sportsguy
searchgeek - author
Did you ever have one of those rides when you just knew something was going to not be normal?
Today's ride started off on a whim posted only 2 days ago. I was pleased that both Ahchui and Stephen opted to ride today. By days end, my opinion of Stephen had been elevated to that of Rider/God based on his racing, attitude and local back road knowledge.
So, from the beginning, the day looked something like this, to summarize:
1 - up early
2 - left on time
3 - met Ahchui (Marcus)
4 - left on time from Redmond, WA
5 - took a wrong turn
6 - got on the right road
7 - should have went left when we went right
8 - ~~Death finds me!!~~
9 - late to next stop
10 - met Stephen (ah... Stephen)
11 - said "Sure" to his ideas
12 - Wow! WOW! WOW! ...the roads this man knows!
13 - late lunch
14 - Stop at Norm & Patricia Eagle's
15 - Oh my! Airplanes... cool!
16 - Gotta get home
So, the day started normally with Marcus meeting myself and my wife at REI in Redmond, WA. More or less on time ourselves, I called Marcus to find out where he was. Naturally, he was riding, yet impressively managed to answer his cell phone. Four more minutes and he's there with us. After confirming no one else is coming, we mount up and scoot.
Now, this is where the first error in our plan comes up. Back in the parking lot, Marcus said we'd grab Avondale Rd towards Novelty Hill Rd, then head to Monroe to meet Stephen. I gamely said yes to the plan, and within 1/4 of a mile was scratching my head wondering why Marcus turned right at those lights. His next left simply left me thinking I didn't know this particular route to Avondale Rd. 5 more minutes and we'd swapped spots with me leading, bee-lining to Avondale. We dispatch the 'burbs, soccer moms in SUVs and wannabe golf pros and slide down the twisty back side of Novelty Hill Rd.
Man, you HAVE to pay attention there for about 1/4 of a mile - all downhill (15% grade), tight hairpin turns, steep drops on your right side. Great little stretch of road. I was loving it, enjoying the cool air under the huge trees towering all around us.
Naturally, I hit the bottom of the hill, and immediately sh!t the directional bed by hogging a hard right. Fun ride? Oh, sure. But when you're trying to make time across the valley to Duvall, thence onto Monroe, RIGHT is NOT the direction to turn. On any other day this move would have been uber-cool for the valley-trolling you'd now be enjoying. The twisty bits all kinds of fun, punctuated with sweeping views of a sun-soaked valley on your left.
Today, however, the play should have been to the LEFT, which would have seen us cross the valley in about 5 minutes, instead of closer to 30. I might also have avoided my date with Death had I turned left...
Oddly, it was that incorrect right turn and following drive that gave me a glimpse into what I would later realize was destiny.
Finally cutting left across the valley, I was mildly surprised to see a few small birds in the shadows on the road in front of me. The scattered, some going right, then left and me thinking for sure I was going to crunch one under my tires. No crunches, no bumps, the birds were fine. We kept rolling, all of that drama having played out inside my head, in front of my bike and in less that 2 seconds...
We hit the cross road and haul left for Duvall and then Monroe.
Wafting along a an indicated 45 (coming into Duvall requires slowing down lest you want to donate to the local constabulary), we're in the dappled sunlight broken by the tall trees on the left side of the road. The temps are just right, all is well.
WHAM!
WTF was that?!
Did that just happen?!
I see red... no, I'm replaying the events in my mind... I SAW red...
We're obviously still rolling fine (my wife later asked me why I'd suddenly snapped my head own and left so quickly), so I'm not panicking. Bike is stable, and why shouldn't it be? That f*cking bird glanced off my helmet, so naturally everything else is fine...
Replaying it in my mind, I clearly recall seeing a robin-sized fowl bee-lining for my head and striking me a glancing blow across the top, right side of my helmet. I swear, I saw a small sign slung 'round his neck that said "Goodbye cruel world..." Sure enough, Marcus confirmed seeing feathers and a wobbly avian careening away into the trees after the contact. Blood on my helmet finalized the reality. Stanley Sparrow, obviously despondent at being chased from the nest by Shirley Sparrow decided to end his pain. Enter Duane at 45 mph, stage left, and WHAM!
After that we simply poured on the high-test to get past Duvall and onto Monroe, ASAP. In fact, we arrived at the Monroe Smokestack just in time to see Stephen leaving the parking lot from the other end. Furious horn bleeting ensued, Stephen swung around and we were set. Marcus tawdled off for fuel (light weight) and we were left to plan the day's route. Given I didn't know any of the roads in that area, I just said yes a lot until Marcus returned.
Let me just say this at this point...
OMG! Flat out some of the best roads I have EVER ridden. Period. I sincerely hope Marcus got some usable video footage from today, because I dearly want to watch the twisty bits all over again!
We went up to Granite Falls WA, stopped for a quick break and grabbed shots of this old fellow...
Old meets new...
Now, from here I can honestly state that right up until Stephen pointed us towards home, I have not a freakin' clue where I was. I do know we saw some beautiful country today, though, so I'm going to make with the pics, and it'll be light on place names.
Great suspension bridge - this place is a real happenin' joint in the summer - nice beach, great views... imagine the place filled with people...
Marcus doing his part to ensure structural integrity for the next generation...
What Marcus wrapped the wire around...
...and I quote, "There are bewbies up to HERE on that beach in the summer!" - wisdom of Stephen...
The beach...
Our next stop saw us down in the back woods, almost out of asphalt...
Translation: We might shoot you while you sun bathe...
Yep, we've got a signal, so if the local cornhole committee shows, up my wife can call in... ah... FOX news maybe?
Stephen suggests maybe Marcus should NOT pee on his own bike... my wife wisely ignores them both...
We find Norm and Patricia Eagle at home. (Note Stephen leaves his helmet on so Norm will have a harder time getting his talons into him...)
Norm and Pat don't mind visitors, so long as they use a zoom lens...
Resting for a minute on the way home - shadows getting long...
Last stop on the way home... cool little airfield in Snohomish, WA
How cute - when it grows up it wants to be a dragonfly!
Old training plane - very cool rig...
Well, that's one way to ensure YOUR plane won't get stolen...
Oldie but a goodie...
All 59 pics from today are here...
We had a great time today and owe a huge thanks to Stephen for showing us the roads. So much twisty, so much turny, so much FUN!
So there we go... twists, turns, drama, death and vitamin D. All in a day on the back roads of Washington state...
Today's ride started off on a whim posted only 2 days ago. I was pleased that both Ahchui and Stephen opted to ride today. By days end, my opinion of Stephen had been elevated to that of Rider/God based on his racing, attitude and local back road knowledge.
So, from the beginning, the day looked something like this, to summarize:
1 - up early
2 - left on time
3 - met Ahchui (Marcus)
4 - left on time from Redmond, WA
5 - took a wrong turn
6 - got on the right road
7 - should have went left when we went right
8 - ~~Death finds me!!~~
9 - late to next stop
10 - met Stephen (ah... Stephen)
11 - said "Sure" to his ideas
12 - Wow! WOW! WOW! ...the roads this man knows!
13 - late lunch
14 - Stop at Norm & Patricia Eagle's
15 - Oh my! Airplanes... cool!
16 - Gotta get home
So, the day started normally with Marcus meeting myself and my wife at REI in Redmond, WA. More or less on time ourselves, I called Marcus to find out where he was. Naturally, he was riding, yet impressively managed to answer his cell phone. Four more minutes and he's there with us. After confirming no one else is coming, we mount up and scoot.
Now, this is where the first error in our plan comes up. Back in the parking lot, Marcus said we'd grab Avondale Rd towards Novelty Hill Rd, then head to Monroe to meet Stephen. I gamely said yes to the plan, and within 1/4 of a mile was scratching my head wondering why Marcus turned right at those lights. His next left simply left me thinking I didn't know this particular route to Avondale Rd. 5 more minutes and we'd swapped spots with me leading, bee-lining to Avondale. We dispatch the 'burbs, soccer moms in SUVs and wannabe golf pros and slide down the twisty back side of Novelty Hill Rd.
Man, you HAVE to pay attention there for about 1/4 of a mile - all downhill (15% grade), tight hairpin turns, steep drops on your right side. Great little stretch of road. I was loving it, enjoying the cool air under the huge trees towering all around us.
Naturally, I hit the bottom of the hill, and immediately sh!t the directional bed by hogging a hard right. Fun ride? Oh, sure. But when you're trying to make time across the valley to Duvall, thence onto Monroe, RIGHT is NOT the direction to turn. On any other day this move would have been uber-cool for the valley-trolling you'd now be enjoying. The twisty bits all kinds of fun, punctuated with sweeping views of a sun-soaked valley on your left.
Today, however, the play should have been to the LEFT, which would have seen us cross the valley in about 5 minutes, instead of closer to 30. I might also have avoided my date with Death had I turned left...
Oddly, it was that incorrect right turn and following drive that gave me a glimpse into what I would later realize was destiny.
Finally cutting left across the valley, I was mildly surprised to see a few small birds in the shadows on the road in front of me. The scattered, some going right, then left and me thinking for sure I was going to crunch one under my tires. No crunches, no bumps, the birds were fine. We kept rolling, all of that drama having played out inside my head, in front of my bike and in less that 2 seconds...
We hit the cross road and haul left for Duvall and then Monroe.
Wafting along a an indicated 45 (coming into Duvall requires slowing down lest you want to donate to the local constabulary), we're in the dappled sunlight broken by the tall trees on the left side of the road. The temps are just right, all is well.
WHAM!
WTF was that?!
Did that just happen?!
I see red... no, I'm replaying the events in my mind... I SAW red...
We're obviously still rolling fine (my wife later asked me why I'd suddenly snapped my head own and left so quickly), so I'm not panicking. Bike is stable, and why shouldn't it be? That f*cking bird glanced off my helmet, so naturally everything else is fine...
Replaying it in my mind, I clearly recall seeing a robin-sized fowl bee-lining for my head and striking me a glancing blow across the top, right side of my helmet. I swear, I saw a small sign slung 'round his neck that said "Goodbye cruel world..." Sure enough, Marcus confirmed seeing feathers and a wobbly avian careening away into the trees after the contact. Blood on my helmet finalized the reality. Stanley Sparrow, obviously despondent at being chased from the nest by Shirley Sparrow decided to end his pain. Enter Duane at 45 mph, stage left, and WHAM!
After that we simply poured on the high-test to get past Duvall and onto Monroe, ASAP. In fact, we arrived at the Monroe Smokestack just in time to see Stephen leaving the parking lot from the other end. Furious horn bleeting ensued, Stephen swung around and we were set. Marcus tawdled off for fuel (light weight) and we were left to plan the day's route. Given I didn't know any of the roads in that area, I just said yes a lot until Marcus returned.
Let me just say this at this point...
OMG! Flat out some of the best roads I have EVER ridden. Period. I sincerely hope Marcus got some usable video footage from today, because I dearly want to watch the twisty bits all over again!
We went up to Granite Falls WA, stopped for a quick break and grabbed shots of this old fellow...
Old meets new...
Now, from here I can honestly state that right up until Stephen pointed us towards home, I have not a freakin' clue where I was. I do know we saw some beautiful country today, though, so I'm going to make with the pics, and it'll be light on place names.
Great suspension bridge - this place is a real happenin' joint in the summer - nice beach, great views... imagine the place filled with people...
Marcus doing his part to ensure structural integrity for the next generation...
What Marcus wrapped the wire around...
...and I quote, "There are bewbies up to HERE on that beach in the summer!" - wisdom of Stephen...
The beach...
Our next stop saw us down in the back woods, almost out of asphalt...
Translation: We might shoot you while you sun bathe...
Yep, we've got a signal, so if the local cornhole committee shows, up my wife can call in... ah... FOX news maybe?
Stephen suggests maybe Marcus should NOT pee on his own bike... my wife wisely ignores them both...
We find Norm and Patricia Eagle at home. (Note Stephen leaves his helmet on so Norm will have a harder time getting his talons into him...)
Norm and Pat don't mind visitors, so long as they use a zoom lens...
Resting for a minute on the way home - shadows getting long...
Last stop on the way home... cool little airfield in Snohomish, WA
How cute - when it grows up it wants to be a dragonfly!
Old training plane - very cool rig...
Well, that's one way to ensure YOUR plane won't get stolen...
Oldie but a goodie...
All 59 pics from today are here...
We had a great time today and owe a huge thanks to Stephen for showing us the roads. So much twisty, so much turny, so much FUN!
So there we go... twists, turns, drama, death and vitamin D. All in a day on the back roads of Washington state...
