Friday, June 3, 2016

Aberdeen II: Hoquiam (2016-05-28,29)

Neil and Stormy Skies at Hoquiam Post Office

Saturday reminded me of what I don't like about long-distance riding, but Sunday reminded me of what I love about it.

Geotagged Album

Related albums:

Olympia (Album)
Shelton (Album)
Aberdeen (Album)

More after the break…

I tried to avoid caffeine at the start of this ride, but the weather was awful so that didn't last.

Day 1

Part 1: To Ferry
Day 1, Part 1: To Ferry

Not wanting to be out too late, I started this ride at 04:00. I was fairly sure that I would get to Fauntleroy late enough to not be 'stuck' there waiting for the first ferry. I was worried about the weather, though, as it was already raining a little.

I made my way south through downtown Seattle and SoDo, then crossed the Duwamish River on the West Seattle Bridge. The climb over the West Seattle peninsula wasn't easy, as my knees still hadn't adjusted to the new fi.

I didn't have to wait long for the ferry, but I did go inside the terminal to wait as I was already cold.

The galley on the ferry wasn't open for the first half of the voyage, but did open once past Vashon Island. I quickly downed a half cup of coffee to warm me up and harden my resolve.

One of the crew members of the ferry took interest in my trip, and told me about one road that goes out to the settlement of Matlock. He asked if I had a paper map that he could show me on, but I didn't. He asked if I had maps downloaded (there's no signal out there for anyone) as he was concerned for my safety, which I did have.

Part 2: Outbound
Day 1, Part 2: Outbound

Climbing up from Southworth started off fairly easy, but fairly quickly became very difficult. My knees didn't hurt or anything despite their lack of conditioning with this fit, nor did I feel particularly out of breath, but I was slower than usual. I faced high-speed shimmy on descents, and had to hold my bike's top tube with my knees to prevent it.

(1) Wishing for a 28/44 double or a triple. (2) I should've trained more before tackling Kitsap.

Sat May 28 07:54:00 2016@Wildwood, United States

High-speed shimmy makes me sad. Good thing I know a workaround.

Sat May 28 07:54:00 2016@Wildwood, United States

This weather is utter shit.

Sat May 28 07:54:00 2016@Wildwood, United States

I was glad when I finally got to SR-3, as I would finally get some relief from the southerly wind.

I had to stop in Belfair to talk to the motel at which I had placed my overnight reservation, as I had forgotten to confirm the previous day. With that resolved, I didn't have any worries beyond the ride itself.

I passed through Allyn-Grapeview without much happening beyond worsening rain spraying my face, and then made my way through the "working forest" to Shelton. When I got to lower Shelton, I saw that my route took me up a very steep and busy road. With my legs still complaining about being pushed adjusting to their new fit on such a tough ride, I decided that going that way was a bad idea, so I instead took the less steep route I knew. Once at the top of the hill, I started searching for coffee, as I was feeling my resolve wane.

Once done with the coffee, I made my way back to my planned route, then got onto US 101. I recognized where I got a puncture on on my last ride to Aberdeen, but nothing happened this time. My route had me hang a left onto SR-102, which I took past the penitentiary.

Dayton Airport Road
Old Simpson Investment Company Railroad Crossing: Out of service
Old Simpson Investment Company Railroad Crossing: Out of service

I then hung a right onto Shelton–Matlock Road. At this point, I felt like I was facing headwinds and rain spray no matter which way I rode, which was disheartening. Even more disheartening was when I found out that my planned route (red line) this time would've had me go on gravel logging roads through Simpson Investment Company property. As I was already discouraged, I tossed out that idea and continued along the road, remembering what I heard from a ferry crew member about a road to Matlock.

Routing Problems: My original plan followed the red line here, but I found out that it was along gravel logging roads. I wasn't really ready for such a trek, so I just kept following the main road. This took me the long way to Brady via Matlock, but at least it was pretty flat. My ride back in 2013 (shown in a thinner blue/green line) took me past Lost Lake. I really should've looked at my previous ride when planning this.

My track from last time is shown on the above map in a thinner line than the track from this time, and showed a route that got closer to Lost Lake. I probably should've consulted my last ride, considering how many backroads there are out here, but I wasn't thinking.

Pretty much the whole ride between SR-102 and Grays Harbor County can be summed up in the photos below. It was that monotonous.

Shelton–Matlock Road
Shelton–Matlock Road
Shelton–Matlock Road

Beaten by the rain, I was overjoyed when I saw the Matlock general store. I stopped there for more coffee and some fried chicken, as well as some nice conversation. It ended up being well worth it having this rest stop, rather than taking the shorter route directly to Elma.

Matlock General Store & Post Office

Heading south out of Matlock, I finally felt like I had the wind at my back much of the way! The rain was pretty bad, though.

Matlock–Brady Road
Decker Creek Bridge: Made of wood!
Decker Creek

I eventually found something that wasn't a "working forest" when I hit the county line.

Matlock–Brady Road
Entering Grays Harbor County
Matlock–Brady Road

The hills started getting a bit worse as the road undulated around the hills beside the fork of the Satsop River, but it wasn't much further to my original route at that point.

After stopping in Brady, focused for the rest of the ride through Montesano and Central Park to Aberdeen.

Devonshire Road
Stormy Skies on Wynoochee River Bridge

Central Park Drive is interesting, as much of the pavement is rather old concrete sections like the roads back in Seattle. My guess is that it's the original US 410 through the area, but I'm not really sure on that.

Central Park Drive
"When flooded, turn around and don't drown": On Central Park Drive

The only remaining hills of any significance were on US 12, which I hit just a few miles east of Aberdeen.

Wishkah River Bridge: "Welcome to Aberdeen, 'Gateway to the Olympics.'"

From there, I stuck to the highway for a bit, then took Aberdeen's city streets for a while…until I noticed that traffic wasn't too bad. After that, I just stuck to US 101 all the way to East Hoquiam where my accommodations were located.

Part 3: Hoquiam and Aberdeen
Day 1, Part 3: Hoquiam

I ate dinner in western Aberdeen at a Chinese restaurant that was run by three family generations. A guy there offered to drive me back to my motel after I'd eaten, but I knew I'd be fine riding back. The waitstaff was also very nice.

Before heading back to the motel to sleep, I picked up some breakfast stuff at the local Safeway, which was the only grocery store still open that late.

I definitely needed the sleep when I was done.

Day 2

Part 1: Inbound
Day 2, Part 1: Inbound

I started my return trip by taking photos around Hoquiam, as I hadn't had the time to do it on the way out there.

Hoquiam River
Hoquiam River Bridge: Not to be confused with the higher bridge, which carries the other direction of US 101.
P5290132

When I was planning my trip out to Hoquiam, my mother told me that her grandfather had worked out at a hotel in Hoquiam a long time ago. My guess is that it was the Emerson Manor (now apartments), as it was built in 1921. It's still standing, too!

Emerson Manner: Opened in 1921
Hoquiam
Hoquiam
Hoquiam
Hoquiam Fire Station
Hoquiam City Hall
Saron Lutheran Church
Hoquiam Post Office

I was trying to find a good photo that "screamed 'Hoquiam'," but didn't find anything in particular, so I just got a photo in front of the post office.

Neil and Stormy Skies at Hoquiam Post Office

Shortly after, I found the old train station. While I was taking photos, a guy who's lived in Hoquiam told me about how there used to be passenger rail service out here. He also told me about one time when his family took the train out to Seattle from Hoquiam, and it was snowed in. We don't get much snow in Seattle anymore!

Old Hoquiam Station: Passenger rail used to serve this station, but it is now just a DMV.
Union Pacific Caboose

Done in Hoquiam, I made my way back over the Hoquiam River, which entailed using the high bridge I saw earlier. I was worried about it because of traffic, but there was a sidepath that cyclists and pedestrians are supposed to use. Unfortunately, it was made of soaked wood, so I walked across that section to be careful.

Hoquiam River High Bridge: Wooden Sidewalks: A bit slicker than I would've preferred

Through East Hoquiam and Aberdeen, I took the industrial road that skirted the south of the city, then headed south through Cosmopolis, then east along Blue Slough Road just like last time. Unlike last time, however, I was able to see beyond what my headlight illuminated! I don't even remember seeing Cosmopolis on my last ride.

Blue Slough Road: It was very dark the last time I was on this road.
Blue Slough Road: It was very dark the last time I was on this road.

When I got to SR-107, I headed back north across the Chehalis River to Montesano.

Chehalis River
Stormy Skies Over Chehalis River
Chehalis River Bridge: bridge
Montesano
Montesano
Montesano

Once in Montesano, I stopped for coffee, water, and a huge pancake.

The restaurant was really busy, so I was there for a while. The rest and coffee definitely helped my spirits, though!

I left Montesano via the shoulder of US 12, even though my route had me taking the old highway. My mistake, but it didn't really make much of a difference. The cars did provide nice drafting, though.

I took my leave of US 12 I got to Brady, then took the old highway through Satsop.

Satsop
Satsop
Satsop

Shortly after Satsop, I noticed that my bike's handling was getting pretty weird, then stopped to check my rear tire…which had a staple in it. Pretty much the only thing that gets the Schawlbe Marathon Supreme tires is sharp metal stuff, which is thankfully less common than broken glass.

Monte–Elma Road: Where I got my puncture
Monte–Elma Road: Where I got my puncture

I saw a group of 3-4 bicycle tourists heading the other way, followed by another couple of them apparently from the same group. The latter half stopped to ask if I was okay and chatted for a couple minutes before continuing on their way.

With my puncture fixed, I continued on my way through Elma.

Elma
Elma

After Elma, the road became very sparsely populated, and it really seemed like this must've been the original route of US 410. After all, why else would there be a road like this right next to a freeway through the mountains?

Elma–McCleary Road: Likely old US 410
Elma–McCleary Road: Likely old US 410
P5290244

The last actual town I saw was McCleary, before I headed over a big hill to SR-8 (the continuation of the freeway that carried US 12 further west). I could see where the original US 410 was broken by the freeway, as the former had "ROAD CLOSED" signs both on this side and the other side of the mountains.

McCleary: OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Gordon's Select Market: In McCleary

From there, it was a fairly gradual climb up the mountains for a while.

SR-8
SR-8

I stopped to eat a few miles below the summit, and had a nice chat with a guy who lived out there.

Old Bridge: While I was eating here, a guy rode up on a backhoe and we talked a bit. He told me about how he's been living there since he was in the third grade, and how there's an odd access arrangement back there with the Department of Natural Resources.
Drying Gloves: These gloves were soaked during yesterday's rain, so I used safety pins to let them dangle on my saddle bag. They did dry eventually, but I didn't need them at that point since it was already so hot out. I wore my backup "lobster claw" gloves in the morning when it was too cold to ride gloveless.

After the summit, it was a quick zip down SR-8 until the turn off to old US 410. Something I noticed was how US 410 was originally called the "Olympic Highway", just like US 101. Kind of funny.

I then rode over Mud Bay before climbing up into Olympia.

Mud Bay
Mud Bay
Mud Bay Bridge

Before going through downtown Olympia, I stopped for a bagel and some iced coffee.

And then I only stopped once more in Olympia for a few photos.

Stormy Skies and the Capitol
4th Avenue
Washington State Capitol

The climb up from downtown Olympia wasn't hard, and I got a reprieve from traffic on the Woodland Trail. However, some drivers making left turns didn't respect the crosswalk signal, which reminded me of how marginalized folks outside of cars are on city streets.

After going down into the Nisqually River Valley, then climbing back up to I-5, I took the shoulder of I-5 all the way to Lakewood.

I definitely could feel the miles at that point, and had a lot of trouble maintaining 10-12 MPH between Lakewood and Tacoma despite how flat that route is. I resigned myself to taking the bus, as I knew I wouldn't be able to get home in a timely manner any other way.

I took the bus as far north as it would go, as I didn't have the remaining strength to conquer all of downtown.

Part 2: Return Home
Day 2, Part 2: Return Home

While I started out strong downtown, that disappeared after I got over the hill of Dexter Avenue, and I was pretty slow on the Burke-Gilman Trail all the way home. It was still light out, though, which was nice.

I got home at about 21:30, then went to bed after showering.

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