Magnolia

After about a day and a half of rain, it was dry, but foggy, today in Seattle. The forecast says rain starting tomorrow and lasting through the end of the month.  If I was going to get 1000 miles this month (and do it without getting wet!) it was likely going to have to happen today.

I took off late morning, allowing the fog to at least thin out, in search of 60 miles.  I was thinking a boring ride out the Burke-Gilman/Sammamish River trails.  As I rolled down Queen Ann along 3rd Ave N my plans changed.  I took a left turn toward the Chittenden Locks.

Unlike the shortened Seattle tour with Oregon friends a few days ago, today I went directly up toward Magnolia.

This option starts off with about a block of steep roadway, then turns into a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over railroad tracks.

It then turns back into a steep paved trail.  Today the wet leaves made it difficult to pedal as they were as slick as ice under the straining back tire. I walked the steeper leaf covered sections.

I got up into the wide streets of the Magnolia neighborhood.

I reached Magnolia Blvd and worked my way back up to Discovery Park.  I did a little exploration while there.  It was not until later that I learned that bicycles are not allowed on park trails.

I retraced my route along Magnolia Blvd, and back into Magnolia Center, where it was now lunch time!

Following lunch I rolled back out to Magnolia Blvd and took in some of the fog impaired views.

I rode down Thorndyke

I then made the turn toward the Elliot Bay Trail.

 I got safely through the construction along Seattle's waterfront. The port was busy with container shipping.

I turned toward Alki Beach and crossed the Duwamish Industrial Waterway.

All this industrial progress came at a price of course.

 I continued along the Alki Point Trail.  The fall colors were out.

The fog was beginning to clear out enough to allow me to see across Elliot Bay to downtown Seattle.

I arrived at Alki Point.  The area always reminds me of Mission Bay in San Diego, except Alki Beach is colder, greyer, and there are very few palm trees around.

There are a few statues and monuments around.

A monument to the Portlanders who traveled here and founded Seattle

I continued on to the Alki Point Light, and a bit farther, before turning back around.

Just before crossing the West Seattle Bridge I turned south and rode along the Duwamish Trail.  I got on the Green River Trail and rode as far as Cecil Moses Memorial Park before turning around. I had turned this way to get a few more miles since it was beginning to look like I was going to fall short of my goal, and hoped that this park would be far enough out to do the trick.

As I rode back along Marginal Way I noted a rather upright rider gaining on me.  I glanced down at my speedometer and noted that I was riding 18 mph.  I picked it up a bit, but was still passed.  The guy was in full tweed on a flat bar bike..........with electric assist!

I continued my way northward, again along the Seattle Waterfront and through Olympic Sculpture Park.

 I worked my way around Queen Ann and up the Kralik Way. As I was working my way up Queen Ann I noted that the fog was clearing nicely, at least toward Lake Washington.

Even though I missed getting 60 miles, I finished up the ride with exactly enough miles to get 1000 miles for the month.  Whew!  Now anything I ride between now and Saturday is bonus.

..........Road Bike.....Rollers.....MTB.....Lifecycle..Total
Today ...56...............0...............0.............0..............56
Jan.........765..............0...............0.............0............765
Feb........248..............0...............0.............0............248
March....183..............0...............0.............0.............183
April......228...............0..............0..............0.............228
May.......200...............0..............0..............0.............200
June........199..............0..............26............0.............225
July.........246.............0...............0..............0.............246
Aug.........502.............0...............0..............0.............502
Sept.........974.............0,,,,,,,,,,,,,,44.............0............1018
Oct..........955.............0..............45.............0............1000
______________________________________________
total.......4500.............0.............115............0...........4615