this weekend was gorgeous. saturday we lazed about until about 1, then got on the bikes and headed north. we didn’t really know how far we’d go, we just decided to see what was the other direction on the B-G since we’d been all the way to the other end in Ballard. turns out at some point in kenmore it turns into the sammamish river trail and keeps going to bothell. so there, we’ve gone the entirety of the B-G trail, though not all at once.
things i learned.
- there are some really nice houses along the water from here to kenmore
- the sammamish river goes a long way
- my saddle is kind of uncomfortable after 20 miles
the last one is strange because it’s been fine for the last 800 odd miles, which tells me i still have some adjusting to do. or an excuse to get a new one ^.^
went to see my grandparents today. that was nice. helped pop cut down some limbs from the tree outside that were hanging too low over the road. it cost me way too much to get gas. i’m seriously considering trading in my car for something a little more fuel efficient. but i’m really not. that would just be silly. although smart cars are making their way officially to the US market. you can get them now through gray market import but you have to have them worked on to be made legal here. supposedly the models coming here are going to have a bit more pep, be that in a better tuned engine or a slightly bigger one. either way, i’m riding my bike to work now.
I feel your pain with the gas prices, I’ve put a lot of thought into buying a motorcycle for the summer here in Tahoe… but, like you, I’m not yet rich enough to buy a new vehicle solely to get better gas mileage (maybe one day!).
Your and Tessa’s stories of the Burke Gilman Trail are making me a bit jealous! I used to ride the trail all the time growing up. My dad and I made it out to Bothell once or twice–I remember the big houses–there are also some STEEP hills in the Sand Point/Magnuson area on the non-water side of the trail if you and Tessa are up for a challenge
I think I traded my bike to Stacey for her Nintendo AC adaptor, stupid!
If you and Tessa are contemplating the round’the’lake bike trail, my friend Andrew and his dad have probably done it a dozen times. I can ask them about any tips and tricks for circling the lake.
where in sand point/magnuson are the steep hills? are you taking about the UW detour trail?
I think the steeps are between about 50th and maybe 80th or so, as the trail goes sort of parallel to Sand Point Way. It’s probably been about 10 years or so since I’ve been there, but I remember it pretty well.
There is a little dirt path, or possibly a little wooden-plank path that leads West off of the trail and puts you at the dead-end bottom of a steep hill. The hill is so steep I’d be willing to buy both of you pints (at Pies and Pints!) if you can make it all the way up on your bike. I distinctly remember trying to make it up the hill at least three times, and I’d always feel like I was about to fall backwards off my bike and roll all the way down the hill.
Cheers, good luck!