Late Summer Velo News

Yesterday morning began with a twilight view of the crescent moon and Jupiter together in the eastern sky.  At this point in the lunar cycle the visible moon is  considerably reduced so that it counterbalances rather than overwhelms the much "smaller" Jupiter.  Seeing these objects against the still-dark sky reminds me of gems and I think of our own small planet as a blue-green gem in the vastness of space and how improbable is the likelihood that either it or I exist in the universe.

But I and the Earth do exist and on this morning I am out for a bike ride,  Rolling out around 8:00 am, I have a clear sunny day.  The air isdelightfully cool--low 60's on its way to near 80 later--and the low angle of the sun makes for lots of shade along my route.  I ride north against a slight head wind, through northeast Olympia to the north end of the Chehalis Western Trail.  Mist rises from the Mission Creek and  Ellis Creek wetlands, back shadows adjacent to open fields and the occasional roof newly exposed from the shade.  A deer leisurely crosses my path on 36th Avenue.  Not much traffic along the way at this hour and the ride isfairly easy.  This section of my route has only one moderately challenging climb.

North of the CWT, the route is a bit more difficult.  The downhill to Woodard Bay is always a scream but once across the bridge it becomes a long climb to Libby Road.  Libby Road has a few ups and downs but nothing too bad.  At the junction with Fish Trap Loop I stay on Libby.   A cycling group overtakes me and gradually pedals out of sight.  I get some nice views of Henderson Inlet before coming around the point and picking up Fish Trap for the return leg.  A sharp dip into a drainage adds both a screaming downhill and a steep climb that tops out with a view across Puget Sound to Harstine Island.  Rejoining Libby Road, I retrace my route back to the CWT.  That long climb out of Woodard Bay is an easy descent but now that earlier screaming downhill is a very steep climb.

Heading south on the CWT the morning is much warmer now but the trail is well shaded.  I see lots more people now--all enjoying the day as much as I.  I cross Martin Way and I-5 on the bike overpasses and thread my way across Pacific Avenue traffic to the Olympia Woodland Trail and a beeline for home.  I'm back by 11:00 for a 26 mile ride.