For those who are not aware, I just returned to Seattle from a two-week multimodal bike tour around the Pacific Northwest promoting my partner Kelli’s book Pedal, Stretch, Breathe. I am still trying to figure out how to condense everything I saw and learned into useful posts here, but I figured I should simply begin with the most obvious: The Pacific Northwest is incredibly beautiful.
And nearly all the most beautiful parts of it are off the main highways and on trails and side roads. Bikes take you into less traveled areas, towns and neighborhoods, and going a bit slower gives you the time to get lost in the wonder, whether that is a breathtaking vista or a roadside flower you’ve never seen before. You meet people along the way who can point you to their favorite little spots to camp, hang out or eat. And, of course, you share stories.
So yes, I apologize, but I’m gonna make you sit through some vacation photos (hey, at least I didn’t invite you over for dinner, then spring a projector slideshow on you…). I just gotta get it out of my system before I can post more about the specific bike stuff Seattle should learn from our neighbors.
Corvallis, Oregon
Olympia
Bellingham
Vancouver Island’s Lochside Trail
Leaving Victoria on the ferry
Olympic Peninsula’s Discovery Trail
Deception Pass
And, of course, Seattle
Comments
2 responses to “Lessons from my PNW bike tour, part 1: OMG we live in a beautiful place”
Looks great Tom! I’m in full agreement about our local bike-touring awesomeness. As we completed our family Pacific Coast ad venture this summer we realized the best combo of riding/camping we experienced over the past few years was right here in our backyard. I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures!
Indeed we do live in a wonderful place, even very close to home. Even very close to home and far short of a tour there are terrific opportunities. For some reason I’d never tried the Sammamish River trail between Bothell and Redmond but finally got around to riding it after rave reviews from my SO and a friend who used it on their Seattle-Redmond-Issaquah ride a couple of weeks ago (which nicely ended at the Rogue brewpub in Issy). Large parts of it are easily a “10” and it’s -so- close to home. We rode across Sweden a few years ago on the Göta Canal and while it’s obviously not as long the Sammamish River trail offers some views easily equal and is only a few miles away as opposed to thousands.