Thoughts on Chilly Hilly

I've been riding the route for 2 decades but the actual February ride as a day of volunteer and now as an Outrider. It's a tough ride, with the challenge of weather and my inability to ride up the hills seated. Well, buggering my knee in NZ 10 years ago this week started that. I've adapted with good grace generally and I mostly succeed in not feeling a failure when surrounded by all the stronger, generally younger riders, but some times it gets me down. Lovely sound views and big spreads, but I should return In sunnier warmer weather to visit my favorite places. The ferry ride is nice as are the occasional conversations with other riders, like the Bellingham couple. I was riding my heavier safer bike the 520, so it was more effort. Those ebikes look appealing. I should test ride somehow.
An organized ride like this has appeal. It's nice to be surrounded by such a lot of other people who share love of biking. Traffic is considerate and there are plenty of good shoulders. Maybe I can do baker hill when I return in summer.

7:55 ferry

Reminds me of lemmings headed for the cliff.

In shabby rain slicked Pioneer Square

Outbound and inbound

29.5 miles and 2586'. Weather gods smiled on us. I'm glad I went. Boy last night was thinking of quitting due to forecast of 100% rain. But it held off until the ferry back to the mainland.

Chilly Hilly 2022

Grim weather forecast for this season opening ride on Bainbridge Island (100% rain) but it goes to show you never can tell. It was sunny for the first half to Battle Point, then misty drizzle back to Winslow.

First try at cue sheet and mapping in RidewithGPS

Approach to Anacortes around 5:35pm

Grand cloud formations and a spectacular sunset. What a great day. Escaped the rain at home and completed a winter ride that's one for the books. Even the long drive home was ok as I'd packed a thermos of tea and snarfed down the other half of my Kings grocery sandwich on the ferry. These long day trip rides in the SJs are so worth it.

Back in FH for the 4:30 to Anacortes

Just a handful of walk on passengers, so different to the normal throngs of summer. This circuit was about 30 miles with at least 2500' elevation. Both my Wahoo ELEMNT and Ride with GPS give different metrics, so I split the difference. I was deliberately testing the audio cues on a route I'd designed the day before. Some glitches alerting turns I'd not entered that led into farm roads, but manageable. Obviously you have to edit any automatic cues. But this was a challenging ride for sure.

Making progress

No time/energy to visit the National park but I'm proud of my effort. I'm a better cyclist than I feel I am. Negative self talk be gone!

False Bay and Outlook off Bailer Hill Road

I'd planned a Ride with GPS route and tested as a ride out from FH. Headed out on Argyll towards American Camp but turned left for a favorite route past False Bay then left turn, after passing my favorite "Argentine ranch" onto Bailer Hill for climb to Westside Hwy.

Sunday February 20 day trip to San Juan Island

Leave Seattle at 6:30a for 60+ mile drive north to Anacortes ferry dock and 9am WSF to Friday Harbor, arriving 10:40am. Fare with ($2 bike fee) is $14.85 and $7.40 for over 65). Park for $7 at derelict hotel uphill from terminal and bike to waiting room. Weather dry, cool and partial sun. Fabulous cloud formation. Cafe Demeter closed in December so picked up some passable sandwiches at Kings grocery. Limited choice for my vegetarian friend. Loss of Demeter is bad. There is a good co-op in FH which I forgot about. Next time… if you don't have time to stop at co op in Mt Vernon these early start rides require you to make a decent lunch. Also have full tank of gas. Preparation is key.

The tools of a writer

A little "still life" I created to use as a talking point for a round of teaching English writing for Ethiopians. It's zoom, it's crazy early for me (on PST) to be on camera, but I think it'll be grand. I don't get much opportunity to teach actual writing in English in my in-person US ESL classes, and I sorely miss it.

Sunday sunset In Sunset Hill

Sunday was an exceptionally fiery sunset.

Valentine’s Day

Loved this natural heart shaped gravel bar. Today's ride wa about 29 miles from a parking spot a few miles east of the real start in Renton. I wanted to conserve some energy to make it to the gravel trail end near Landsburg. The 5 miles (each way) makes for a different ride. Less traffic noise less traffic and fewer pedestrians. The riparian areas and mossy forest are lovely and remind me of the beautiful bits of the C&O I rode in the TransAm. Managed a decent Average speed of 11.2 which meant I upped the effort successfully on the dirt. The rails to trails I experienced last year gave me confidence to do it on my trusty 520 tourer. In a few weeks the hawthorn will bud out. Looking forward to it.

Sunday Feb 13 the Cedar River trail as far as the Landsburg terminus

I can thank the TransAm for opening my eyes to the possibilities of a hard packed rail trail. It's 5 mi each way on dirt from the paved Cedar trail from
Renton and very different ride.

Saturday February 12 XC ski report

Trail was total icy crap, pockmarked with holes made by the groomer in a futile attempt to make it usable. No actual snow on top. It was scary and disheartening as I really did want to end the outing with a trip to the ER. So I stumbled back to the car along the sled dog track (also icy). So for dinner I made comfort food soupe a l'oignon which hit the spot. The arugula is the garnish as all my parsley froze to death a few weeks ago.

J’adore for Valentine’s weekend

After a long 2 years the Atomic Bombshells are back live. At times hilarious at times coarse, and enjoyable with all the tongue in cheek performances.

Signature winter wetlands sight

32 miles, well behaved bird watcher cars and the wheeling flock of skittish squawking snow geese and a late lunch of posole at Farm to Market Bakery. Also an extraordinary flocking of
Bald eagles and other raptors in the low tide of Edison slough. Perhaps some good exposed shellfish in the mud? Definitely something attractive to these monster birds.

Route inspiration

Used my old Mountaineers ride book. Out along the bike route on McLean Road as traffic light and the shoulder wide and only a little gravel. Avon Allen Road back, including the normally one way (wrong way when riding south) link to Allen west. Decided not to follow river route back to Mt Vernon park but I should have stayed on AA back to McLean as fast, rumbles and gravel and glass in inadequate shoulder. Probably worth it to go east of Skagit river and over the bridge, despite the narrow raised and often congested footpath. Maybe park on waterfront and tackle the yucky bridge early.

Sunday February 6

A day too splendid to stay in Seattle even after yesterday's 7 mile skate ski. I kept focus, and came home from Columbia City then out again. Breakfast at Ristrettos in Mt Vernon, a bagel sandwich and coffee, the drive over the narrow Skagit River Bridge to the waterfront park, then a ride out through the fallow tulip fields. Mist lingers but pleasant cool riding temperature, with well tested winter riding kit. Glorious views of the cascades all the way north on I-5. The fields are still waterlogged and there's a lot more standing water this year. Mt Baker shines. The route along Padilla Bay through Bayview is a little foggy until the descent into the berry fields. Then knock out views. Traffic very light until north of Hwy 20.

Saturday skate ski in soft spring conditions

Back to the dog parking for my walk through the woods to the Cascades to Palouse trail.

Tuesday walk to Ballard to run errands