cycling Snoqualmie to Ellensburg WA

On July 13, 2019August 6, 2019 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, travel

July 11, 2019 – day 9.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

I’d camped close to the Snoqualmie Tunnel in the Cascade Range.

Nearby was Keechelus lake. Many trees had been killed when the dam allowed more water.

Aside from Snoqualmie, the world’s longest biking tunnel, there are 5 more on the Iron Horse Trail.

Much of today’s ride downhill to the drier flatlands was near the Yakama river.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad went bankrupt ceasing operations in about 1980. Washington State acquired the line creating the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail in place of the rails.

The stations and stores that serviced the trains are now mostly abandoned.

I was impressed to see a slow cook Bar-B-Q place in the former Cle Elum train station.

The Great American Rail-Trail has clearly not yet caught on. In two days I met only two other long distance cyclists. From Japan, they’d come from Reno, planned to cross to Seattle, then work their way south to California.

I’d seen surprisingly little animal life in the mountains. The flatlands are better.

Sadly I saw, for the second time in my life, a juvenile Bald Eagle. On the ground it was quite defenceless. I’m assuming something went wrong while it was learning to fly.

There were many grouse. And lizards. And gophers.

Also farm animals in abundance.

It was a very windy day. Happily the wind was at my back.

In the temperate rain forest I could camp pretty much anywhere. Here in farmland it was far more difficult to find a discrete spot.

So far, so good. I feel fine after the last 2 long cycling days. Not a wreck yet.

Click PLAY or watch today’s ride on YouTube.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

cycling the Great American Rail-Trail

On July 11, 2019August 6, 2019 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling1 Comment

July 10, 2019 – day 8.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

This trip was inspired by the newly announced Great American Rail-Trail, Washington State to Washington D.C.

I reached it after a week on the bike.

The HIGHLIGHT was cycling through a mountain – Snoqualmie Tunnel.

When I entered I had no idea how long it was. And I was surprised to find it 11,894 feet (2.253 mi; 3.625 km) .

That was the end of a long day, however.

A very rainy day.

Up, up, up … but at a grade of less than 2%.

My first problem was navigating my way out of greater Seattle.

Of course I tried to stay on dedicated cycling paths like the Issaquah-Preston trail.

I considered hiking today but the rain kept me pedalling.

Twice it rained hard enough to make me find shelter.

I was forced on to the I-90 freeway at times getting to Rattlesnake Lake, the western terminus of the Great American Rail-Trail.

Stage 1 is called the Iron Horse Trail.

And here I am at the start on my Iron Horse.

Despite the rain I loved the Iron Horse. Up into the mountains over a series of very cool railway trestles.

Conveniently there is a series of backcountry campsites along the way. I had the tent set up by about 8pm and slept well.

Finally, … mushrooms.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |info | video

cycling out of Seattle

On July 10, 2019August 6, 2019 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, food, friends, gymnastics1 Comment

July 8-9, 2019 – days 6-7.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

I enjoyed a day off the trail visiting friends in Port Townsend.

We had a breakfast meet-up. Then continued the reunion with Chris & Carrie hosting dinner on the deck of their new house. Teriyaki Tuna. Grilled pineapple. And much more.

On the morning of the 9th Diana and I went over to Fort Worden for coffee. Deer and bunnies graze everywhere in PT.

NEW down by the harbour is a totem.

Doug’s retirement hobby / job is developing fitness monitoring apps. He’s much into solar energy, as well.

His latest electric bike is the Elf 2fr. It’s a superb product.

Doug and Diane drove me to the Bainbridge ferry where they were picking up a friend arriving from SeaTac.

That ferry delivered me and my bike to downtown Seattle where Tam met me at Ivar’s.

Ivar’s is a Washington State institution.

In fact this was already my 3rd Ivar’s meal in Washington State. Love the place!

I’d come to Seattle in order to cycle the Burke-Gilman Trail, a 27-mile rail to trail.

It connects with a others including the Sammamish River Trail 10.9-mile.

About 8pm I wildcamped. Hoping it wasn’t going to rain too hard during the night.

Watch today’s cycling route.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

my Dad bought an electric Trike

On July 9, 2019July 8, 2019 By Rick McIn cycling, McCharles family, product endorsements2 Comments

We did shop around, finally deciding on the Pedego Trike as being safest for running around Parksville B.C.

Specifications.

Price is about U.S. $3000. Canadian about $4200 including a special lock and B.C. taxes.

ElectricBikeReview.com does a terrific job reviewing what’s available.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

cycling Victoria to Port Townsend, WA

On July 8, 2019August 6, 2019 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, friends, gymnastics, travel1 Comment

July 6-7, 2019 – day 4-5.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

It was great to catch up with friends in Victoria, likely the best cycling city in Canada.

I stayed mostly on the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails.

One stop was the new Gymnastics club — Inspire Sports. Very impressive.

I happened past Michell Airpark, the local remote-control flying club. Models like this can cost thousands of dollars. They fly about 8 minutes.

Each August they host Victoria’s Largest Little Airshow, a charity event.

I caught a late ferry from Sidney delivering me to Anacortes on Fidalgo island just at dark.

Happily the Washington Park campground, up from the ferry landing, had hiker / cyclist campsites for $10. Free hot showers.

I’d hoped to get to the USA in time for the 4th of July.

Just missed it.

I’d cycled these islands on a previous trip so wasn’t much motivated to make a lot of stops. Also, my good weather was deteriorating.

I did do a short hike in Sharpe Park up to Sares Head Overlook.

The highlight — as it was last time I cycled here — was Deception Pass, a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island.

George Vancouver gave it the name “Deception” because it had misled him into thinking Whidbey Island was a peninsula.

I stopped at Deception Pass State Park for a bite to eat. And stumbled on to a new adventure sport — tree climbing.

A company called AdventureTerra was teaching a beginner course: 4 hours for $170. Looks like fun.

Cycling the islands is lovely, even in the rain.

It’s a short, easy ferry directly to Port Townsend. Victorian houses, much history and a vibe supportive of the environment and human rights.

Also wine.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

cycling Shawnigan Lake to Victoria

On July 7, 2019August 6, 2019 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, travelLeave a comment

July 5, 2019 – day 3.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

People are wonderful. 🙂

I’d left my GoPro behind on the trail yesterday. Kim found it. Scrolled through the camera settings and found my email address. Then took the time to let me know.

Luckily GoPro is not password protected. 🙂

#PayItForward

I’d wild camped near Shawnigan Lake.

Wildflowers are definitely one of the highlights.

Banana slugs one of the weirdest creatures.

I’d read that today’s ride would be hilly. How bad could it be?

Hilly is an understatement. I can’t recall that much up and down in a day.

Assessment = I’m NOT king of the mountains. There was plenty of pushing my heavy rig up 17% grades.

Most of the dedicated non-motorized was NOT rail to trail. But some was.

It was a relief to reach greater Victoria ending my (excellent) section of the The Great Trail.

I took the time to scramble steep Mt Wells before joining the Galloping Goose into Victoria to visit friends.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

cycling Duncan to Shawnigan Lake

On July 6, 2019August 6, 2019 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, travel1 Comment

July 4, 2019 – day 2.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

The main theme of my Pacific N.W. bikepacking tour is rail to trail.

Day 2 I was on the bike shortly after 7am.

Aside from the usual, lovely temperate rain forrest, this first section included some beautiful ponds.

The wildflowers are lovely too.

Motivation was reaching Tim Horton’s in Lake Cowichan.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

After breakfast I toured the town of Lake Cowichan, my first visit.

But the main reason people come to hike or ride the Cowichan Valley trail are trestles.

They are spectacular.

Best of all is Kinsol Trestle (named by nearby “King Solomon Mines”).

Completed in 1920, its one of the highest wooden railway trestles in the world at 44 m (144 ft) high and 188 m (617 ft) long.

It was repaired and reopened July 28, 2011.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island

On July 6, 2019July 4, 2019 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, travel1 Comment

Surprisingly, I’d never visited Lake Cowichan.

Lake Cowichan is at the western end of the Trans Canada Trail, which, when completed, will be one of the longest trail networks in the world.

It looks like my kind of town. Funky.

Plenty of outdoor adventure.

Visit Lake Cowichan.

cycling Nanaimo to Duncan

On July 5, 2019August 6, 2019 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, travelLeave a comment

Having failed on my first attempt out of Port Alberni (two flat tires in two days), I opted instead for an easier start in Nanaimo. It was 3:30pm by the time I got going.

July 3, 2019. Day 1.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video

I tried using The Great Trail app for navigation.

It’s not 100% ready. 😕 Nor is The Great Trail as there’s still far too much paved road included on the 24,000+ km.

The app’s recommended route started well …

… but soon got me lost.

I gave up on the recommend side roads and actually enjoyed riding the Trans-Canada Highway to Duncan. I was in a hurry to finally get on to the Cowichan Valley Trail.