Ten of us started Thursday from the Leschi Starbucks with beautiful, sunny weather. We promptly lost one to a mechanical issue. The remainder rode counterclockwise around Lake Washington to the 520 bridge, where 3 more left to go do July 4 activities. The rest of us went to the Kirkland Parade, then Juanita, and returned via the Cross-Kirkland Eastrail to the 520 bridge. We returned to Leschi via the arboretum and celebrated with beer and bites at the Bluwater Bistro.

If you'd rather skip the written report and just see the photos, you can find them here.  A full ride report below:

The two of us (Liam and I) loaded our bikes on the Kistap fast ferry from Seattle to Kingston on Monday morning (June 17th) and headed for the hills.  On day one, we rode from Kingston to Quilcene via Port Gamble where we stopped for lunch and I picked up an anorak, having left my rain gear at home.  It wasn't supposed to rain!  It did, of course - though just a light drizzle it was pretty cold and damp.  That anorak came in handy, and I was glad I could find one in Port Gamble at Olympic Outdoor Center.  We pedaled across the Hood Canal floating bridge and along the shoulder of SR 104, enduring the traffic noise and making our way through a road project at the Beaver Valley Road junction.  We left 104 at Center Road, enjoying the much lighter traffic and foxgloves in full bloom alongside the road.  We spent the night at Mount Walker Inn, which was very nice - clean and quiet.  It was our last shower, restaurant meal (Quilbilly's), and phone call opportunity as we left civilization and cellphone coverage behind for the next couple of days.  (29 miles/1,700 feet)

On Tuesday morning we started up Penny Creek Road, beginning the biggest climb of the trip - 17 miles and up 3,800 feet to Bon Jon Pass.  It started out damp and cool, but cleared up and warmed up during the day as we sweated uphill, mostly on pavement and alongside of forests full of blooming rhododendrons and other wildflowers.  At the first summit we stopped for lunch.  There was more climbing ahead of us, another 1,200 feet and 16 miles of gravel road - and some double digit grades and pothole mazes to contend with.  Upon arriving at Forks of the Dungeness campground, we were pleasantly surprised by how beautiful and quiet it was (quiet until the cub scout troop arrived, at any rate).  No shower and no potable water - but we washed off the sweat of the day and filtered some water from the river (Grey Wolf, near the confluence with the Dungeness River). (33 miles/5,000 ft)

On Wednesday we discussed routing options, and decided to head to Sequim Bay State Park rather than the Dungeness Campground as I had originally planned - both to reduce the mileage for the return to Kingston, and because it tends to be warmer and dryer.  This was the shortest ride of the trip, with some final lovely miles in the national forest before we hit pavement and a long descent into Sequim.  We stopped for brunch at The Oak Table Cafe.  I had their "Signature Apple Pancake" and Liam had an omelette.  The portions were enormous - I couldn't finish the sugary delicious pancake even though I was quite hungry.  We headed to Sequim Bay along the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) where we set up camp in one of the hiker/biker sites and took badly needed showers!  Back to Sequim 4.5 miles for dinner, and then camp for the night. (28 miles/1,600 ft)

On Thursday morning we made another route change.  We had no particular reason to return to Quilcene, since we rode our bikes there instead of driving and parking and because we didn't relish the thought of returning to Kingston via 101 and 104.  Liam suggested an alternative that took us on the ODT and mostly on backroads to the Hood Canal Bridge.  This turned out to be a very nice ride - except for the 1.5 mile climb on SR 20 from Discovery Bay.  It truly deserves its reputation - a steep climb with no shoulder and a deep ditch alongside the road.  Don't think I'll be doing that again- but this time we lucked out!   A driver had somehow put her car in the ditch!  We detoured around the tow truck and state patrol waved us on.  We left 20 and turned right on Eaglemount Road with no more traffic behind us.  The rest of the route via Center, Beaver Valley, Larson Lake, Andy Cooper, Oak Bay and Paradise Bay Roads took us back to Hood Canal and Kingston for the Fast Ferry home.  (45.5 miles/2,800 feet) 

This was a more epic trip for either of us than the miles and elevation gain would suggest, but we are both looking forward to doing this again and we are planning another bikepacking adventure soon.  Contact me if you're interested in the route we took, or joining us on our next bikepacking trip.

PS - if you're planning a trip on the ODT, do skip SR 20 but plan a stop at the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Library.  It's well worth your while to visit the cultural exhibit that includes an 18,000 year old mammoth thigh bone with a spear point embedded in it.  You are riding across and through their ancestral homeland, after all.

Our Wednesday evening rides don't involve riding in the dark during these summer months. We had a great turnout for tonight's ride and finished well before sunset.

On 19-MAR-2024, Liam, Pam, Mike, Ralph, and Garry participated in COGS first Tuesday Brisk ride of the season.  I am happy to share this update with the club.  As the weather gets better, we will see more of these rides.  

The route took us north (with a quick stop at UW to see the Cherry Blossoms) through Seattle into the hills of Brier before descending down to the Burke-Gilman for a short stretch.  We then climbed Norway Hill and made our way through the quiet neighborhoods in Juanita before dropping back down to Lake Washington and back via the SR-520 bridge.  It was challenging!

Many thanks to Ralph for planning and posting the ride!

     

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to ride along the water south of Seattle.  After taking light rail to the southern end of the line at Angle Lake, we plunged down the paved Des Moines Creek Trail through the woods to the waterfront at Des Moines beach, a quick drop of almost 400’ of elevation.  Of course, who coasts down must then ride back up, and that was the theme of the first half of our ride.  After 20 miles of climbing and descending, and a break at Lincoln Park in W. Seattle, we enjoyed another 20 miles of coastal views from the pleasantly flat route around Alki, the Seattle waterfront, and the Ship Canal trail.  Our only disappointments were having one rider abandon the ride early because of bike issues, and finding that Bakery Nouveau in Burien is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Saturday’s Bainbridge (Pre-Chilly) ride generated one of the largest turnouts we have had in a long time, nineteen in total.  Although the ride was posted as moderate, capabilities of the signups ranged from steady to brisk.  That, combined with the hills of Bainbridge, had the potential for any efforts on my part as ride leader for keeping the group together to become a fool’s errand.  Fortunately, Mark Davidson, leader of COGS social and steady rides, accepted an impromptu invitation to be the focal point for the steadies.  However, before Mark could get the route called up on his Garmin, Louise Kornreich, put her cape on, jumped into action and proclaimed, “We don’t need no stinking Garmin”.  Using local knowledge Louise guided Mark and the steady group to the lunch spot ahead of the moderates.  Then later guided the steadies back to the ferry, waving from its stern to the oh-so-pleased-with-themselves-for-having-done-Toe-Jam-Hill moderates left standing on the pier in the rain. But the left-behind moderates were treated to something special on their return, a pod of orcas passing through Elliot Bay. Yes, the ferries, as big as they are, do list when everyone runs to one side.   As for the brisk riders, within the first few miles they had blown off the front, never to be seen again.  Perhaps they will send us a post card.

We had a great turnout tonight for a great ride through dark woods and bright Christmas lights.

Thanks to Barbara for this photo and to everyone who came along for the ride.

Mike, Jeff, Denny, Noriko, Ralph, Gus (with his new custom Soma bikepacking machine), Wayne, John, Riva, Pam (with her beautiful new Rodriguez), Liam, Barbara, Merilyn and Arnie met at the Montlake Triangle on a cool grey drizzly morning and headed east on the 520 trail to Marymoor Park.  We headed south on the recently completed East Lake Samammish Trail and somewhere on the way to Issaquah Coffee Co., we picked up Ben.  After a stop for coffee and snacks, we climbed Newport Way back to the I-90 Trail, rode across "bumpy swamp" and under I-90 on 108th NE.  We worked our way through the traffic in Old Bellevue on Main then through Medina and back to the UW via the 520 trail.  Roughly 44 miles covered and 2,000 feet of elevation gain.  It was great to see you all!

Richard Petters and I met at the Seattle fast ferry dock where we boarded for Kingston - bikes go inside on this run. We saw Orcas! 

When we arrived at Kingston, there were no cars on the road so we set off for our ride to our camp for the night, Night Owl Landing. I had a feeling when we turned left onto Epic Dr that this was going to be good, but I had no idea what exactly we were going to find... were the photos of Silver Creek Lounge, complete with flush toilets and kitchen for real? Was there really a bike shop? When we rolled up, Kelly and Heidi met us and took us on a tour. They built their home and the Silver Creek Lounge, with full-service bike shop, a kitchen and space for parties, etc with hopes to create a community. This was one of those times when you realize you have stumbled onto something really good. 

We set up our tents in a field of dense clover, cooked dinner and hung out indoors in the cozy warmth until bedtime... at 9pm. After we packed up in the morning, the adventure began. Although this was my 4th time riding in the Pt Gamble Forest, I had never entered on the Dirt Devil trail before. And probably never will again! There was a mixture of riding, hike-a-bike, resting, whooping and, of course, navigating as we made our way north toward Pt Gamble for lunch at Butcher & Baker. 

After lunch, we decided the forest was fun, but we couldn't gamble on missing the ferry so we hit the road to head south on 104. Drivers were pretty good and gave us space (it was my lucky day, Friday the 13th and I was in my "lucky" colors of pink and purple) and we made it to the ferry in plenty of time.  Here's our route, more or less: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44707410 

Who knows Garry Kehr?

We rode! We ate! We made new friends! Three COGS members (Kevin, Pam, and Liam) joined the Spokane Bicycle Club (SBC) for a delightful weekend of riding and eating and walking around Colville, WA. The weather was good. A bit cloudy and cool but not cold. It was good cycling and camping weather. Colville is a nice, quiet town. Pam and Liam opted for a hotel instead of the staying at the campground at the fairgrounds. But I have to say the campground was super nice and right in the middle of the town.  It was convenient to everything. With clean bathrooms, hot showers, and a kitchen for the group. I would seriously consider staying at the campground next time I do this ride. The SBC members were very friendly and welcoming.

On Friday afternoon, after driving for 6+ hours, we rode 21 miles with SBC. Pam and I were tired from the drive so we passed on the Friday dinner with the group and picked up a gluten free pizza from Westside Pizza. It was awesome! Kevin had dinner with the group. On Saturday morning, we rode 40 miles. Later in the afternoon, we had a potluck at the fairgrounds which included BBQ from the Longhorn restaurant in Spokane Valley. It was so delicious! On Sunday, we rode 17 miles, showered up, and since there were lots of leftovers from Saturday’s potluck we had that for lunch, and then headed back to Seattle. Even the drive was nice… except for I-90.

Saturday's ride at the start:

Sunday's ride (Liam, Pam, and Garry):

Sunday's ride (Liam, Kevin, Garry, and others):