I usually spend the night before at the home of my friends Claire and David, as we are all doing the ride. I've known Claire via the internet since the mid (early?) 80's. First I was riding, then not, then she took up riding, then I returned to riding. After a couple of decades, we did a ride together...
She offered a tandem couple sleeping space at their home as well, not knowing it was Richard and Nance, the original owners of Clifford, Jason's tandem. Once all was revealed, we planned to carpool up - Richard and Nance riding off to Victoria afterward.
Got myself packed the night before, and put in a short day at work. Picked up Jason, Clifford and his stuff, then drove over to get Richard, Nance, and their bike, already in pieces. So, some bungie cords and blankets, and we were all ready to go. The drive north was uneventful - we turn off on 405 to go to Bellevue and miss all the exciting Seattle traffic.
Richard reassembled their bike, Jason and I got all the numbers and stuff on and in Clifford, then we started dinner.
I had brought salad, Jason had homemade sourdough bread, and Richard and Nance had more bread and fruit tarts from Ken's Artisan Bakery. Add in spaghetti and wine... Lots of dinner. I was stuffed, but that was ok, there was 107 miles waiting for me the next day.
We took care of the dishes while Claire and David got organized.
I had Emma's room, as she was at camp, and had a nice visit with the contents of her bookshelf (Red Scarf Girl this year).
Up at 5am. Claire and David had a nice, substantial breakfast ready for us all. Took care of the dishes, loaded up, and headed off to Magnuson Park, the start line. We found Cecil, got our jerseys and swag, dropped off our stuff in the proper pile, and faffed for a bit waiting for the other 4 to show up. Eventually we figured they'd catch us, and took off.
If it wasn't for the initial section of the Burke-Gilman, I'd really like the entire first day. It has roots, and lots of cyclists all moving along in what seems to me to be rather confined quarters. Of course I'm stoking and can't see squat in front. The view off to the right is nice, though. Once we got off the trail I relaxed somewhat :-) Then off through Woodinville, up the Woodinville Hill, then left onto the road with the fabulous rollers (for tandems anyway). Through Maltby and Clearview, then the great downhill where one MUST bear right onto Springhetti Road. I've missed it twice in 4 years :-) Then around and down, and into Snohomish. We stopped at the Buzz Inn (at the airport) for some coffee. As we were heading out, Cecil reappeared. She'd lost her bike computer and rode back a ways to try to find it. No such luck. But she found us, and we rode together the rest of the day.
Then through Snohomish and onto the Centennial Trail. The trail has big concrete barriers that are a challenge to navigate with a tandem - the bike is just too darn long. So Jason thought he'd go around the outside, whenever possible. Weeeeelll. There was this one spot where it was a little tight, and we lost forward momentum. And fell. Down. We did a 360 into some vines, and stopped. Down was the keyword. It was steep. Nothing damaged. Some riders pulled the bike out, then Jason. It was getting itchy there, and I could see down a lot further into a profoundly deep ditch, not that the vines were in any danger of giving way. Eventually they made a line and hauled me out. Itchy scratchy plants. Not nettles, but closely related. I had itchy patches on my left arm and legs. Plus a slug on my sunglasses. Eww. Jason: "I'm sorry". Cecil came back, because she all of a sudden didn't see us. We tried some nettle removal, then headed on.
Then on to Lake Stevens for the first rest stop of the day, then off again to Arlington. Lots of countryside by now, and the screaming descent into Arlington (with the annoying stop sign right at the bottom of a very steep climb up). Then into Arlington for lunch at the Blue Bird Cafe. We didn't see Cecil, so after looking around, ordered lunch. Then she walked by, so I ran out and got her. Itch, tingle, scratch. Jason: "I apologize". After lunch we foraged for a drugstore. On the way, a little boy was completely fascinated by Clifford "that is a BIG bicycle". At the drugstore a couple more children were equivalently fascinated, so we had a nice little visit while Jason and I applied Lanacaine. Jason: "I'm sorry".
Then the most annoying stretch of the day - the first few miles on Hwy 9 out of Arlington, until the I-5 turn-off. Heavy traffic. Then up to Lake McMurray, except the climb seemed really gentle this year. The lake looked very inviting. A brief stop at the store, then off again. On the way to Big Lake, we heard Cecil yelling at us from across the road. She'd gotten a flat, and was just about done fixing it. She said a lot of riders went by, and not ONE asked if she needed anything (!) Past the Big Lake Grocery and a golf course, then down on a new stretch of road (under construction last year) into Mt Vernon, and the official RSVP rest stop. Ah. Fruit. Snacks. Cold water. Green grass to sit on.
Moving on, crossing the Skagit River, cycling past the soccer fields, and into Burlington, through Burlington, and across I-5 to the Skagit Flats. Every other year, there has been an astounding headwind. This year - a tailwind! Nice! Really nice! Passed lots of farms, cornfields, horses, the Bow Cemetery and all of a sudden found ourselves at the Bow Country Store. This year, the Western Washington University Cycling group was selling Gatorade and snacks in the parking lot.
Then off for the prettiest part of the day - Chuckanut Drive. As Cecil had never been on it, we stopped at every scenic pullout and took lots of pictures. Samish Bay was especially photogenic, too.
Then off again, up and down, climbing the last hill to stop at the Famous Pink Lemonade Stand and have a couple of glasses of excellent Pink Lemonade. Then into Fairhaven and Bellingham, stopping first at the Days Inn to get Cecil's jersey, then up the hill to the dorms at WWU.
Moved into our rooms, then decided on Boundary Bay Brewery for dinner. We hiked through campus (I knew the route; Rebecca went to school here for a couple of years), enjoying all the sculpture, especially the little builders in the Haskell plaza. Then down into Bellingham, where there was beer, fries, and dinner!
We planned to meet just before 7 the next morning, and head to Lynden for breakfast.
Scratched my arms while pullin on the armwarmers. Jason: "I'm sorry". Riding out of Bellingham the next morning, we found Richard and Nance. They and Cecil went on ahead (as expected). We enjoyed the ride through the countryside and made decent time to Lynden. Found them all in the Dutch Mother's. Richard and Nance were getting some small takeout thing. That just wouldn't do; Jason, Cecil and I did the sit-down eat the buffet breakfast thing. Much food and coffee.
Through Lynden, past many dairy farms, then along the Canadian border to the Aldergrove Crossing. It was quick. "Welcome to Canada, have a good ride!" Pictures all around. The Team Bag Balm jerseys got a lot of attention.
Riding past farms, and into bits of suburbia and back into farmland. We summitted the Wall, to find Cecil supremely unimpressed by it at the top. She's right. It isn't long. More riding, almost getting taken out by a cyclist who cut in on our right as we were crossing the worst set of RR tracks on the ride. We yelled. She was "what did I do?". Grumph. Darn near took us out, is what she did. Then into Fort Langley, where Jason went in search of water, and Cecil and I went foraging for an ATM, to get some Coin of the Realm. Then off tot the Albion Ferry. This year they clumped us up, then sent a wave onto the ferry, RIDING our bikes, not taking the pedestrian walkway. It does make for faster loading - there was no backup this year.
Crossed the river, then onto the Lougheed Hwy (crowded), climbing to Maple Ridge (there is a reason it is "ridge"), and turning off at the food stop at the Farmer's Market. More fruit, and David and Claire. We all sat around and snacked and talked, then headed off to the Dewdney Trunk Road.
It was kind of scary this year - heavier traffic and lots of big semis. It would have been a better idea to take the Dyke Trail Option, which skips that whole section. Note for next year!
Through Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam (not as scary this year, perhaps because the road construction is complete), into Port Moody, and the rest stop at Rocky Point Park. Mmmmm, ice cream. Up and around onto the Barnet Highway - great views of piles of sulfur (really, it was very pretty, a great shade of yellow) and the Burrard Inlet. Still had our tailwind, too. The Barnet is usually a slog, and it really wasn't this year.
Then into Burnaby and onto the bike routes. Passed the Cathay Villa, a retirement home for members of the Chinese community. Somehow, those two words just don't go together. Anyway, into Vancouver proper, up through Chinatown (at this point the map is in my hand and I'm directing), then through Gastown (wedding going on at the Steam Clock), then left on Cardero, up to Comox, and finish.
Parked the bike, then headed up for the party. Found Cecil, ate, then found David and Claire. David had apparently been talking about dinner at Tanpopo for the last 20 miles :-) We arranged to meet there at 7. Cecil, Jason and I claimed our bags and started walking to our respective hotels. Cecil had other dinner plans, but the four of us had a wonderful all-you-can-eat sushi dinner that evening. Then walked back to our hotel :-) Good thing after all that food.
We found Cecil in line the next morning with her bike. Jason got Clifford and put it in the tandem pile (they are loaded last). He then foraged for more coffee, and we visited. David and Claire came by after putting their bike in the tandem pile, then David went off to seek out provisions for the bus back to Seattle. Smart man.
We got on the bus, and headed out. I finished my book and then returned to finishing my sock. Got to the border. And waited. And waited. And waited. For 3 HOURS! We saw the bicycles go through. We waited. Grumble. When it was finally our turn, we were in and out of the immigration line in no time at all. The earlier busses were full of non-US citizens, which is why it took so freaking long. No food. No water. No public bathrooms (for security reasons). Most of us had water and some snacks, so it wasn't that dire. But still...
Then on to Seattle. I could tell we were all low blood sugar - Jason, Cecil and I were all very quiet, which is not the usual state of affairs at all.
The bikes were there, although not completely unloaded. Rumor had it that they had to unpack them at the border. Said our goodbyes all around. Clifford came off the truck about 15 minutes later, and we loaded up and went in search of FOOD. Then a very long drive home.
Cecil's pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cecilanne_r-s/sets/72157601579969705/
My pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/20084214@N00/sets/72157601567966854/
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