Sunday, February 27, 2011
Reminds me of a Bike Tour
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Noisy Ride
What a spectacularly beautiful day for a ride. Makes me not even care about all the traffic and noise! I left this morning in full sunshine. Yes, it was a little chilly in the shade (particularly when going downhill), but no matter.
I headed out Pacific Ave. toward Nisqually. I figured I would head north to Dupont then decide from there where exactly I would go. Climbing up the long hill on Pacific past the Nisqually River was pretty easy since truck after truck (dump trucks mostly) kept passing me and effectively blowing me up the hill. Plus, there might have been a slight tail wind to begin with.
I got on I-5 for the 3/4 mile stretch to Center Dr. Between getting on and getting off I-5 there is a truck weigh station. I seem to recall reading somewhere where Tuesday is a big trucking day. Well, I'd say, based on today, that is true. Truck after truck (semi trucks this time) barreled off the freeway at the weigh station. I have to cross that exit ramp. I waited until there was a break then scooted across quickly. After that it's no problem because the next exit is Center Drive. Since, by then I needed a potty shack, I stopped at Starbucks at NW Landing. I also had a hot chocolate. There was another cyclist out for a ride who had also stopped at Starbucks. I sat with him outside and we chatted for a bit. He asked where I was headed. I told him I wasn't sure, but that maybe I would go down Center Dr. to Dupont/Steilacoom Rd. and follow that to Steilacoom then ride along the water and come up Chambers Creek Canyon. He said something about a bunch of trees having been removed on one side of the canyon. Now there was a pretty good view from the top. I thought that would be a good way to go. After I finished my hot chocolate, I headed off.
The view of the Sound and the Olympics from Steilacoom was very nice. I enjoyed the ride on Lafayette St. (although I'm not sure it is called that the whole way to the canyon) along the water. When I got to where the road turns up the canyon, I noticed there seemed to be plenty of trees. I figured it must be farther up the hill. Got to the top and still no signs of any missing trees. Maybe the guy was thinking of someplace else? Anyway, I turned right onto Chambers Creek Rd. Hey, a road I've never been on (I've been left on a couple of organized rides--the Ride for Ultrasound and the RAPSODY). I really wasn't sure where this road would end up, but I still had lots of hours of daylight so I didn't care...much.
Turns out this is the road (or it becomes the road) that Charles Wright Academy is on. I never knew exactly where Charles Wright was. Hmmm...now I know! After a little bit, the road came to an end at Bridgeport Way. I got in the left hand lane to turn, but then decided I should have a look at the GPS on my phone to make sure that was the correct way. Good thing I did! If I had gone left, I would have ended up at the Narrows Bridge! I had alot of daylight left, but not THAT much! Whew! I turned right and after about a quarter of a mile, knew exactly where I was. I stayed on Bridgeport until Gravelly Lake Dr. where I turned right. I like riding on Gravelly Lake Dr. even though it is a very busy road. There is no bike lane, but there are many signs that say "Bikes may use full lane". So, I do. Cars have to change lanes to pass and no one honks or seems to be impatient. Awesome!
Where Gravelly Lake meets I-5, I had no choice but to get on the freeway. I was on until the next exit (Thorne Lane) where I could get off and ride parallel on Union Ave. (I've done this before). Then its back on I-5 until Dupont/Steilacoom exit to get past the JBLM. I got off and headed to Subway. I thought I had eaten at this one before, but I think it was Starbucks. This Subway was not familiar. So, check another one off the list! Instead of riding the road parallel to I-5 to NW Landing, I rode Dupont/Steilacoom to Center Dr. I stopped at the intersection of McNeil and Center Dr. and once again looked at Mapquest on my phone. This time I wanted to see if there was a way to avoid the freeway (I thought maybe they would have punched a road through to Mounts Rd.). Nope. Back on the freeway.
Since I didn't want to come back exactly the same way on Pacific, I turned up Reservation Rd. Now, that's a bit of a steep hill! I rode that to 510 and then hopped over to Yelm Hwy. I thought I would scope out the can situation from that end. I've already picked up the cans from about 5 miles from my house along Yelm Hwy. I counted 75 cans in the 8 miles (that's including the 5 miles that I already did and that was only one side of the road) down Yelm Hwy to where I turn off to come home (Horizon Point). Guess I'll have to load the panniers on and go pick those up...maybe tomorrow.
Total miles: 57.7
Total miles in noisy traffic: most of the 57.7
A barn of my favorite color in the Nisqually Valley.
Olympics and the Nisqually Delta.
Sunglasses required today!
The Olympics from Lafayette Rd. in Steilacoom.
I see plenty of trees.
I headed out Pacific Ave. toward Nisqually. I figured I would head north to Dupont then decide from there where exactly I would go. Climbing up the long hill on Pacific past the Nisqually River was pretty easy since truck after truck (dump trucks mostly) kept passing me and effectively blowing me up the hill. Plus, there might have been a slight tail wind to begin with.
I got on I-5 for the 3/4 mile stretch to Center Dr. Between getting on and getting off I-5 there is a truck weigh station. I seem to recall reading somewhere where Tuesday is a big trucking day. Well, I'd say, based on today, that is true. Truck after truck (semi trucks this time) barreled off the freeway at the weigh station. I have to cross that exit ramp. I waited until there was a break then scooted across quickly. After that it's no problem because the next exit is Center Drive. Since, by then I needed a potty shack, I stopped at Starbucks at NW Landing. I also had a hot chocolate. There was another cyclist out for a ride who had also stopped at Starbucks. I sat with him outside and we chatted for a bit. He asked where I was headed. I told him I wasn't sure, but that maybe I would go down Center Dr. to Dupont/Steilacoom Rd. and follow that to Steilacoom then ride along the water and come up Chambers Creek Canyon. He said something about a bunch of trees having been removed on one side of the canyon. Now there was a pretty good view from the top. I thought that would be a good way to go. After I finished my hot chocolate, I headed off.
The view of the Sound and the Olympics from Steilacoom was very nice. I enjoyed the ride on Lafayette St. (although I'm not sure it is called that the whole way to the canyon) along the water. When I got to where the road turns up the canyon, I noticed there seemed to be plenty of trees. I figured it must be farther up the hill. Got to the top and still no signs of any missing trees. Maybe the guy was thinking of someplace else? Anyway, I turned right onto Chambers Creek Rd. Hey, a road I've never been on (I've been left on a couple of organized rides--the Ride for Ultrasound and the RAPSODY). I really wasn't sure where this road would end up, but I still had lots of hours of daylight so I didn't care...much.
Turns out this is the road (or it becomes the road) that Charles Wright Academy is on. I never knew exactly where Charles Wright was. Hmmm...now I know! After a little bit, the road came to an end at Bridgeport Way. I got in the left hand lane to turn, but then decided I should have a look at the GPS on my phone to make sure that was the correct way. Good thing I did! If I had gone left, I would have ended up at the Narrows Bridge! I had alot of daylight left, but not THAT much! Whew! I turned right and after about a quarter of a mile, knew exactly where I was. I stayed on Bridgeport until Gravelly Lake Dr. where I turned right. I like riding on Gravelly Lake Dr. even though it is a very busy road. There is no bike lane, but there are many signs that say "Bikes may use full lane". So, I do. Cars have to change lanes to pass and no one honks or seems to be impatient. Awesome!
Where Gravelly Lake meets I-5, I had no choice but to get on the freeway. I was on until the next exit (Thorne Lane) where I could get off and ride parallel on Union Ave. (I've done this before). Then its back on I-5 until Dupont/Steilacoom exit to get past the JBLM. I got off and headed to Subway. I thought I had eaten at this one before, but I think it was Starbucks. This Subway was not familiar. So, check another one off the list! Instead of riding the road parallel to I-5 to NW Landing, I rode Dupont/Steilacoom to Center Dr. I stopped at the intersection of McNeil and Center Dr. and once again looked at Mapquest on my phone. This time I wanted to see if there was a way to avoid the freeway (I thought maybe they would have punched a road through to Mounts Rd.). Nope. Back on the freeway.
Since I didn't want to come back exactly the same way on Pacific, I turned up Reservation Rd. Now, that's a bit of a steep hill! I rode that to 510 and then hopped over to Yelm Hwy. I thought I would scope out the can situation from that end. I've already picked up the cans from about 5 miles from my house along Yelm Hwy. I counted 75 cans in the 8 miles (that's including the 5 miles that I already did and that was only one side of the road) down Yelm Hwy to where I turn off to come home (Horizon Point). Guess I'll have to load the panniers on and go pick those up...maybe tomorrow.
Total miles: 57.7
Total miles in noisy traffic: most of the 57.7
A barn of my favorite color in the Nisqually Valley.
Olympics and the Nisqually Delta.
Sunglasses required today!
The Olympics from Lafayette Rd. in Steilacoom.
I see plenty of trees.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Longest Ride of 2011!
Of course, it is only January! Today's forecast was for partly sunny skies and warm temps. Sounds like a good day for a long ride! I opted to go south where, sometimes, the weather is even nicer. I'd say that was true for today.
As I was riding along the Chehalis Western Trail, I noticed one of those big sprinklers watering a pasture of nothing. Okay, so we've had some nice weather for...two days. Is it really time to water?
I got to Tenino and knowing that my potty shack opportunities were going to be slim after Tenino, I stopped at the ball field to use the restroom there. It was locked! I've never known that one to be locked (even in the dead of winter). I continued on and went down Crowder Rd. I have never stopped at "The Pond" garden shop and grocery on 507 where Crowder ends. I figured there must be a restroom so I stopped. The gal was very nice and let me use the facilities. I always feel guilty going into a business just to use the restroom, so I bought some dessert to go with my packed lunch of peanutbutter, honey and raisins sandwich, chips and a banana. She had all kinds of things in there including fishing bait (there is the Skookumchuck River close by).
I continued on down 507 to Bucoda. I turned there and stopped at Volunteer Park and ate my lunch. Then it was up Tono Rd. I think only one car passed me the whole way (including Big Hanaford Rd. past the Centralia Steam Plant). As I passed the steam plant, there wasn't much action. I usually like to watch the huge dumptrucks. Of course, they are dwarfed by the giant piles of coal (which powers the steam plant--no duh!). I turned onto Teitzal Rd. which takes me over 3 miles of rough pavement to Little Hanaford Rd. I had thought of turning left onto Little Hanaford and working my way around the Hanaford Valley to south of Centralia, but when I went to leave this morning, my rear tire was flat ( blasted sharp little bits of gravel on the shoulders!). So, consequently, I got a later start than I planned. Instead, I turned right and headed back to Centralia. That road comes into Centralia and the bridge goes over the multiple train tracks. The tracks were busy today. I stopped to watch 3 trains go by. One was the Amtrak Cascades.
From Centralia I just rode back up 507 to Tenino. I was going to take Hwy. 99 back into town, but I realized there would probably be a bunch of flat-causing sharp bits of gravel on the shoulder. I took the trail back instead (adds about 4 miles).
The weather was quite nice today. I was never cold. I wore my new favorite mid-weight Marino Smartwool shirt under my thin jacket and a pair of tights. The calendar says January, but it feels like Spring!
Total miles: 67.8
Curious to know what's with the watering in January???
Good shadow picture!
Bucoda...the heart of Western Washington...not!
Lunch spot at Volunteer Park in Bucoda.
Blue sky and a deserted road. Doesn't get much better!
Trains in Centralia. While I was watching the Amtrak Cascades also went by.
The end of a great day riding!
As I was riding along the Chehalis Western Trail, I noticed one of those big sprinklers watering a pasture of nothing. Okay, so we've had some nice weather for...two days. Is it really time to water?
I got to Tenino and knowing that my potty shack opportunities were going to be slim after Tenino, I stopped at the ball field to use the restroom there. It was locked! I've never known that one to be locked (even in the dead of winter). I continued on and went down Crowder Rd. I have never stopped at "The Pond" garden shop and grocery on 507 where Crowder ends. I figured there must be a restroom so I stopped. The gal was very nice and let me use the facilities. I always feel guilty going into a business just to use the restroom, so I bought some dessert to go with my packed lunch of peanutbutter, honey and raisins sandwich, chips and a banana. She had all kinds of things in there including fishing bait (there is the Skookumchuck River close by).
I continued on down 507 to Bucoda. I turned there and stopped at Volunteer Park and ate my lunch. Then it was up Tono Rd. I think only one car passed me the whole way (including Big Hanaford Rd. past the Centralia Steam Plant). As I passed the steam plant, there wasn't much action. I usually like to watch the huge dumptrucks. Of course, they are dwarfed by the giant piles of coal (which powers the steam plant--no duh!). I turned onto Teitzal Rd. which takes me over 3 miles of rough pavement to Little Hanaford Rd. I had thought of turning left onto Little Hanaford and working my way around the Hanaford Valley to south of Centralia, but when I went to leave this morning, my rear tire was flat ( blasted sharp little bits of gravel on the shoulders!). So, consequently, I got a later start than I planned. Instead, I turned right and headed back to Centralia. That road comes into Centralia and the bridge goes over the multiple train tracks. The tracks were busy today. I stopped to watch 3 trains go by. One was the Amtrak Cascades.
From Centralia I just rode back up 507 to Tenino. I was going to take Hwy. 99 back into town, but I realized there would probably be a bunch of flat-causing sharp bits of gravel on the shoulder. I took the trail back instead (adds about 4 miles).
The weather was quite nice today. I was never cold. I wore my new favorite mid-weight Marino Smartwool shirt under my thin jacket and a pair of tights. The calendar says January, but it feels like Spring!
Total miles: 67.8
Curious to know what's with the watering in January???
Good shadow picture!
Bucoda...the heart of Western Washington...not!
Lunch spot at Volunteer Park in Bucoda.
Blue sky and a deserted road. Doesn't get much better!
Trains in Centralia. While I was watching the Amtrak Cascades also went by.
The end of a great day riding!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
You Know It's a Nice Day...
What a beautiful January day! The photo was taken from Yelm Hwy by the strawberry fields on the way to Yelm. I was just going to do my usual loop to Yelm and take the Yelm/Tenino and Chehalis Western trails back, but it was so nice I decided to ride through Yelm and take Morris Rd. over to 148th and back into Rainier. Then, get on the trail. 148th (hmmm...I think that is the name...or is it 438th...no matter) is the road with the beautiful views of Mt. Rainier. And beautiful it was today! I should have taken my camera (instead of just my phone).
I wore my new Pearl Izumi Barrier Lobster Mitts. Hands stayed toasty warm! I do give up some dexterity though. Somewhat impossible to grab my handkerchief out of my back pocket!
The rain is supposed to return tomorrow. At least I had today!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Drumroll please....
Friday, December 10, 2010
Back in the Saddle Again!
Okay, so it wasn't a very long ride today but, I did it. After cleaning Stella and putting new rear brake pads on (actually, the old ones weren't completely worn out but, decided to put new ones on anyway), I SLOWLY and CAREFULLY swung my leg over the saddle and climbed aboard. The pedaling was no problem (not a surprise there since I did finish the ride after crashing). Stopping was good. Getting off was a bit dicey. Determined that getting off on the other side worked better. After the "test" ride, I rode to Debra's to play Mah Jongg. I find myself riding fairly cautious. That's probably not a bad thing.
On the way home, I went through the neighborhoods and came out at the Chehalis Western Trail bridge over Yelm Hwy. I went over the bridge and as I was coming down the other side I saw something white sitting on the side of the trail. As I got closer, I shined my headlight (it was dark) and saw it was a snowy owl! It was about the size of a cat. I stopped Stella and watched it fly off into the trees. I thought to myself, this is why I ride!
Next week I'm ordering a disc brake for the front of Stella. I'll take a picture and post it when she's all fixed up.
On the way home, I went through the neighborhoods and came out at the Chehalis Western Trail bridge over Yelm Hwy. I went over the bridge and as I was coming down the other side I saw something white sitting on the side of the trail. As I got closer, I shined my headlight (it was dark) and saw it was a snowy owl! It was about the size of a cat. I stopped Stella and watched it fly off into the trees. I thought to myself, this is why I ride!
Next week I'm ordering a disc brake for the front of Stella. I'll take a picture and post it when she's all fixed up.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Ah Ha! There are Two Ferry Terminals on Vashon Island!
Today, the day after my 49th birthday, was an excellant day for a ride. Leandra and I drove up to Point Defiance to the ferry terminal. We met Leandra's friend, Shawn, and caught the 8:25am ferry (just barely) over to Vashon Island. I've ridden on Vashon once before for the "Ride for Ultrasound" that Dayle and I did a few years ago (pre-Stella). I didn't remember too much of it because it was very foggy that day. Anyway, we got off the ferry and started the long climb up from the water (that part I DID remember). We worked our way toward the other end of the island, stopping in the one larger commercial area of the island for a snack. Shawn said we only had about 15 minutes back to the ferry. I thought to myself that was a pretty short trip! Turns out we were going to a different ferry. Apparently the Southworth and Fauntleroy ferries (Fauntleroy serves West Seattle and Southworth ends up further south). The plan was to take to Southworth ferry and ride back to Pt. Defiance on the mainland. While on the ferry we all bought food (haven't had a hotdog in a very long time!). Just as I unwrapped my dog and put condiments on it, we started to pull into the dock. Leandra and I quickly wrapped our dogs and Shawn grabbed his bowl of chowder and we returned to our bikes. We walked the bikes off the ferry and went into the waiting room where we ate our food. After we finished eating, we, again, climbed a long hill away from the water. We were doing some rollers and then went up a really steep hill. After that a few more rollers then we started a long curvy descent. I was doing well, until I hit a bumpy patch of pavement. I was trying to slow down, but it wasn't happening. Then, the road turned. I was still trying to stop when I got carried onto the shoulder. I couldn't stop and finally Stella couldn't stay upright any longer. We went down on the left side with my shoulder and hip taking the brunt of the fall. Skidded along the shoulder for a bit then stopped. Good thing I wear a helmet because that was skidding along the ground too. Anyway, Shawn helped me up. A couple of other people stopped to see if I was okay. I figured I was okay just sore. Stella seemed to be fine. I just had to pull the brake hood back into place. After shaking off all the debri, I got back on Stella and rode the remaining 20 miles through Gig Harbor, over the Narrows Bridge and back to Pt. Defiance. Leandra and Shawn helped me off Stella and Leandra backed up the car so I could get in.
I don't think anything is broken, but it sure hurts like hell.
Except for the crash, the ride was lots of fun. I'd like to do Vashon again. I also think it would be a fun way to get to Seattle.
Total miles: 44
Total crashes: 1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)