September 29, 2010
It seems like we are always in a hurry. Gotta rush here, run there, can’t be late, gotta go gotta go!
Damn shame too. I’m as guilty as the next guy, but sometimes it’s nice to just take your time and get there when you get there. Freeways were invented so we could save time, not have to travel through a town, and keep us movin’. My commute is literally all freeways, so I can travel many miles in a fairly short time---unless the State Patrol is watching!
So, the other night I decided to take the long way home. We were blessed with one of those autumn days that was sunny and warm, and I had nowhere to be right after work. I took off from Lacey and headed toward Yelm, down Marvin Road, took a left at the stupidfuckinroundabout (what is with all the traffic planners in this state putting in these damn things?), and headed out Highway 510, past the casino and into the beautiful bustling metropolis of Yelm. Ok, so a nice relaxing ride in the country usually is NOT going to include riding through town, especially Yelm, but once you pass the business areas, the road is nice, with some kick ass views of Mt Rainier. Plus, if you happen to get thirsty, the Puerto Vallarta Restaurant there makes a killer Cadillac Margarita!
It seems like we are always in a hurry. Gotta rush here, run there, can’t be late, gotta go gotta go!
Damn shame too. I’m as guilty as the next guy, but sometimes it’s nice to just take your time and get there when you get there. Freeways were invented so we could save time, not have to travel through a town, and keep us movin’. My commute is literally all freeways, so I can travel many miles in a fairly short time---unless the State Patrol is watching!
So, the other night I decided to take the long way home. We were blessed with one of those autumn days that was sunny and warm, and I had nowhere to be right after work. I took off from Lacey and headed toward Yelm, down Marvin Road, took a left at the stupidfuckinroundabout (what is with all the traffic planners in this state putting in these damn things?), and headed out Highway 510, past the casino and into the beautiful bustling metropolis of Yelm. Ok, so a nice relaxing ride in the country usually is NOT going to include riding through town, especially Yelm, but once you pass the business areas, the road is nice, with some kick ass views of Mt Rainier. Plus, if you happen to get thirsty, the Puerto Vallarta Restaurant there makes a killer Cadillac Margarita!
So, after crawling 25 mph through the city (remember, I am not in a hurry), the main road becomes Highway 507 and eases into McKenna. There is a stoplight in McKenna (yes, A stoplight) and you can either hang a right a go straight for about ten miles to the Mountain Highway (Highway 7) near Eatonville, but I decided to continue straight and cruise along the backside of Fort Lewis and into Roy. Roy is home to three bars, a gas station/mini-mart, the Wilcox dairy and a few other businesses. Take your time, follow the speed limit, and you will be through it in about 2 minutes. Heading out of Roy, the road continues up to the “Roy Y”, or the junction of Highway 507 and Highway 7. A left turn put me onto Highway 7 (also known as Pacific Avenue) and I rode north until I got to Highway 512.
It was starting to get dark, so I jumped onto 512 and rolled up to about 65 for the rest of the ride home.
It was starting to get dark, so I jumped onto 512 and rolled up to about 65 for the rest of the ride home.
Took me a little over an hour, and clocked out at just over 50 miles. Other than the trek through Yelm, there is usually very little traffic to contend with, and the ride in the country always melts away any stress. I’ve said it before, not all my rides have to be 300 or 400 miles---as the weather gets colder, and the days get shorter, the “long way home” is often just what I need!