Sunday, March 5, 2017

Cedar and Green Rivers II (2017-02-25)

A fairly easy ride to further retrain my legs. I had some nice conversations with cyclists that were starting to ride again as the cold season ends.

Neil and Ivory Pass at Flaming Geyser State Park
Geotagged Album

More after the break…

Part 1: Outbound

Part 1: Outbound

I started at about 05:00 like usual, then took my normal route south through Seattle and Tukwila.

However, when I got to the Renton area, I took a new route via Monster Rd SW, which involved a bit of climbing that I hadn't expected. I was trying my saddle a couple mm up from last time just to check, and had a pretty hard time.

Green River Trail to Renton Bicycle Route: I used this routing to avoid traffic, but was rewarded with an unexpected hill climb.

I then passed through Renton to the Cedar River Trail, which I took to Maple Valley before I got some hot coffee to warm up against the cold. As I approached Maple Valley, snow started to fall. While there, it came down a bit harder, but it cleared up shortly before I left.

At the transition between the paved an unpaved section of the trail, I realize that I might know how the old Milwaukee Road got from the ROW of the Cedar River Trail to the ROW of the Green to Cedar Rivers Trail. There's an abandoned ROW on an embankment that gradually makes its way up the side of the hill below SR-169 and above the former trail.

It was rather nice being on the unpaved section of the trail without rain for once.

Ivory Pass Over Cedar River
Cedar River Trail Bridge
Cedar River
Cedar River Trail
Cedar River

At the end of the trail, I started my climb out of the valley. Like before, it was really hard on my legs, and I had to stop to lower the saddle those couple mm after my hamstrings started to burn. Despite slightly lifting with every pedal stroke, it looks like the saddle couldn't go any higher. It also can't go back with the current seatpost.

When I approached the main road again, I saw a couple of roadies making their way up it, so I joined them. I didn't have much trouble climbing anymore, and started a conversation with them. They eventually dropped me after the second hill south of Ravensdale.

I did end up chatting with them a short while later, as they'd also stopped at the Black Diamond Bakery. The older of the two talked about how he'd done a Bikecentennial ride when he was younger, and I told them about some of my rides. As they left, they talked about how inspired they felt to continue long rides like the one they were on.

Black Diamond Bakery

Part 2: Inbound

Part 2: Inbound

I started leaving Black Diamond via SR-169 to get to Green Valley Rd, but it turned out that there was a closure on the road between SR-169 and Flaming Geyser State Park, so I had to turn back toward Black Diamond.

Ivory Pass at Black Diamond: I had to turn back toward Black Diamond due to a closure of Green Valley Road. This gave me a chance to stop at this sign.

Fortunately, I found another route to Flaming Geyser State Park, which involved a steep descent that got me to nearly 35 MPH! Indeed, there were also warning signs for the closure on the other side.

Green Valley Road Closure: After going around the closure, I backtracked to here.

I then made my way into the park, hoping to actually see the geyser this time.

Flaming Geyser State Park Entrance: I've always liked this bridge.
Ivory Pass at Flaming Geyser State Park

Unfortunately, the geyser had run out of methane to burn in 2016, so it wasn't really a sight anymore.

Flaming Geyser: According to Wikipedia, the geyser ran out of methane to burn in 2016 and no longer burns.
Christy Creek: How Christy Creek drained into the geyser caught my eye for some reason.
Bridge Over Christy Creek: The group in the distance had come to the park to the first time and was also curious about the geyser
Ivory Pass and Barriers: I really liked the look of these barriers.

While I'd stopped to eat, a woman rolled in on a touring bike looking for directions around the closure I'd just gone around. I told her about it, but didn't think to warn her about the 9% grade she'd be climbing up for a while. We also exchanged contact information before parting ways, as we'd both been looking for folks to do "long, slow" rides with for a while.

New Drainage Creek: This looks like it was created by recent floods.
Bridge Over New Drainage Creek: I was surprised to see it surfaced with gravel, as most of the roadways in the park are paved.
Flaming Geyser State Park Entrance
Exposed Rock

After leaving the park, I headed west along Green Valley Rd toward Auburn. I did also try to find an interesting sight from a previous ride, but it appears to have been demolished since I was last in the area. I was fortunate enough to get daylights picture of Green Valley Meats, though.

Green Valley Meats: It's apparently a full grocery! I've wanted to photograph this green building for a while, but I haven't been near it during good daylight yet.
Green Valley Meats: It's apparently a full grocery! I've wanted to photograph this green building for a while, but I haven't been near it during good daylight yet.
Green Valley Road

Once in Auburn, I went to Zola's Coffee for a little boost to get me back home, then headed back to the Green River to follow it into Kent.

Green River Road: Not continuous with Green Valley Road.
Green River Road: Not continuous with Green Valley Road.
Drainage Cut: Not sure why there was an embankment here in the first place, but this cut would theoretically allow water to pass through.

Once I got to the outermost trailhead of the Green River Trail, I switched over to it. Aside from having to walk some sections, it was fine for a while.

BNSF Mainline Over Green River

That is, until it turned into mud and gates.

Abandoned Green River Trail ROW: Blocked off by a gate at one end and waterlogged.
Abandoned Green River Trail ROW: Blocked off by a gate at one end and waterlogged.

After a short bit of road riding until crossing the Interurban Trail, I followed the Green River Trail and Frager Road all the way back to the Seattle city limits.

Blocked Green River Trail: Folks have been parking on it for the longest time, but now it's being used for semi-truck storage!

And then I took my usual route through Georgetown, SoDo, Downtown, and so on all the way home.

The funny thing is that we both live in the same neighborhood of Seattle, but she took a different route to get there so we didn't get to talk for too long.

I got home at about 19:00, and it had only been dark for a short while. Can't wait for longer daylight hours as Spring and Summer come.

I also was glad to have solved two major issues that had been plaguing me.

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