#threespeedadvapr2019

Three Speed Adventure April 4/21-22

Challenge: Bicycle Overnight!

Miles

Day 1: 12

Day 2: 15

Bike: 1961 Popular Series Sports Model (with trailer)

After getting myself a new self-inflating ground pad, and a bicycle trailer (both on clearance, woohoo) I felt ready to tackle going bicycle tent camping this year! My location of choice: Fay Bainbridge State Park. Easily reachable from downtown Seattle by using the Bainbridge ferry, it’s located on the beach, has $7 hiker/biker tent spots, and is close enough to civilization I could call for help or catch a bus if something went wrong. 

Easter morning, I packed up all my stuff, loaded my bike and trailer, and headed to work. (the 1922-era steam ferry I work on is very different from the modern Jumbo Mark II class ferry I’d be riding later in the day). Closing up a little early at 4pm, I rode downtown and managed to make the 4:45 ferry to Bainbridge. 

From the Eagle Harbor ferry terminal, I’d be following highway 305 several miles north. The first two miles or so have a separated bicycle path, the rest you have to ride on the shoulder. Fortunately, the highway shoulders are decently wide. 

After the turn-off for the park, I had several more miles to go on the backroads of Bainbridge Island. No shoulders, but the drivers are courteous and traffic extremely light. I went around the back way to the park, since the more direct road involved more hill climbing than I cared for. I will gladly do extra miles if the grade is flatter. 

Finally, I reached the park and claimed one of the hiker/biker spots. They’re right on the beach, great for views. Not so great if you like things like privacy. Fortunately, the park was pretty empty by the time I rolled in at 6pm. I set up my tent, went down to the beach, and sat to enjoy my dinner. 

(view from my campsite)

Only one other biker pulled in a little later, rolling himself up in a tarp a few spaces over from me (I did not envy him when it started raining about 6am.) To wait the rain out, I stayed in my warm sleeping bag and read a few chapters of a book I brought. Sure enough, the rain quit around 8am and I started getting ready to go. 

(Making a few adjustments to my front hub)

10am and families with loud children were parking behind my tent, time for me to pack up and leave. I hit the road again, stopping for a quick lunch at a pizza place before rolling onto the 1:15 ferry. 

(crossing a bridge on the bike path along 305)

Second ride of the Three Speed Adventure April. Another beautiful spring day. For this sub-challenge I broke out the camping stove & made a little coffee by the landing at Great Crossing. Perfect for washing down a couple of fig bars.

Three Speed April 4/12

Challenge: Coffee Hot Chocolate Outside

Total Miles: 9.5

Bicycle: 1952 Hercules King

The rain stopped and the sun (almost) came out, which meant it was a perfect day for the Coffee Outside challenge. (Except Hot Chocolate in my case, as I do not drink coffee). The weather was warm enough to not need a jacket, but cold enough to make a hot drink a nice treat. 

Since this would be a relaxing challenge, I chose to take my older bike out for a spin. In my box, I packed all the supplies needed for hot chocolate (cocoa powder, a thermos of hot water, coffee mug, whipped cream, and caramel topping) along with a table cloth because I’m fancy like that. 

Leaving my place, I grabbed the South Ship Canal Trail, which would connect me with the Elliot Bay Trail at it’s start at the BNSF Interbay yard. Once through the train yard, the trail hugs the edge of Elliot Bay. Here, in Myrtle Edwards Park, I picked a nice picnic table and mixed myself some cocoa and enjoyed the sound of the waves lapping at the shore. 

First ride of the Three Speed Adventure April. Beautiful spring day, with partly cloudy skies & temps in the upper 60s. Rode south to Paynes Mill Road. Thought the hill would do for the climb portion of the Three Speed Adventure April, but it proved to be a wee bit short. Still a pleasant outing of 25 miles.