Well, I was certainly up early enough this morning! It was good though, because I didn’t have to rush. It took me a couple of tries to get Wanda off the hook. I ferried all my stuff, and Wanda in stages. First outside the room, then on the first landing going downstairs. I was lucky because a guy going out the same time, helped me bring all the bags outside. Not that anything would have happened, but there were a lot of homeless people hanging out in front of the hostel on the “people street”. Didn’t really want to leave stuff unattended. I did briefly, once Wanda was all loaded, so I could take the key card back to the front desk. I left the hostel about 6:00. It took a little longer than I expected to ride the 1.1 miles to the Space Needle. Fantastic bike infrastructure, just a lot of stop and go.
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| 4th Ave |
I got to the Space Needle in time to eat a Pro Meal bar for breakfast before the others started arriving.
Luke (the new organizer) showed up shortly after me. Bit by bit other riders started rolling in. All told, there were 11 of us. One other woman (Vivian) with her husband on e-bikes (they are doing a bit different routing (not the Palouse to Cascades, I think). Most of the guys are around my age with one younger guy (Adam). Two guys are from Wales (Chris and Rob). One guy is from South Carolina (Gary). I didn’t get the names of the others. Luke took a group photo with our phones.
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| Luke |
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| The group. |
I think we actually rolled out a little before 7:00. I was with the guys from Wales, and Adam. I rode a bit with another guy, but I didn’t catch his name.
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| Rolling out |
The Fremont Bridge was up, so we had to wait for that.
Before long, we were heading over the 520 bridge. Just before, I went up to the overlook to take a photo. There was a guy there named Christopher. He asked where we were going. I said Washington DC. He asked me again. Again I said Washington DC. Then he said, “Holy crap! I thought I didn’t hear you right the first time!” He was taking lavender to sell, and gave me a bunch.
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| A bridge I wasn’t going over, but thought was cool. |
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| Blueberry fritter |
Just after the donut place, the route turned off the 520 Trail, and headed into Marymore Park and the Sammamish River Trail. There were lots of people, and also some running event.
It was a lot of, “On your left!” Finally got past the turnaround for the runners. I kept seeing g signs saying, “Trail Closed Ahead”. Just as I got to the closure, I saw two bikes go up a gravel driveway to Sammamish Pkwy. After about 1/4 mile, I saw a guy coming out to the road. I asked if the trail was open now. He said it was, and asked me how far it was closed. Handy exchange of info!
Next was the turn for the Issaquah-Preston Trail. There was even a bit of gravel.
Then it became the Preston-Snoqualmie Trail. I’ve been on both of these trails before. I remembered there was a nasty switchback section. Going the way I was going, it would be uphill. Luke had told us at the beginning that there was a trail closure. He said when we came to Fall City Rd, turn left onto the road. I thought he meant the stupid little gratuitous trail section to keep you off the road was what he was talking about. I turned left, then came to the switchback section. Okay, there was a “Trail closed” sign, but I thought that was just for the other part. So, I hike-a-biked up the switchbacks.
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| See the switchbacks? |
Got to the top, and started riding again. Came to a bridge…and a closed trail. Oops…guess it was that part. Went back down the switchbacks (walking down too). Got on the road like I should have done in the first place!
The route went through Fall City, and on a connector trail up to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail (anyone counting how many trails?). The SVT does a weird thing where it dead ends at the Tokul Rd tunnel. There is only a very steep, loose gravel trail up to Tokul Rd. I looked at my map. It showed a trail after the tunnel that went up to a paved road (60th, I think). I decided to check it out. Turns out it was way better than trying to go up the steep trail! I don’t know why it’s not routed that way.
The road goes into Snoqualmie. There is saw Gary. He said two of the other guys went to Snoqualmie Falls (I’m guessing they aren’t from here either). I told Gary I wanted to get to the Cedar River Watershed Education Center before they closed at 5:00, so I could get water. He said Vivian and her husband were not far behind, and they were planning to stay in North Bend in a hotel (that’s the thing about e-bikes, gotta charge them). Gary was planning (along with the other two guys) on going to Alice Creek. By my calculations, that meant there would be at least 6 at Alice Creek. There are 4 sites.
Back on Wanda, I rode the Palouse to Cascades from right near the Center. Most people don’t ride that part because it just comes out to the road, not the trailhead parking lot.
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| The actual beginning/end of the trail. |
I did toy with the idea of going to Alice Creek, but when I realized how many would already be there, I decided to just stealth camp at the trailhead. Besides, I had done 62 miles. Didn’t really have another 6 in me.
It was a good start, and I’m glad the first day is done!
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