Seattle to Woodinville, 38.5 miles

Most of us got up at 6 am and had breakfast at 6:30am at the church. Even though it was very cloudy there was no rain. The temperature was about 65 when we gathered out front of the church to start the ride.


Everyone before the ride started

We headed north and went around Aki point to get a great view of Seattle. As we were sitting there enjoying the view a bald eagle landed in the water nearby.


At Aki point looking northeast to Seattle

Bald eagle in the water

The temperature rose to the low 70's so I got to ride with shorts and a short sleeve jersey. Great riding conditions for the first day.

We then headed over the West Seattle Bridge and took a new route to the Fremont area.


Ken heading toward downtown Seattle

After Fremont we saw the Troll under I-5 and then headed onto the Burke/Gillman Trail. Right before we got on the trail, Ian got the first flat of the group.


Ian with the flat

Along the trial we got our first hint of sprinkles. By the time everyone put on a rain jacket it stopped raining.

The bike trail ended in downtown Woodinville. We reached Woodinville about 1;30 pm. Some people sugguested going to get burger for lunch. When I saw a Penera Bread, I quickly split off from the main crowd. Troy, John, Ken, and Ian decided to go to Penera. Can't go wrong at Panera Bread.

I arrived at the church in Woodinville at about 3 pm and did some laundry in a classroom sink. Two church members, Jim and Carrie made dinner for us and then Jim talked with us about bike safety. Jim is a certified bike traffic trainer so he was informative.

Troy and I shared one of the classrooms as a place to lay our sleeping bags down for the night. Ian decided he would move in too so there were three of us in the classroom this night.

Seattle-Second Day

Today our group could do ride around Seattle, Vashon Island or take the bus to visit downtown and walk around.

We had breakfast at around 8:00 am and saw that it was drizzling heavily. I wanted to get out and ride but it was too wet. I decided to wait until it got drier before getting on my bike.

Troy, Tom, and I decided to wait for the drizzle to stop so we took a bus back to downtown around 9 am. First we walked back to Pike Street Market and then along the Marina. Troy asked if we wanted to go to REI so we took a tax to there north of the Space Needle near REI. By the it was dry and around 70 degrees.

The REI store was the biggest one I had ever seen. It had many levels and a great selection for any sport. After Troy bought some new pedals and shoes we tried to figure a way back to downtown.

We jumped back on the #54 bus to Fauntleroy area near the church. Tom and I then took a ride south out of the church. There was one very long steep climb but we got good views of Puget Sound. I actually was sweating by the end of the ride.

Ken adjusting Tom's handlebars before the ride

A view of Puget Sound south of Fauntleroy Church

This evening Nancy will take us all out to a mexican restaurant nearby and then we will have our meeting to go over tomorrow's route to Woodinville.

One More Time-Seattle

I left Sonoma County on Wednesday about 5 am and drove to Tumwater, Washington. Today I had a short drive to South Seattle where I dropped off our gear and bikes and then drove into downtown Seattle to drop the car off.

Out around 11 am I walked to Pike Street Market and hung out for about 2 hours. Then I took the 54 bus back to the Fauntleroy Church. Blaine, Thea, Nancy, and Ken were there. A short time later more of the new group arrived.

The weather was warm but clouded in the evening. Showers are predicted off and on through Saturday. Saturday should be the wettest. Tom showed up around 4 and he and I took a ride toward the park to see if our bikes shifted properly. There were a few sprinkles but very pleasant temperatures.

Bikes on Car near Mt. Shasta

First Arriving at Fauntleroy Church with Blaine, Thea, Kea, and Troy

Lunch with part of the group

Dinner

Bikes on Stage

Sleeping quarters

Visiting Great Friends

Eight member the 2010 cross country trip met in Frankfort, Kentucky this weekend. We all rode in the Horsey Hundred, an annual biking event starting in Georgetown, Ky and rode through the beautiful rolling hills of central Ky. I stayed with Kim, Sharon, Lesa, and John at Ed's house. The whole group had a great time. They are special people and we talked about trying to ride again in 2013.

Relaxing during the Ride at a Ky distiller

Beautiful Kentucky Horse Country.

Ed and I with our Sonoma County Jerseys at the start of the Horsey Hundred

A Photo Op with friends in central Kentucky