May 22, 2011
Our weather this year cannot make up its mind: one minute it is dry, and then the rain comes in sideways! In recent days, I have seen, in the course of 4 hours; rain, hail, wind, and sun. The forecast for Sunday called for “scattered showers” but fairly mild temps, although nowhere near the high 60s we should be getting this time of year.
Global warming my ass.
Anyway, I had had enough, and I decided to go for a ride on Sunday, regardless of whether I would get rained on or not. Sometimes, I just need the wind in my face and my knees in the breeze! I had been toying with an idea for a ride since last summer, but had yet to make it happen. So, I headed off from the house and headed north. The temp was in the mid-50s, so I didn’t need the heated gear, but I did have my rain gear in the saddlebag. I rolled north on I-5 through Tacoma and Seattle, hitting a minor rain squall for about 5 miles or so…just enough to get the bike dirty, but not quite enough to piss me off.
Our weather this year cannot make up its mind: one minute it is dry, and then the rain comes in sideways! In recent days, I have seen, in the course of 4 hours; rain, hail, wind, and sun. The forecast for Sunday called for “scattered showers” but fairly mild temps, although nowhere near the high 60s we should be getting this time of year.
Global warming my ass.
Anyway, I had had enough, and I decided to go for a ride on Sunday, regardless of whether I would get rained on or not. Sometimes, I just need the wind in my face and my knees in the breeze! I had been toying with an idea for a ride since last summer, but had yet to make it happen. So, I headed off from the house and headed north. The temp was in the mid-50s, so I didn’t need the heated gear, but I did have my rain gear in the saddlebag. I rolled north on I-5 through Tacoma and Seattle, hitting a minor rain squall for about 5 miles or so…just enough to get the bike dirty, but not quite enough to piss me off.
WELCOME TO BELLINGHAM!
THEY EVEN HAVE A SIGN!
I have written before about riding through Seattle on a Sunday morning, and this was no exception: no traffic, no delays, and no police! I blasted all the way up the interstate to Bellingham, and then started the ride I had wanted all along.
I took Exit 254 and turned onto State Street, and followed it down toward the water (Bellingham Bay). State Street becomes 11th Street, then 12th Street, then Chuckanut Drive (also known as State Route 11). Chuckanut Drive then winds through Fairhaven and along the shorelines of Chuckanut Bay, Pleasant Bay, and Wildcat Cove. Gorgeous views of the water are everywhere, though somewhat shrouded by trees and vegetation. Passing Larrabee State Park, the road then heads south away from the shoreline and into farmland, before joining up with I-5 at milepost 231. So it’s only a 23-mile ride, but absolutely beautiful…and not a freeway!
I took Exit 254 and turned onto State Street, and followed it down toward the water (Bellingham Bay). State Street becomes 11th Street, then 12th Street, then Chuckanut Drive (also known as State Route 11). Chuckanut Drive then winds through Fairhaven and along the shorelines of Chuckanut Bay, Pleasant Bay, and Wildcat Cove. Gorgeous views of the water are everywhere, though somewhat shrouded by trees and vegetation. Passing Larrabee State Park, the road then heads south away from the shoreline and into farmland, before joining up with I-5 at milepost 231. So it’s only a 23-mile ride, but absolutely beautiful…and not a freeway!
CHUCKANUT BAY
A BIT OF CHUCKANUT DRIVE
A BIT MORE OF CHUCKANUT DRIVE
PLEASANT BAY
I could have just ridden I-5 back to Tacoma and home again, but where’s the fun in that? I decided to take a favorite back way home again, so after sailing south n the interstate, I took the exit onto Highway 2 at Everett, and headed east toward the town of Monroe. Highway 2 is a great road, especially once past Monroe and over Stevens Pass into Leavenworth and Wenatchee. Today, however, I turned off the highway in Monroe and headed south on Highway 203.
203 is a great road for riding…2 lanes, very little traffic, and a posted limit of up to 55 mph (like I ever do 55!). This gorgeous country road winds through the towns of Duvall, Carnation, and Fall City before hooking up with Highway 202. This is the road that took me to Snoqualmie Falls, perfect time for a rest stop and a coke.
203 is a great road for riding…2 lanes, very little traffic, and a posted limit of up to 55 mph (like I ever do 55!). This gorgeous country road winds through the towns of Duvall, Carnation, and Fall City before hooking up with Highway 202. This is the road that took me to Snoqualmie Falls, perfect time for a rest stop and a coke.
NEAR BOW, WASHINGTON
YUP, IT'S ME
SOMEWHERE ALONG HIGHWAY 203
SNOQUALMIE FALLS
From the Falls, I headed through the town of Snoqualmie and back down to Highway 18, over Tiger Mountain, and dropped down into Auburn. A short hop on Highway 167, then Highway 410 and I was rolling home….only got rained on once, and clocked just over 300 miles after I left.