A short ride with its main portion from Bainbridge Island to Southworth.
NOTE: It's been a week since I did this ride, so I won't remember all the details correctly.
More after the break…
Part 1: To Seattle Ferry Terminal
Just like last time, I started at 06:00 this time as I knew I wouldn't be covering as much distance. I was also riding the same bike as the past few rides rather than my main touring bike.
My route was mostly the typical one: Dexter Ave N, the parking lane of 2nd Ave at speed, but I used Yesler Way instead of Jackson St to get to Alaskan Way and the ferry terminal.
Time for another brass monkey ride. (@ Seattle Ferry Terminal in Seattle, WA) https://t.co/VDn3kAFYOB
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
Since it was a normal weekday for a lot of people, I saw a lot of commuters coming into Seattle both by car and by bike.
Lots of commuters going the other way.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
Part 2: Kitsap
From the ferry terminal on this side, I went up the normal climb, and was delighted to see some improvements. I was glad that I had started a little later since it was already a bit light out.
I'm glad I left an hour later than usual. My bottles were freezing when I was riding through shaded areas! #cycling
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
They've added some more shoulder on the climb up from the Bainbridge ferry terminal. #seabikes
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
I then rode along the highway to Poulsbo, then went through the old downtown instead of the strip mall corridor along the highway.
I exited Poulsbo proper out the south end via Silverdale Way.
This was the route I used to take through the area before I learned of SR-3's lesser grades and car drafting. Since this ride was shorter, going a little slower was fine. As usual, the huge ridge north of Silverdale took a while.
Riding through Silverdale only reminded me of how malls are kind of gross.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
Rather than taking that same over another huge hill into Bremerton, I took Northlake Way and ended up at SR-3 fairly quickly.
"@takeshita_kenji: They've added some more shoulder on the climb up from the Bainbridge ferry terminal. #seabikes" http://t.co/C8Ue69qf5r
— Washington Bikes (@WAbikes) December 31, 2014
Icy patches remain present on shaded roads now, though.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
Rather than dealing with Bremerton itself, I just took the SR-3 bypass of it all the way to SR-16, then made the normal exit. However, I had to wait for a while for an opening for the (stupid) left exit onto SR-166.
The left exit from SR-16 onto SR-166 is going to kill me one of these days. #cycling
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
I ended up with a stick caught in my bike that was dragging along the ground and it took a while to find a place where I could pull it off.
I stopped in downtown Port Orchard to pick up some batteries as the rechargeable AAAs for my taillight weren't working so well, but didn't find any. Instead, I got some ice cream so I could use the facilities.
I'm at Port Orchard Public Market in Port Orchard, WA https://t.co/J6elN8PeaC
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
Still don't have any problem with eating ice cream on a cold day like this.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
I ended up backtracking to the 7 Eleven I had passed earlier for some batteries instead.
I hate batteries.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
And then I continued on my way, following the shoreline.
Following the same road, I ended up in the hills near Manchester for a while.
@MikeTurmenne What should I do about a pain right above only my left knee cap? Only happens when spinning up hills.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
And then finally made it to Southworth.
I'm at Southworth Ferry Terminal in Southworth, WA https://t.co/7ypGwMY72G
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
Very long ferry wait.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
@MikeTurmenne The pain builds up over time, too. It takes a few long hill climbs after a rest to cause it.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
Part 3: Return Home
For the last leg, I followed the low route around Alki, hitting a Starbucks for coffee along the way.
For some reason, there was no coffee on the ferry. (@ Starbucks in Seattle, WA) https://t.co/oKh7sLx1mU
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
While there, I saw someone using a selfie stick. The sight of it kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
Apparently people really do use selfie sticks.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
@dongho_chang@seabikeblog I wish they wouldn't use concrete pavers.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) December 31, 2014
After I continued all the way around to the Spokane Street Bridge, I kept an eye out for the guy with four buckets attached to his bike while I crossed over and under it, then waited at the crosswalk to get on the northbound side of E Marginal Way S.
When I hit downtown, I was caught in the snarl of rush hour traffic. The parking garages were particularly problematic as so many people were leaving them. I ended up getting out of the road and walking a block to a street that wasn't impacted by I-5 traffic.
Traffic downtown was terrible, but I walked my bike on the sidewalk to get around the worst part.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
The last leg of my ride was the normal one along Dexter Ave N and the Burke-Gilman Trail to Ballard, and it had just gotten dark by the time I arrived.
Got home just as it turned dark.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
@MikeTurmenne Fore and aft adjustment didn't help. It was almost all the way back already.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
@MikeTurmenne The seat was aimed a bit to the right, though, so I tweaked it toward the center more. Not sure if it helped much.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
@MikeTurmenne I do feel better now, though.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
@MikeTurmenne I'm curious now.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
Brought more food than I actually needed on today's ride.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
@MikeTurmenne Bike fitting is really hard!
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
Starting off 2015 with a good night's sleep. Ending 2014 with rum mixed with Nuun water left over from my ride.
— 竹下憲二 (@takeshita_kenji) January 1, 2015
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