We started to feel a few droplets, but we could see stars. It was a nice night. But as soon as we came around the point, we came around into the wind, and it was a very strong wind. The droplets were not wind, but sea spray. The trail is along the seawall, for the length of the park. It was high tide and there was no beach exposed. The waves were not crossing the trail, but they were spraying onto it. Quite suddenly it became a very intense ride. I enjoyed it. I really liked the focus, the work, and i liked being able to handle it.

I found a moment of self awareness, seeing myself pulling through the wind, almost from outside, but most of that stretch i was focused and very present. I love the feeling of the sea spray, the experience of being out in the weather, of doing something. It felt real.

After the park is a cute little alley with tightly packed waterfront houses, and at the end of that alley was a brightly lit house. We were surprised to see Christmas lights this far into spring, but upon closer inspection, we saw they were for EASTER! I had never seen Easter lights before.

Easter Lights

We were somewhat sheltered from the wind along Beach Ave, but once we got to Alki, where we were hoping to have coffee, or dessert, the wind was full force.

strong wind at Alki

a ferry in the distance

Unfortunately nothing was open on this blustery night. But once we made the turn around Duwamish head, that screaming wind was at our backs, pushing us towards home!

Seattle skyline

Seattle skyline

Seattle skyline

SCUBA divers at Seacrest Park

SCUBA divers at Seacrest Park

wandering Magnolia

Nadine and i decided to ride to Magnolia. I hadn't been there in quite a while and she wasn't sure if she ever had. We hoped for a half day ride.

We met at Gas Works Park, her friend Karen came along. Karen is a strong cyclist even though she has only recently starting cycling and is still learning the ropes.

Nadine preparing to ride


Karen is ready to go!

We started out on the Burke Gillman Trail and rode to Ballard. This is such a standard, familiar route for all Seattle cyclists, that we almost don't think about it, but i try to remind myself how wonderful this route is. It's very beautiful, calm and friendly -- until the ugly railroad tracks at the missing link under the Ballard bridge.

Before we went into the locks, i showed them the new Salish Welcome artwork. That photo didn't come out but i really liked the drain grate in front of it and that photo did.


There was a fishing boat just entering the locks from Lake Union when we got there, and well, locks are really cool, so we stayed and watched the boat drop 23 feet in about 6 minutes and then head out and into Puget Sound!


We climbed up into Discovery Park, which is an old army base (Fort Lawton). And i do mean climbed! We're going up from sea level at the locks to about 450 feet in the park, pretty quickly. The park has many paved roads through the forests, meadows and beaches. It's a great place.

We took in the gorgeous view across Puget Sound and then instead of riding extremly scenic Magnolia Boulevard at the edge of the bluff headed along the center dip in Magnolia, admiring 1950s houses, and on into the village where we had lunch. We called a friend from Trek Tri-Island, and she was thrilled to hear from us and joined us while we ate.

Nadine & Carna

Here's the route we took around Magnolia.

We returned, more directly to the Ballard Locks, followed the bike route over the steep wooden bike bridge over the railroad tracks down to the Locks again. After watching another boat go through the locks, rising up this time, we took a brief detour out to Golden Gardens where we got another view of the sound and of about a dozen and half turtles sunning themselves in the lagoons behind the beach.


Back through downtown Ballard (with a stop at the Dutch Bike Shop).

artwork at Bergen Place

We talked about gearing and shifting a bit -- not an easy thing to figure out, and then pedaled back to Nadine's car at Gas Works Park.

I decided to run some errands in Fremont, about 5 stops later i had a muffin and soda but not much else, and i headed home. I decided to take the slightly longer but much more fun way up the hill via Interlaken. I frequently ride this way, i really like it.

This takes me around the University of Washington, where there was lots of bicycle traffic, past the stadium across the canal and into the residential Montlake neighborhood where i often pass this interesting bike art hanging in the trees.

The poetry changes regularly. Some cyclists feel it is anti-bicycle, others pro. I kind of like it.


Interlaken Park


my favorite ride through Interlaken Park

There has been some slope shifting this winter on the climb up through Interlaken park and so the park road is, happily, closed to cars.


The nicest sign a cyclist can ever see.

As i approached the road closed sign on the climb, i saw a line of five or six skateboarders coming down the hill - FAST. I was happy to stop and let them through the gap. I noticed that when each skateboarder saw me approaching they clapped their gloves loudly. I figured that was a creative way to warn the skateboarder behind them that there was traffic. I'm always fascinated by systems like that.


skateboard 1


skateboard 2


skateboard 4


full route - dotted lines are me alone, solid red is the three of us.

A fun ride, 34 miles total, 22 as a group. It wasn't half a day, but the whole day. And i got a little sunburn on my nose cheeks and especially my lips. I'm going to have to be careful as the weather gets warmer and clearer.

nice legs

Riding to my meeting this evening i felt sluggish, a little slow.

Riding home, on the empty streets in the dark, i felt strong going uphill.

It feels good when you ask and your legs for some power and immediately the bike surges forward. You are one with the bike, can go where you want, where you need. It moves. YOU move! You move yourself! It feels great, it feels free, it feels powerful.

And 14 more miles under my belt for April.

Doe Bay

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend at Doe Bay on Orcas Island.

I was with an Art Camp For Big Kids group. It was an intense weekend in a truly gorgeous spot. Good food, good people, forest, hot tubs, and art classes.

On the way out to Doe Bay we stopped at a pie shop i had bicycled past last September. They were out of the Salmon Pie i was craving, but chicken pie was amazing. By far the best i've ever had (and i don't say that lightly, i'm very picky!).

The weekend was spent in often intense, always social and fun art classes. I taught a chocolate tasting class as part of the event. The location was amazing and i really enjoyed getting to spend some time in the hot tubs in the forest.


table of art


photographing art installation


art installation at Doe bay


Art instructors Jenna Lori & Cherrie

On the way home we stopped in LaConner for frybread salmon tacos that were fantastic and then we drove through the tulip fields looking for tulips. They were a little late this year, but we did see a few. The Skagit flats are along the water on one side and the high mountains on the other side, and the clouds that day were amazing. As we wandered the tulip fields i could look up to the mountains, clouds sticking to them like honey, and i could see rain storms, rain coming down, in FIVE different locations. It was awesome.

I was glad that Gene was driving, i was really tired. I don't ride in a car very often and i don't really enjoy it, Gene's a very good driver, but i was quite happy to be home, although it was a bit discombobulating to walk through my urban neighborhood not that long after being in the forest by the bay on the island.

17 consecutive days

I look for balance in all things. That doesn't mean that i don't often have a drive, inside, to strive for some kind of extreme -- i often do. I consider it a flaw. Balance, i think, is the more healthy, and for that matter, more real path to follow.

Between the extremes is the path.
(Sign between the sauna and cold plunge at an outdoor spa i used to visit frequently.)

I ride my bicycle regularly. I don't like that i track miles, but i do. It's an obsession. An embarrassing one. I don't ride for miles, or for validation, or for pain or anything. I don't even ride for stories, although that is a great benifit.

I ride to get places and I ride to ride my bike. I ride because it is joyful and i feel better when i do. I ride to see the places my bike takes me, places i would never get to see otherwise! At the core of my personality, i'm a traveler, always learning, always trying to figure out now things and new places. I get to travel every day, my bike takes me places.

Some people are spending April trying to ride every day, and write about it. It's called 30 days of biking. I think it's great, it's good motivation, especially if you're not yet in the habit (or want to get the habit back). And it's fun. And cycling should be fun. It's a little extreme for me; i've bicycled in all but about a dozen months since 1971, but i've never, i think, biked every day. I kind of was tracking (quietly): Maybe i would get every day -- not to be extreme or anything.

Yesterday, April 12th, i rode to Bike Works to do some database work. 13 more miles for April. After that i had biked 17 consecutive days, 249 total miles, since March 27th.

Today i was sick. Bit of fever, runny nose, very tired, headache. I really don't want to be sick when i go to Orcas Island on the weekend so i took it easy, napped and read all day. I did get up off the couch in the evening -- i walked to get some dinner with a friend. But i didn't get on my bike. Not even around the block. Oh well. I'll still ride most days in April. I'm going out of town this weekend and will probably miss at least one day, maybe more.

Here's where i rode during those 17 days.


And a close up.


I'll post the same full route map for all of April at the end of the month.

planning a tour

Yesterday i taught a chocolate tasting class on the other side of the hill. I biked there (in nice clothing) with the chocolate and props in my trailer. It was maybe 6 miles on the day.

Sometimes i work as a bicycle tour guide for a friend who runs bike tours of Seattle. It's lots of fun riding around Seattle talking about the history and details of the neighborhoods.

Today i met with him at a coffee shop in Pioneer Square. Our plan was to brush up on our tours. We'd ride a circuit of central Seattle together, talking with each other about route choices and notable highlights. We both are interested in history, have been in Seattle for a long time and bike everywhere. We both talk a lot. It was a long day. I had lots of fun and i learned a lot. It was a successful day!


My regular neighborhood photo spot at I. Noguchi's Black Sun in Volunteer Park. Someday i'll do a post with photos of me here in all weather.


Dave at Cal Anderson Park


The cherry trees are in full bloom in The Quad at the University of Washington

Near the Ballard Locks there is a wonderful new piece of artwork called Salish Welcome. It is at the site of one of the major Salish settlements in the area that became Seattle.