6/13-GAWR…It Begins

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. 

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. 

Luke

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. 

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.

520 Overlook

Lavender!

On the bridge

Mountain is out today!

We were on the 520 Trail for quite awhile. I came to a street crossing, and the Wales boys hollered my name. They were at Sunrise Donuts. I rolled over. Never one to turn down a donut stop, I went in to get a blueberry fritter. When I came out, the guys were gone. Well, okay! I think they had already been there awhile, and were done with their “cakes”.

A bridge I wasn’t going over, but thought was cool. 

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.

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. 

Doe and fawn

SVT

One of the pretty high bridges

I made it to the Education Center in plenty of time. Filled up all my water containers (5 liters). I needed water for dinner, breakfast, and until Hyak tomorrow. Had time to go into the Education Center. I learned that Seattle does not get its water from Kacheelus, that water goes to Yakima. Seattle gets its water from Chester Morris Lake (aka Cedar Lake). The lake is actually the Cedar River, but there is a dam. I had a great conversation with the women in the Education Center. 

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.

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!

6/12-Starting Out Like I’ll Probably Ride

The day has arrived for me to get to Seattle. Had a nice send off this morning by my neighbors, Dawn, Kim, and Sheila. Linda arrived at 11:00. The car was loaded with my bags, and Wanda on the rack. Traffic was normal up to Seattle. 

Because the World Cup is coming very soon to Seattle, when I went to make a hotel reservation somewhere near the Space Needle, every hotel room was at least $300 for one night. Uh, no thank you! I knew there was the Green Tortoise Hostel. It’s literally across the street from Pike Place Market. Their website said they had bike storage. Okay! I booked a bunk in an 8 bed bunk room. $88 for the night. Expensive for a hostel, but at least not $300! I think it’s appropriate that it’s the Green Tortoise Hostel as I will be moving at the speed of a tortoise!

Linda dropped me off at a loading/unloading zone a block away. I loaded everything onto Wanda, and walked her to the hostel. The hostel is on the second floor of an older building (this I knew). It took me a moment to find the door. Immediately inside the door there are stairs. What to do with fully loaded Wanda while I check in??? I found a bike rack, took out my “slightly theft deterrent” lock and locked her up. Since I wasn’t sure if I could actually check in yet (it wasn’t 2:00), I left everything on Wanda, and hoped for the best (there did seem to be a fair amount of official looking security officers standing around).

My room was ready (upgraded to a 4-bunk room). I asked about bike storage. Yes, they have hooks on the wall in the common room, which is around the corner from the check in desk…on the second floor. Okay, guess I’ll be carrying Wanda up the stairs (oh yeah, did I mention, no elevator?). It took me three trips to get all the bags up to my room (that I had just put on Wanda). Surprisingly, Wanda was not that hard to get up the stairs (even with a frame bag). I found the hooks. There were already two bikes on hooks. The easiest hook for me to get Wanda on was in between the two bikes. A really nice person helped me get her up onto the hook. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get her off in the morning. 

Once all my stuff was stowed in my “locker” in the room (no one else is there yet), I could go in search of some lunch. 

I am in a top bunk. Not my favorite, but it will work. 

Of course I went over to Pike Place. So many choices. I ended up with a chicken gyro and a mango lemonade. Talked to a couple sitting across the table from me. They asked where I was from. I told them I was here to start a ride to the Washington Monument in DC. The older guy said he’s always wanted to do a cross country bike ride, but hasn’t been able to find the right time, the right tour group, etc. They were headed to the Glass Museum, then a WNBA basketball game.

I walked through a bit of Pike Place after lunch (mostly to scope out dinner).

View from the Market

Eventually, I made my way back to the hostel. There were just so many people, and it’s not like I can carry anything else (no need for shopping)! There’s music playing down below the hostel. 

Look at the paper lanterns. They are soccer balls.

Tomorrow will be an early morning as I will have to do the reverse to get everything down to the street. I think it will be Wanda first, and lock her. Once loaded, I’ll head the 1.1 miles to the Space Needle to start the GAWR (aka the “Pointy Thing to Pointy Thing”).

Funny thing…I was in Doha, Qatar just before the World Cup there too (on our way to Nepal). 

Later…

I decided on crepes for dinner. I figured crepes were not going to be something I would be eating as I make my way across the country. A little later I will go across the street for ice cream…something I’m sure I will have plenty of. 

So far, there is one other person in the room. It’s a guy. The bunks have privacy curtains, which is nice. 

Adventures with 20 High Schoolers-Day 2

Actually, for the ride today, 18 high schoolers. Yes, one student went home last night with her mom, and another student wasn’t feeling well enough to ride. 

Those assigned to cooking breakfast this morning were up and at it right at 6:30. The rest were tasked with starting to pack things up. Today, the students were given the option of not carrying their gear, so everything just had to be put into the trailer, not on the bikes. They were also given a choice to take the paved shortcut the 8 miles back to the start instead of doing the planned 22 mile mostly gravel route. Turns out only a couple of the students wanted to do the longer route. One was Flora, who as you will recall from yesterday’s post,  was riding a single speed with 25mm tires. She is so strong and has great handling skills! Jenna and I tried to persuade the Envision guys to do the long route, but got no takers. Ingrid warned everyone that the short route would only take 45 minutes, so they would be waiting quite awhile for those of us doing the long route. It still didn’t sway anyone else to the long route. In the end, it was decided that everyone would do the short route, as it was by far the majority of the group, and it was better than splitting the group up. 

Larry and I (the most senior members of the group) led the ride up the first climb.

Getting ready to roll out

A bit of a view

As you can see by the photos, the weather was quite different from yesterday. It had lightly rained some, but was otherwise just cool, which several of the kids appreciated after yesterday’s pretty warm one. 

Ingrid, Jenna, and Josh

The Envision boys, A, and Nikki finishing the climb

Natalie H drove the trailer and van back to the start. 

See ya soon Natalie!

As we expected, we arrived back at the start by about 10:00. Some were having regrets at not doing the longer route. Ingrid turned to me and said, “I tried to tell them!” Sometimes ya just gotta take that leap!

We made a big circle. We realized we had never done introductions yesterday before we started. No problem for me because I new everyone 

After the circle broke up, Ingrid and I headed back to the campground to pick up the car, as well as the student who wasn’t feeling well. So, at least Ingrid and I got a bit of a longer ride. 

Needless to say, taking 20 kids and 10 adults on a bikepacking trip is not without its challenges. However, I loved it! It was great to see the kids soaking up the forest, sleeping outdoors, and having fun. It was a dream come true for me! I hope some of these kids are inspired to do bikepacking again! 

Adventures in Bikepacking with 20 High Schoolers-Day 1-Part 2

Picking up where we left off…we finished lunch, and returned to the bikes. Next up was the biggest climb of the day. And it was quite exposed. There was a lot of post lunch walking, but everyone eventually made it to the top. That was the last big climb for the day. 

The hacky sack dudes

Colton

The final descent to camp was very steep and loose. Miraculously, no one wiped out. One student who had crashed earlier made the wise choice to walk down it. I stayed with them to make sure it all went okay. 

We arrived at camp around 3:30. The groups jumped into action, and got tents and hammocks set up, and food brought out. 

The adults campsite

Kingston and Van cooking up dinner

That’s a table full of food!

Singlespeed Flora opted for the tarp

Tents and kitchen

The tent/hammock compound across the road

So many tents!

Olivia “glamping” it up

Arlo cooking a dog

Jenna and Josh’s tent and Natalie H

After everyone had eaten, a bunch of us walked down to the river. The trail down to the beach was steep and gravelly. I took photos from the bridge above. 

As I was walking back, Moss saw me and asked if I’d seen his shoes. I replied that I hadn’t, and asked where he had last seen them. Well, turns out he had thrown them across the creek, but it was a bit further than he thought. They didn’t quite make it, and floated downstream. Lucky for him, Josh wears the same size and will ride in his Crocs tomorrow so Moss can wear his shoes. 

It’s now quiet time, and while there are still a few voices, it’s mostly the frogs making noise. 

What campout is complete without S’Mores?

I have advised a few dehydrated people to drink more water tomorrow, although it’s forecast to be much cooler.