Day 52 – Seattle!
I’m in Seattle! I have officially cycled across the United States of America. FletchRide has made it across the country! 3600 miles by the route I took. I can’t believe I made it to Seattle!
So I suppose I should describe this glorious day, as quite a lot occurred. I’ll be brief, or as brief as possible, to spare all the gory details.
Heading out at 7:00 am, I said goodbye to Maryann after loading up on some cereal and bananas. My legs were sore, but the small climbs out of the area loosened them up, even if my average speed was lower then what I had hoped. After a couple hours I arrived in the Bavarian mountain town of Leavenworth and stopped at a waffle haus for a carb loaded breakfast. Eating quickly and stretching out for the coming 30 miles then another 30 of climbing, I set off through gorgeous mountain country to the beginning of the park where I rode 26 miles to a rest stop. While eating some more and psyching up for the pass, I chatted with some travelers and discovered the remaining ride to Steven’s Pass included a number of up and down protions before a steep climb to the peak. Coming from the west would have been a constant grade climb, without the dips, but I was not so lucky. Nor was I lucky with shade, as it was now 11 AM and the sun was nearing it’s high point thus negating the tree coverage for the road and bathing me in sun all the way to the pass.
I wish I could say it was easy, but the ride was certainly beautiful if not slow. I finally arrived at the summit near 1:30 and gladly shot a picture near the sign. Then I headed to the administrative offices to meet Jenn Raymond, from the Raymond clan I met at Glacier National, who works in the offices there. She introduced me as the ‘crazy cyclist’ to her coworkers and treated me to some Powerade and a Luna bar (she loves her Luna bars). I said my goodbyes, saw the clock and began the wonderfully steep and fast ride down. Never got above 40 mph, but stayed around 35 most of the time. So much fun.
As I arrived in the small town of Skykomish, I saw a couple riders pulilng into the small town. Backstory: A couple days earlier my mother-in-law, Susane, had emailed me with several of her coworkers who were doing the Redspoke ride (a large supported bike ride from Redmond to Spokane sponsored by the Rotary Club) that left that morning from Redmond with their first nights camping in Skykomish. Lisa Swanson, one of the rider/cowokers, had sent me the first day cue sheet so I knew they were stopping here.
Originally I thought I would pass the group of 70 plus riders during the day, but with my long climb and slower going, I didn’t get there soon enough. When I pulled into the elementary school where they were setting up camp I was asked my “number”. Of course, I didn’t have one and this perplexed a few of the workers. Moments later I met Lisa, then Gary and Benata, all from Microvision in Redmond. They stole me a lunch and I sat and chatted with them and Jeff for about an hour before finally getting on the road. Apparently the ride into Seattle was not as far as I thought, only 60 some miles! After 75 miles I was stoked and determined to make it, but it was nearly 4 PM and I had to hit the road. With goodbyes and a couple directions I headed west.
Now I put my head down and rode hard, not entirely sure where I was going to turn south and end up as my stopping point. The directions I had were to Redmond, and originally I had hoped to go to Microvision to meet Susane at work, but it was far too late in the day for that now. So I decided to head into Seattle for a picture and stopping point that said “I am here”. After some phone calls, a lot of Google maps consulting and a stop at a cycle shop out of town, I arrived in Bothell and hopped onto the Burke-Gilman Trail, a rail trail, that rode all the way around the western side of Lake Washington.
Shortly after I arrived on the busy path with bikers, bladders, runners and walkers, a ride pulled up next to me and I asked him how far to the Gas Works. He took a guess, but then Jeff just decided to ride with me almost the entire way there. So my last few miles into my stopping point were in shaded, paved and comfortable riding areas with company and a setting sun. Excellent.
Jeff said goodbye a few hundred yards short of the park, and as I pulled up there was Susane and her friend Tom, snapping pictures. The hill stood a couple hundred yards away and I rode up to meet Angela and Ashlyn and April and Julian, along with a number of random folks howling at the moon (literally). Susane and Tom came up with a sign, a huge spread of food, and we snapped photos, laughed and marveled at the arrival of a sweaty New York cyclist to Seattle.
I can’t thank Susane enough for surprising me with this impromptu party, and for all those who came to celebrate on the hill. It means so much to have the physical support and goodwill of people after so many days alone on a bicycle. It can get very lonely on the rides and the smiling faces and warm embraces make up for all the hours circling the thoughts in my head.
I’m in Seattle! And now, I’m taking a break.
2 years ago