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Return from Whidbey

26 Wednesday Aug 2020

Tags

Miyata, rivendell, Whidbey Island


I haven’t been writing for a while now. It looks like my last post was in 2018 and “A LOT” has happened since then. Highlights: a graduating senior is leaving us for college in a month and I will be very sad at her departure, I’ve been through some work changes, but work has been stable, and then there is this pandemic thing…

I’ve spent a lot of time on Whidbey Island this year – probably more than half-time since February. I love how it feels rural, but is still an hour from Seattle. It has helped me maintain my mental state through the pandemic and social disorder affecting the world.

Now, back to bikes. I have moved most of my bikes up here, including the following that are getting very regular (daily) use:

  • Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen (my primary road bike)
  • Rivendell Hunqapillar (my road/trail bike and camp bike)
  • Miyata RidgeRunner (my fishing/crabbing/lounging bike)
  • Kona Hei Hei (when I want to kick it up a bit on the trails)

My normal day starts early with half my team on the east coast. I’ll usually do a lunch ride for 1 to 1.5 hours – either a nice 15 mile road ride, or a 6-10 mile trail ride. I then work to the end of the day. After dinner, I will go on a beach walk, kayak, or fish for whatever is nibbling. I enjoy standing in the cold Puget Sound waters for an hour or so while fishing to numb up my legs and relax from the day’s work.

Life in 2020

Typical Road Ride: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/55001772?privacy_code=NBuzdhA7QvKegnWl

Trail Ride at Trillium: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/16459760#postcard

Posted by Stonehog | Filed under Cycling

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Spring 200k

17 Saturday Mar 2018


ridewithgps.com/trips/21379894

I did the ride up north the hard way today. I knew it would hurt, but I made it thru the ordeal. Beautiful day. Will post some pics if they turned out.

Posted by Stonehog | Filed under Cycling

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Winter Cycling

20 Saturday Jan 2018

Tags

bicycle, bike, cycling, kona, MTB, schwalbe, Seattle, Trillium Reserve, Whidbey Island


In an attempt to get out for a quick ride today, I chose the MTB. I found reasonable trails even in the winter in the Trillium Park on Whidbey Island. I headed up the eastern edge on mostly damp leafy single track until I reached the access road on the north end. After the climb, the real fun starts. There were a few trees down that I had to stop and hop for, but it was a good flow, nevertheless.

On the downhill nearing my favorite twisty section, I ran into a hiker who warned me that it was “wet up ahead”. I soon ran into a pond where the trail should have been. Being at least a foot deep with no way around, I abandoned and headed home.

The Kona was impressive as always. After a nice wash and oil, it’s ready for the next adventure.

Posted by Stonehog | Filed under Cycling

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Trillium Forest

Featured

Tags

hei hei, kona, trillium community forest, Whidbey Island


I recently explored a newly opened forest area on Whidbey Island that happens to be close to my house.  After an easy 2 mile ride there on the mountain bike, I had high hopes that the trails would be single-track and awesome.  They were, and it was!

Pics from the south end of Trillium

Posted by Stonehog | Filed under Cycling, MTB, Northwest

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Winter Hills

11 Saturday Feb 2017

Tags

cycling, Miyata, Whidbey Island, winter training


Late January rides are hit or miss in the Northwest, but when a nice day comes along, they may be the best time to be on the roads.  Little traffic greeted me a few weeks ago on a winter ride on Whidbey Island.

Screen Shot 2017-02-11 at 9.26.02 PM.png

This one was to have some hills, and my bike was a fendered island bike – an old Miyata RidgeRunner Team. Not the lightest bike, but it seems to go as fast as I can go on anything this time of year. I have ridden a few of these hills recently, but wanted to try out Swede Hill on the south end of Whidbey.

Screen Shot 2017-02-11 at 9.26.48 PM.png

As the elevation graph shows, most of the big climbs were done in the first half of the ride. A couple were quite steep.  Swede Hill hit at about the 12 mile mark.  It went straight up from a picturesque beach area into a forested ridge.  No real views west, but this picturesque farm awaited me at the top.

BH-1.jpg

The next scenic stop was just past Clinton at the 20 mile mark.  This area of the island is mostly high bluff.  You can see Camano Island peaking out on the left.

BH-2.jpg

The mountains were out, and I had great views of the Olympics and the Cascades, but I find most roads on the southeast side of the island are buried in dense forest with sporadic scenic stops.

BH-3.jpg

This stop overlooked Baby Island – a small refuge where Holmes Harbor meets Saratoga Passage.  It is on a small dirt road with a mean, steep hill up to the main road near the end.  Very secluded, it offers a great rest stop and views north and east into the Passage.

BH-4.jpg

The next time out, I’m going to reverse the course and see how it works out.  It felt like a lot of work too soon going counter-clockwise.

BH-5.jpg

I shaved about 10 miles off what I had planned when the route got a little too close to the cabin. I was done. The hills had taken their toll…

Posted by Stonehog | Filed under Cycling, Northwest

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