Adventures in Biking

I FINALLY put my bike on my bike rack (which has been on my car since sometime in April), and drove down to Bothell Landing. Yes, I could have ridden from my home to the trail, but whatever.

You have to ride across this bridge that goes over the slough in order to get to the trail. The bridge has a bit of an incline and isn't super wide. I knew I was going to need a running start, so to speak. Umm... there was a lady stopped at the bottom, right in my way. And I couldn't go around her, because someone else was heading toward us.

So, I stopped, thinking, "Lady, you're killing my momentum here. Come on!"

I don't have a little bell to ding (although several people do!), and I wasn't ready to tell her to get out of my way, so I waited. She eventually noticed me (you know, after like 15 seconds) and apologized, then proceeded to move over. Alas, the damage was done and I had to walk my bike to the top of the bridge. There was no way I could start from a stand still and immediately bike up hill. This is the bridge...see the BIG incline??

I got across the bridge and took a left, toward Woodinville, not sure how far I was planning to ride. It's nice riding along the slough and there is some good shade when going under the trees. Kind of like your own little tunnel, or something. However, the city of Bothell really needs to fix these, because they're kind of painful on your rear...

There's one part from Bothell to W'ville where you get off the trail, ride on the street for a bit, then get back on the trail. Turns out I'm not very good at looking behind me while riding when I have to cross a street. No injuries or close calls to report... I'm just not very comfortable doing it.

Back on the trail, rounding a curve, this is what was in front of me (but in yellow):

It was straight across the trail, making a u-turn (like a 7-point u-turn). At first I thought someone was hurt and the car was needed to haul the victim off. But no, the car was apparently out for a lovely drive on the trail. My thought was, "What the ??", which is what other people were saying as I passed them. That's right... I PASSED them. Did ya catch that part??

When I rounded the curve into the park in Woodinville, there were quite a few people out enjoying the afternoon. Frisbee throwing, reading, playing fetch with dogs, chasing toddlers. Even these cute little guys:

I decided to continue on to the valley where the sports fields and Red Hook are. No, not to stop at RH.... just to go that far. Although Red Hook, on the patio, in the sun, with my sister is one of my favorite places to be (when are we going, sissy??). Along the way, I was getting passed by serious bikers, and that's when I realized the new thing in biker world is a bell. I always thought people said, "On your left," when they're going by you. But, the BELL is making a comeback! It's very polite sounding, just a little ding or ka-ching or however you spell that sound. Gotta get me one of these, complete with the saying cuz I'm cool like that:

Made it to Red Hook, and decided to go a bit further.... just a bit. Rounded one more bend, made my own u-turn, and headed back. Seriously, I do not lie, but there was a wind I was riding into once I changed direction. Made my pedaling that much harder!

I headed back toward the park in W'ville. By this time, there were many more people on the trail running, walking, roller-blading, pushing strollers.... My favorite was this sight: two women on bikes, riding slowly, accompanying an older woman (mom?) as she rode this:

The woman was much older than the person in this picture, but you get the idea. It was very sweet, to say the least.

My ride was almost done. A few more curves, a few more bumps (seriously Bothell, what's up with that?), a few more shaded areas, and my trip was complete. Would you believe that when I got to the bridge, there was ANOTHER guy stopped right at the bottom again?! Totally ruined my mojo.

I got back to my car, loaded my bike, and smiled at my ride. Felt good. I found out from my friend that I went 8.5 miles, round trip. Not bad for a start...

So, if you see this car and bike going down the road (picture a black Jeep), it just might be me on my way to a trail...