July Velo News

 

This is the new Chehalis Western Trail route under the BNSF RR near Rainier Road.  It actually opened last year but I’ve never thanked Thurston County for constructing it and recognized the vast improvement it represents.   Prior to this underpass, the trail was interrupted by the high RR embankment, turned left and paralleled the railroad for about 200 meters on a somewhat improved gravel surface out to Rainier Road where it made a hard right onto a narrow walkway under a trestle.  Two bikes could not easily pass in opposite directions under the trestle and just before the walkway rejoined the Rainier Road shoulder utility pole cut the walkway space in half.   Following the traffic lane under the trestle meant sharing a narrow underpass with traffic on a sometimes busy road.   Not a good option.  About a quarter mile down Rainier Road from the trestle, the trail climbed back up to its paved route.  BNSF rebuilt the trestle a few years ago and widened the bike and pedestrian underpass but you still had to ride out to Rainier road. In wet weather you also had to dodge or ride through mud in places. The new underpass eliminates all that.

 

The new underpass removed the last major obstacle on the the CWT.   When I first began cycling in Olympia in 2008 the trail only bridged Interstate 5 and Yelm HIghway; pedestrians and cyclists still had to cross arterial streets at Martin Way and Pacific Avenue.  The latter was especially bothersome since the safest crossing was at a very slow traffic light about 50 meters from the trail. Martin Way at least had a well-marked crosswalk and good sight distance for gauging oncoming traffic.  The Martin Way overpass was constructed in 2010 and the Pacific Avenue overpass was constructed four years later.  Those two projects eliminated the worst barriers. The narrow path under the tracks at Rainier Road remained although it was more nuisance than danger.  Now even that is no more. 

 

So thanks to Thurston County Parks and Public Works departments and whoever else made these improvements possible.

 

Strangely enough, now that I don’t have to ride out to Rainier Road I do so regularly.  I got used to riding out to the road during the new underpass construction so a couple of months ago I just followed Rainer Road for a few miles to 89^th Avenue where I could pick up the trail and make a bit of a loop.  It turned out to be a decent enough route:  busy but not intensely so and an adequate shoulder.   The route provides some elevation change, not much but definitely more than the CWT following a RR grade. The landscape is mostly open fields with two Christmas tree farms, pasture and older exurbs. Just north of 89^th Avenue is a place that sells concrete landscaping stuff. 

 

Two weeks ago I continued on Rainier Road south of 89^th Avenue about a mile to Steadman Road which intersects the trail farther south to see what that was like. Rainier Road was much the same for the mile to Steadman Road. Steadman Road is pretty but has no shoulder whatsoever. Traffic was light when I rode through but I would not enjoy riding in busier traffic. 

 

That, however, may be my only option soon. The County announced that the CWT will close south of 89^th Avenue in July for construction of improved fish passage in Spurgeon Creek.  The existing culverts restrict salmon from reaching spawning grounds and the state is under court order to remove those barriers in order to protect Native American treaty rights to salmon.  Culverts on Latigo Road which parallels the trail across the creek will also be replaced although tat least one lane of the road will be open to traffic.  The County regrets the closure but says that summer is the only time to construct the project without disturbing spawning season.  But they are unwilling to recommend the Rainier-Steadman route as an alternative since not all trail users are experienced cycling or walking on narrow county roads.  I think Latigo Road might offer a shorter alternative but that involves routing users through a construction zone and the County is loathe to recommend that either.

 

The project is under way now although the trail was still open Friday. A crew was setting up diversion pipes for the creek and had installed a silt filter downstream of the project. Two guys were hauling sandbags over the trail embankment. One guy climbed most of the way up the east side of the embankment and handed a sand bag off to a second guy who went over the top, across the trail and tossed the bag to the other side. I assume they will place them in some purposeful manner since the pile looked pretty random to me. 

 

The closure will be a bit of a nuisance but I can live with it. I have other routes to ride and can handle the Rainier-Steadman detour if I want to go south of 89th Avenue.  In the end, the salmon get to spawn and the trail gets an 88-foot bridge over the creek and a scenic overlook that offers a good view of a large wetland adjacent to the Deschutes River.

Shutdown Velo News

When he announced his latest round of Covid-19 stay-at-home restrictions Governor Islee stated that outdoor exercise like walking or cycling is essential.  We just have to maintain a safe distance while doing so.  That fits my biking style even in normal times so I've had little reluctance to ride.  Weather has been very cooperative--sunny and bright for a Saturday ride and broken clouds and some sun between morning and afternoon showers on Wednesday.

Saturday's ride took me out to The Evergreen State College on the far west end of town.  The best time to ride this route is a Sunday when traffic is lighter.  A normal Saturday afternoon means a steep climb out of downtown in traffic, breathing hard and sucking exhaust.  This Saturday was more like a Sunday--some but not much traffic.  The climb was still steep but once I got up on the west side the ride was moderate.  I didn't see people out and about until I got to Evergreen Parkway, not many but a few taking advantage of the wide, separate bike lane.

The College, though, was deserted.  On a sunny spring day the campus would normally be alive with students.  On this sunny spring day Red Square was emptier than I've ever seen it.  More so than between sessions.  The Activities Building, where I often use a restroom, was conveniently open.  I encountered people all along the trail south of the College.  It's a popular area any time and this day was no different.

What  differed was traffic on Mud Bay Road where the trail ended.  The roadway is four lanes wide, usually with busy traffic in both directions.  The simplest way to cross is to find a hole in each stream that lines up with the other and shoot through the window.  It helps that the end of the trail is a downward slope that I can use to catapult myself across the road.  It does not help that sight distance to the right means that vehicles can come into view suddenly just after I launch.  On this Saturday afternoon I stopped at the top of the incline to check traffic, found none and launched immediately.  Sweet.  The ride back into town and home was easy. 

Wednesday's ride did not have any steep climbs.  The inclines were gentle and traffic was light on city streets.  Most of the ride was down and back on the Chehalis Western Trail so I had no traffic to contend with at all.  Lots of people werer out on the trail--walkers, joggers and cyclists.  Not unlike a busy weekend day.  Most everyone appeared to be keeping a distance from everyone else.  Only the couples walked close together. 

The skies grew darker the farther south I rode.  I knew that rain was in the forecast for later in the day but rain started falling as I approached 103rd Avenue, heavier by the minute.  At that point I figured that I had sufficient mileage for the day and turned around.  It only took a few minutes to ride out of the rain and not long after that, I was riding under mixed sun and clouds.  I made it home well ahead of heavy rain toward evening.

As long as I can ride my bike I don't think self-isolation and social distancing will be too onerous.

Mid-Summer Velo News

Today was not much of a summer day, even by northwest standards.  Cloudy and cool, max temperature was 66 degrees.  Good riding weather, albeit kind of dreary.  I didn't sweat like I did just a few days ago.  Despite the cool weather, the Chehalis Western Trail definitely looked like summer.  All of the trees and brush are fully leafed out.  The small watercourse that runs down a gentle incline is bone dry.  The Deschutes River is very low.  The overcast skies kept me thinking of rain but none was forecast and none fell.

Since returning from the east I've ridden 206 miles.  That's an average of 40 miles per week and well above my typical average of 22-23 miles per week over the past few years.  The difference is that since I've retired I can ride twice a week most weeks.  The weekday rides are especially nice since most everyone else is at work.  I remember enjoying the occasional mid-week rides when I was self-employed.  It's even better now that mid-week rides are a regular part of my schedule.

Had an accident on last weekend's ride.  Getting off my bike as I was coming to a stop I lost my balance and fell off the bike.  I landed on my left side, skinning my knee and elbow in several places.  Nothing broken or seriously hurt although my left leg and arm looked distressingly bloody.  I cleaned the wounds with my water bottle and bandana and completed the final couple of miles home.  My hip and shoulder, which also bore the brunt of my fall without breaking the skin,  were a bit sore the next day.

Bicycling can be risky.  Ask Chris Froome.

January Velo News

My first ride of the new year was on a cold January 2nd.  Temperature topped out at 39 after a morning low of 15.  The day was the third in a row of cold weather which also included freezing fog.  After a few days  everything was covered in frost.  The sun come out on the 2nd so the day was fine for riding, although cold.  I wore long johns under my tights and an extra top layer and never felt too warm .  I rode south on the Chehalis Western Trail to the Deschutes River at Waldrick Road and came back the same way.  No matter how familiar I've become with the CWT it always feels like a different experience.  On this day it was a finely-detailed winter wonderland.  The frost was thick and rendered objects precisely, a trailside bench, fencepost, bare branches and limbs, blades of grass.  Unlike snow, which blankets and covers, frost shows everything.

One spot on the CWT that always speaks to me is a little spring that feeds a small watercourse draining into one of the many wetlands that abut the trail.  On this trip it was running strongly, its waters sparkling in the low winter sunlight.  A few weeks before the water was overflowing on to the trail.  (We had a lot of rain in December.)  Prior to that the last time I'd been this far south was in the fall when the area was still experiencing drought.  The little stream was completely dry then.  In years past the water stream would diminish and maybe not be visible due to all of the greenery that thrived on its banks but it always flowed.  For the first time in my short experience, it ceased to flow entirely this year.  I am pleased to see the waters returning so vigorously.

My second ride was on a sunny Sunday.  A bit warmer and no freezing fog.  The sun was out after a few overcast days.  I rode my Evergreen State College extended route which took me south on the CWT before turning west through southeast Olympia to Tumwater and beyond.  Except for the CWT section, it's all street riding, mostly with bike lanes or shoulder.  I'm cautious about traffic--"never trust a person operating a motor vehicle," I say--but I'm not afraid to take a lane to get through a traffic circle or make a left turn.  I always get a kick when I can pull it off neatly.  This ride featured well executed moves at the Boulevard/Log Cabin traffic circle and the Custer Way 2nd Avenue intersection in Tumwater.

And it's good that I had that satisfaction because not long afterward following two hard climbs, my rear tire went flat.  I'll spare you the details beyond saying that I was ill-prepared to deal with the flat.  I never made it out to the college but I had a nice walk home on a sunny day.

The Red Bike (1988-2015)

A few days ago I wrote about my newly purchased bicycle.  I'm excited about it and look forward to many years of riding it.  But the change comes with a bit of sadness.  I am giving up the bicycle that has has been part of my life for over 27 years, a bicycle that has given me much enjoyment all of those years.  I figure I put about 11,500 miles on it. maybe even 12,000.  Somewhere along the line the bike acquired a name, the Red Bike.  It was heavy and clunky but was always good therapy for whatever mood I was in.


I bought the Red Bike, a Schwinn Sierra mountain bike, from a shop in Phoenix in January 1988.  My first bike, purchased a year earlier, had just been stolen.  The shop was next door to the veterinary ophthalmologist who was treating my aging dog.  I walked into the shop after one visit, just looking.  They offered me a deal I could not refuse and walked out with a new bike.  I had already begun exploring Phoenix on my previous bike and fell right back into the rhythm of regular riding.

The Red Bike carried me all over Phoenix and its not-exactly-bike-friendly streets.  We rode together through the mountain preserves, along the canals and the city's many neighborhoods, down Central Avenue, often well before sunrise to escape the heat and traffic.  In Window Rock we traveled the loop to Fort Defiance--sometimes on to the plateau above--and outran dog packs more than once.  The Red Bike sat quietly in storage while I spent two years on the road and was waiting for me when I returned to Phoenix in 2004.  We rode maybe 1,000 miles by the time we moved to Olympia. 

 The Red Bike, circa 2010

Olympia is where we accumulated most of our miles.  The Red Bike got fenders to cope with the wet weather and we were soon exploring our new home.  Much of my understanding and feel for Olympia has been developed looking over the Red Bike's handlebars.  Within a year I knew all of the main routes and had figured out enough variations to keep me happily riding year-round.  Together we rode almost 8,400 miles since coming to Olympia.  I marveled at the wonder of it all every time.    

As much as I will enjoy my new bike, the Red Bike will always be part of any bicycle ride I take.

This past weekend, I donated the Red Bike to Community Build-A-Bike, a non-profit that recycles bicycles to new owners.  I hope the Red Bike's next owner will find as much joy in riding it as I have.

The Passing, 28 June 2015

Almost Summer Velo News

The biggest velo news of the season is a new bike--a Norco VFX3.  It's a hybrid and about seven pounds lighter than the Schwinn Sierra mountain bike I've been riding since 1988.  My primary motivation was weight.  Every ride ends with me carrying my bike up a flight of stairs, a task that seems to have grown more onerous in recent years,especially since last fall's hip surgery.  The the rear fork cracked three years ago and, although the weld has held up since then, I've always wondered if something more serious might go and leave me smeared on the pavement.

I began looking for a replacement a couple of months ago in the Olympia's local bike shops.  After test riding several, I settled on the Norco as the best combination of features and price.  I picked it up on June 5 and have ridden 59 miles since. 

The Norco rides differently than my Schwinn.  The skinny tires feel light on the pavement which is mostly okay but I also feel less anchored  than I did on the mountain bike.  That will take some getting used toClimbing hills is easier, the granny gears have a lower ratio than the Schwinn.  Sunday's ride was my longest so far--27 miles--and included four steep climbs.  I can't say that I breezed through it all but I could feel the difference.   My average speed was 10.8, my best in a long, long time.  Even averaging 10 on the Schwinn was a rare occurrence lately. 

The brakes are very good and don't squeak.  At the end of my ride, the Norco is much easier to carry up the stairs.

Late Spring Velo News

This spring, my eighth in Olympia, is the earliest spring I've experienced since moving here in late 2007.  We've had sunny, warm days--perfect cycling weather--since April.  For that matter, winter was pretty mild.  No snow whatsoever, less rain and even the occasional warm sunny day.  Combine that with a three-day work week since January and I've had plenty of opportunity to ride my bike.  The four day weekends give me a much better shot at taking advantage of the sunny, dry days which have a habit of occurring on weekdays rather than weekends.

Since I'm often riding twice a week my rides are shorter but the total mileage those usually totals around 35 miles, although last week I broke 40 miles.   Heading toward the end of May and I'm already more than halfway toward my annual goal of 1040 miles.  I'm still figuring out new, shorter variations of my established routes and have explored a few new routes along the way.

Today's ride was near perfect.  The temperature was in the high 70s with mixed cloud cover.  The early part of the ride was sunny, later on partly cloudy.  I started out in a light polypropylene shirt--didn't need a jacket at all--but changed to a t-shirt before an hour was up.  That makes the first time I've cycled in a t-shirt this year.  I cannot remember doing that in any previous year.  

None of this is any assurance that warm, dry weather is here to stay.  After riding in my polypro shirt and just shorts for a couple of weeks in early May, I went out in wearing a jacket and tights.  I warmed up enough to remove the tights but it was a cooler ride than I had been used to .  As a rule I don't count on reliably warm weather until July.  Hell, in 2011 Spring didn't arrive until July.   But this is not a normal year.  The governor has already declared a statewide drought emergency due to the extremely low snowpack--only 16 percent of normal--and we're seeing unusually warm temperatures.  The 10 day forecast has minimal chance of rain.  Again, not normal for late May.

All that said, the biking in Olympia has been great so far in 2015. 

Half Past Winter Velo News

Along with the usual wet, foggy weather Olympia gets this time of year, we've had some very nice sunny days for cycling.  Today was one.  It started with a morning fog and clouds but all that was gone by the time I got out at one.  The air was a bit chilly to start but I warmed up pretty quickly.  I rode south on the Chehalis Western Trail, across SE Olympia and North Tumwater. out to The Evergreen State College and back through NW Olympia and downtown.  was never at all cold. The wind was blowing hard from the northeast so a few of my climbs were more challenging than normal.  Total miles today: 25.8.

Friday was even warmer.  I got out for a short 10 mile ride in the afternoon.  I rode in shorts and without my fleece earband.  I don't believe I've ever dressed so lightly for a February ride.  Last week was mostly rainy but Sunday offered some clear weather early on so I was out by 9:00.  Mist was rising from many places as the early morning began burning off the the previous days' moisture.

So far I've ridden every week in 2015 and have a total of 184 miles on the year.  That puts me two weeks ahead of schedule toward my annual goal of 1040 miles.  2015 will be the year that I break 10,000 miles on my bike computer although probably broke 10,000 on the bike a year or two ago.  My previous computer died at 1,500 or 2,500 miles so I can't say for sure.

Last year's cycling totaled 1,046 miles.  I eked out my annual goal with about 6 miles to spare despite missing 8 weeks after my hip surgery.  I ride with no joint pain in my hip these days.

Very Late Fall Velo News

After a cloudy, overcast morning yesterday turned into a sunny cool day in Olympia.  Fall is just about over--the trees are nearly bare--and the norm for this time of year is wet so the sunshine was most welcome.  I rode 25 miles through town and along the Chehalis Western Trail.  I am pretty much back to my pre-surgery mileage although I still pick my routes to minimize hill climbs.

The big news for cyclists is that the Pacific Avenue overpass is now open.  Some work remains and I'm sure a formal dedication is in the works soon but for my purposes it's complete.  The overpass gives a grand view of Mount Rainier in the distance and eliminates a most vexing road crossing.  It's now possible to ride the entire CWT without encountering major traffic.  Certainly an achievement worth  celebrating.

Fall Velo News

Yesterday I rode my bike for the first time since my hip surgery eight weeks ago.  The ride was a short 14 miles along the Oly-Woodland and Chehalis Western trails but it felt wonderful to be on the move again.  My new hip worked perfectly and without the pain of its predecessor. 

The day was sunny and cold, a big change from my last ride in September.  The weather then was pleasantly warm, the trees filled with green leaves.  These days the landscape is beginning to look more winter than fall. The bare trees almost, maybe do, equal the ones still holding their now mostly brown leaves. 

I didn't get out until 2:00.  It was cool enough then but by 3:00 the the day was that much closer to sunset 4:37) and I could feel an noticeable drop in temperature, especially in the dark, heavily wooded sections of the trails.  I was happy to be on my way home. 

 

Almost Fall Velo News

The big velo news is that I turned 9000 miles on my bike computer during last week's ride, ending at a nice, symmetrical 9009 before going in for hip replacement surgery two days ago.  Nine thousand was a nice milestone before what I hope won't be much beyond four weeks.  Even with the break, I don't expect to have much difficulty reaching my annual goal of 1040 miles per year.  Since I've not been able to hike due to the painful hip, I managed to get in plenty of mileage before the surgery.  Seems as long as I didn't have to carry my weight, I could ride with with a tolerable level of pain.  That, plus the incredibly dry, sunny weather we've had in Olympia this summer made for plenty of of opportunities to get out.

Summer is the only time of the year I get to ride in the early morning these days.  Early morning rides have always been a favorite.  When I rode in Phoenix they (often before sunup) were almost a requirement during much of the year.  I came to very much like having the streets to myself.  Here in Olympia, early morning rides mean near freezing temperatures and often wet so I don't get the chance very often.  So this summer's been a real treat.  Mornings on even the hottest days (high 80's to mid-90's) here are delightfully cool.  At their coolest, summer morning temps are still warmer than afternoons during other seasons.  Today and tomorrow look like the last of the warm summer days for 2014.  By the time I am riding again we should be heading for the Big Dark and the rain that comes with it.

The surgery went well and I have been feeling pretty good, all things considered.  I was in the hospital one nigh after the surgery and came home yesterday.  The three day pain block the surgeon used on the incision has worked well so far but I am definitely sore and moving slowly.  The pain block wears off tomorrow so the next few days may be a challenge but my surgeon prescribed both strong and less strong painkillers and I also learned some pain reduction and relaxation techniques from a hypnotherapist.  I think I'm good to go.

Not Too Hot August Velo News

Western Washington has had the longest run of sunny, warm and occasionally hot (over 90) weather this summer.  Today is predicted to be one of the cooler days (84) but mid-day temperatures and high UV make cycling less pleasant than I care for, especially if I have an alternative.  Which I do:  mornings.   The temperature was 50 when I got out just after sunrise today, around 7:00.  That's higher than some mid-afternoon temperatures during winter, so I can deal with it easily.  Still it was chilly enough that I was comfortable wearing a jacket over a long-sleeved shirt first couple hours of the ride.

Since much of the year here does not lend itself to early morning rides, I enjoy the chance to get out early during the summer.  It's a habit I developed out of necessity riding in Phoenix.  I soon learned to enjoy the empty streets, the low light  and the quiet.  During summer in Olympia I get a chance to indulge my fancy.

This morning offered some fine highlights.  Heading east on 33rd Avenue I could see the road undulating under a green archway, the strong morning light filtering through the foliage.  The scene recalled summer mornings hiking the Appalachian Trail and reminded me how luck I am to be out on a beautiful morning like this.  Returning over Woodard Bay I stopped to watch the tide going out.  A sea otter head popped up in the water, then several more.  I saw six total and from the slightly larger size of one and the way the others followed its lead, I'm pretty sure it was a mother and six pups out foraging.

The day was beginning to warm up by the time I reached the northern end of the Chehalis Western Trail at 9:00.  Enough to shed the jacket for the final nine miles.  The air was still cool, though, since much of the trail is still shaded.  I never broke a sweat and felt strong throughout the ride:  25 miles and home by 10.  A good way to to start the weekend.

Early Summer Velo News

...begins last week in Danville, Virginia where I spent my childhood and teenage years before leaving for college in 1966.  I went back in late June to join my brother bicycling the town.  He rode there a few years back when he stopped overnight en route farther north and mentioned that the ride offered a different perspective as an adult to a place we'd both ridden extensively as kids.  We decided to to the same together at some point.  Last week was our opportunity; my brother was driving to Danville from Atlanta for a high school reunion and he kindly brought a bike for me.

My first ride was a solo one on Friday night. I hit town around 5:00 pm and took off in 91 degree weather along the River Walk Trail which follows the north bank of the Dan River eight miles through town.  When I lived in Danville much of the north bank was occupied by Dan River Mills.  The mill and its 10,000 jobs decamped years ago; the buildings came down in the 00's.  In their place is a very nice bike trail that provides access to the river not available in years past.  I rode about five miles before turning around.  Despite the heat, I was reasonably cool; much of the trail is nicely shaded.  I crossed the river on the old railroad trestle and explored the warehouse district and downtown.  The Danville Knitting Mill building where I worked three summers during college is still standing but completely shuttered.  About half of the commercial spaces on Main Street are empty.  The old Woolworths store at Main and Union Streets is now a church.

We got a late start on Saturday.  My brother's reunion group had an event in the morning so we got out around noon.  We rode over to our old house and checked out the neighborhood.  From there we headed across the river following one of the routes we rode to school.  I am pleased to say that I did not have to walk my bike up the steep Monroe Street grade like I did when I was a kid.  It did kick my ass, though.  We visited the National Cemetery where our parents are buried and marveled at the diverse and eclectic architecture throughout the surrounding neighborhoods.  Some houses were nicely restored while a house next door is shuttered and deteriorating.  Millionaires' Row on Main Street has been largely restored--I recall seeing some of those impressive homes abandoned and shuttered in years past.  We were out for a little over two hours before the heat got to me and we bailed back to the hotel.

Sunday morning we went out early.  The morning was cool and pleasant.  We followed the River Walk Trail, retracing some of my Friday route before continuing farther east toward the airport where we encountered some hills after miles of flat trail.  By the time we made it back to the hotel, the day had warmed up considerably.

In all, the trip was what I hoped for.  Seeing Danville as an adult from the perspective of a bicycle gave me a new appreciation for the town.  The river trail takes advantage of a natural resource that was largely ignored when I lived there.  The varied architecture gave me a new appreciation for the city's heritage.  And it was way cool to do something with my brother in the town where we both grew up.  

Almost Summer Velo News

Saturday's ride was my first this year to begin with me wearing a t-shirt.  I've ended up in a t-shirt on on one or two rides this year but on Saturday the weather made the choice easy.  Olympia's had a run of sunny dry weather for the past week with a forecast of more to come for the next few days.  Not only would a t-shirt suffice but I didn't even carry rain gear. This is classic Olympia spring weather with mixed clouds and open sky with lots of sunlight.  We don't get this kind of weather every year so when it happens, it's a gift.

My route was a familiar one:  Olympia-Woodland Trail to the Chehalis Western Trail where headed south.  First, though, I inspected the Pacific Avenue overpass.  The most notable change these days is the steady rise of the serpentine incline that lifts the trail up to the deck of the overpass from the south.
Lots of people out on this beautiful sunny day.  I get a view of Mount Rainier, still mantled in snow, brilliantly white.  More often than not I am riding through a shaded tunnel, feeling the cool breeze. 

I turn around at the Golden Spike monument commemorating the completion of the Chehalis Western Trail and return the way I came.  I'd planned  to head west and north from the Yelm Highway but that puts me in traffic and on a laid back day like today I don't want traffic so I just re-trace my outbound route on the trail. The day ends at 26.7 miles.  That gives me 516 for the year.

Yesterday's Velo News

I remembered to carry a camera on yesterday's ride and got some photos of the Pacific Avenue overpass going up. 

North approach

The span

South Approach

I also learned on yesterday's ride that my bicycle will trip the Central Avenue stoplights on 4th Avenue and State Street.  They are paired one-way thoroughfares with heavy traffic at times.  Fourth Avenue isn't too bad--traffic is climbing and sight distance is excellent.  State Street is just the opposite.  The bike activated signals will make my life easier.

 

Mid-Spring Velo News

Another wet and rainy weekend.  I was fortunate to have some time Friday afternoon to catch the last of the dry weather for a 15 mile ride.  I would have otherwise been a wet cyclist had I been forced to ride yesterday or today.  Or a disappointed one had I not gone out at all. Last weekend was no different.  I got out on a beautiful Friday afternoon for a 10 mile loop before the rain settled in.  I went out Sunday for another 10 miles in what I hoped would be window between showers but it rained for about half that time.  Looking back even further it seems like I've been dodging rain for months now.

That said, riding is still one of the high points of my week.  It's a time to blow all the chaff from my brain and revel in the intimate beauty of the Olympia area.  Even the rainiest weekends will have some windows where I'm willing to take my chances.  So far it's worked--I'm ahead 23 miles toward my annual mileage goal, even with missed weeks for the Okeefenokee trip and at least one rained out and one snowed out weekend.

These days I am watching the construction of the Pacific Avenue Crossing.  This project will eliminate the last major road crossing on the Chehalis Western Trail.  Work began shortly after New Year's Day with completion expected by December.  This week crews placed girders across Pacific Avenue.  Much work remains but once done, I won't have to thread my way around or through the South Sound Mall parking lot and across four lanes of traffic.  I look forward to that. 

Maybe I'll remember to take a camera next time I head in that direction.

Almost Spring Velo News

Olympia, like much of western Washington has been getting a lot of rain this past month, pretty heavy at times and prone to fall on weekends.  This complicates my cycling plans to no end.  As the weekend approaches I scan the hourly forecasts and chances of precipitation to see where any window for a bike ride may be possible.  That led to the crack-of-dawn ride a few weeks ago.  Except for the pre-sunrise departure, every ride since has followed the same model:  get out during a lull between storms early Saturday morning.

That's worked pretty well the past couple of weeks.  I've been able to get in 20 to 25 miles each before the day's rain settled in.  Yesterday I hoped would be the same but it didn't work out quite that way.  A big storm was approaching as I rolled out around 7:15.  Even then I felt infrequent rain drops but nothing came of them, just like the past few weeks.  About the time I reached The Evergreen State College (exactly 6.66 miles from my home), the rain looked a bit more steady but it was sufficiently sporadic that I decided not to cut the ride short a few miles later at my first decision point.

That's about the time the rain picked up.  Not heavy but steady.  At this point I knew any additional miles would be wet.  Still, the ride was pleasant enough.  I passed two more places where I could have cut short but each time it seemed more fun to keep riding, even with the rain.   The day was cool but not cold so I wasn't getting soaked, just enjoying the chance to be out despite the weather.

By the time I reached home I'd covered 25 miles and broken 200 for the year.  I was also sufficiently wet and chilled that I very much appreciated the dry and warm of home.

We're less than two weeks from the Spring Equinox  and, even though that doesn't mean an immediate change, the day is a reminder that the cycling opportunities will only get better as the year progresses.

Mid-Winter Velo News

Today began a bike ride well before dawn.  My rides rarely begin that early and those few times are usually summer.  Today was near freezing temperatures with rain in the forecast for much of the next two days.  If I was to ride this weekend, the only possible window was before 9 am.  Cold and dark notwithstanding, I took the opportunity.  It's been three weeks since I rode. 

Olympia at 6 am is dark and deserted.  I had the streets and bike trails to myself.  The sky was overcast but not entirely socked in.  Most important, no rain was falling although the air was pretty saturated.  The Oly-Woodland and Chehalis Western Trails were almost indistinct in the dark.  I had no trouble following either although it required careful attention to avoid debris on the pavement.  My biggest problem was cold fingers.  I was otherwise warm enough to pedal hard but even a micro fleece liner under my cycling gloves wasn't enough.

The sky lightened up  within the hour and the pavement became more visible.  Farther north on the CWT, fog hugged the wetlands on either side of the trail.  All was misty and mysterious.  I returned through northeast Olympia.  Still no rain so I extended my route to North Point.  The first raindrops began falling as I turned south on Capitol Way, rolling through the still-empty downtown.  The rain wasn't hard enough to make me turn home so I made it to the Capitol Campus.  Then I headed home.  22 miles total.

Rain has been falling ever since.  

Deep Fall Velo News

This space has been quiet the past few weeks for a variety of reasons that go under the general term life and some amount of procrastination.  I was happy to see the Democrats mostly sweep the Virginia elections but any expectations I have results are mixed.  Nothing to shout about, really.  Just a sigh of relief at a bullet dodged, knowing full well that it won't be the last. 

Better news is fall cycling here in Olympia.  Yesterday, my odometer clicked over 8000.  Shortly after that, it reached 900 miles for the year.  All in a 15 mile loop just ahead of incoming showers.  I felt a few drops now and then but not enough to cut my route short.  A wetter day would have been less fun. Those will come soon enough.  Olympia had some nice fall weather before finally shifting into the wet, damp and cold that is normal fall here.  The weather is something I've come to live with but the damp and cold always recall the feel of infantry training at nearby Fort Lewis in October-November 1970.

Back in the immediate past, my route passed through the Capitol Campus which was filled with activity on a Saturday afternoon.  The Legislature is in special session and several busloads of Asian tourists were walking throughout the campus.  Combined with the filled parking due to the special session, navigating the campus was trickier than normal.  The tourists were young and older adults, I saw more young than older, all seemingly photographing themselves with phones and tablets.  A few had actual cameras.

The rest of the ride was Olympia streets, Chehalis Western and Olympia-Woodland Trails.  Nothing hard.  Pleasant.  In before the rain.

Not cycle news but worth mentioning is a my Skyline Trail day hike in Mount Rainier NP.  You can read about it at my Speed of Foot blog.

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.