Kingston / Point No Point / Indianola-Whitehorse Trail

This 44 mile ride started at the Kingston ferry terminal with a friend from Kingston who knows the back roads of Kitsap County. We head north for a loop through the Little Boston and paused at Point Julia which offers a great view across to Port Gamble. We continued north onto Hood Canal Drive, stopping at several road ends that provided public beach access and views of the Olympic Mountains, the Hood Canal Bridge, and shoreline wildlife, (4 eagles and a blue heron where there today).  After traveling through the community of Driftwood keys, we headed northwest on Twin Spits Road for a three mile loop side trip up Foulweather Bluff Road before heading east on Twin  Spits Road back to the Puget Sound side of the Great Peninsula to Hansville and a coffee stop at the Hansville Grill and Grocery. for some time at the Norwegian Point beach.

Point No Point Lighthouse

After a detour to Point No Point's Lighthouse our ride continued south on Hansville Road and the Old Hansville Highway, crossing NE 288th Street; at this point the ride can be extended to Port Gamble or even over the Hood Canal Bridge by heading west and intersecting with WA-104.  However, today we simply continue south across Hwy 104 onto Miller Bay Road, passing the North Kitsap Heritage Park, and turning SE on Indianola Road to the old ferry pier and waterfront and views to Seattle.  The Indianola Country Store has great hand-made sandwiches and beverages.

Author at Indianola waterfront

After a quick detour to the south on Shore Drive and Sea View Avenue to check out the Miller Bay spit we head north back on Kitsap Street, crossing Indianola Road to the new White Horse trail that runs along the east side of the White Horse Golf Club. We continued east, then north on Whitehorse Drive, South Kingston Road and West Kingston Road to Kingston and the ferry.

Both the north loop and the Indianola loop can be done separately to shorten the ride. Keep in mind the roads of Kitsap County while offering little traffic to contend with are up and down from sea level to higher bluffs (we topped out several times above 350 feet and bottomed out at sea level as many times)

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Hills of Bothell

This 25 mile ride starts at Log Boom Park and climbs some of the various hills north of the Burke-Gilman Trail and Sammamish River Trail.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Bridge over Sammamish River to Bothell Main St

Golf Club at Newcastle

This 46 mile trip starts at Seward Park, crosses the I-90 Bridge to Mercer Island, Then continues via Factoria for a 8 mile moderate climb up to the Newcastle Golf Club which offers some spectacular views and is on west side of Cougar Mountain Regional Park. Return via Coal Creek Parkway and SE 89th Pl to Lake Washington Blvd SE and a clockwise loop around the south end of Mercer Island and the I-90 Bridge.

There are several viewpoints and good rest stops along the way to include:

(a) Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island

(b) Newcastle Beach Park on the shore of Lake Washington

(c) Lid Park on Mercer Island

The Factoria Mall offers a variety of restaurants and take out options such as Square Lotus, Tokyo Japanese or Applebees which are all located on your right after crossing Factoria Blvd SE. at 11.2 miles. There is also a Starbucks and McDonalds on Coal Creek Parkway just north of where you intersect Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Golf Club Road (Mile 21.5) after decending from the Newcastle Golf Club.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

View from Newcastle Golf Club

Edmonds via Golden Gardens / Blue Ridge

This 40 mile ride heads west from Gas Works Park on the north side of the Ship Canal to Golden Gardens Park. Then it's north through Blue Ridge to Edmonds along Puget Sound. Edmonds is the perfect lunch stop; try the Edmonds Bakery for a great sandwich and nice assortment of bakery items. Take your lunch down to Marine Park or to a small ridge on Sunrise which offers a nice view of the ferry terminal with Puget Sound and the Olympic Mts in the background.

Return via 9th Ave N which climbs steadily above Edmonds downtown. Continue south on 100th Ave W and then on 8th Ave NW. Then head east on 195th /185th  (Note: after crossing Hwy 99 and the Interurban Trail on N 185th St there is a Starbucks in a small shopping center on your right should you need a caffeine fix) to Perkins Lane which offers a nice, fast descent to the Burke-Gilman Trail along Lake Washington.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Ferry leaving Terminal for Kingston

South Lake Washington Shoreline

This 52 mile ride starts at the Arboretum but quickly makes it way toward Lake Washington and hugs the shore for most of the ride. The ride highlights Mercer Island, the I-90 Bridge and Renton/Newcastle.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Lid Park, Mercer Island, looking west toward Seattle & Lk WA

Woodinville - Hollywood Hills - Snoqualmie Valley - Monroe - Snohomish

This 70+ mile ride starts at Magnuson Park and heads north on the Burke Gilman Trail to Log Boom Park then along E Riverside Drive to Woodinville. Climb the Hollywood Hills area for a delightfully peaceful, rural ride toward the Snoqualmie Valley on the way to Monroe. From Monroe head northwest to historic Snohomish which makes a good lunch stop with a good variety of restaurants such as the Snohomish Pie Company. After lunch head south, making your way back to Woodinville on Broadway Ave via Cathcart & Malby. Wilmot Gateway Park in Woodinville makes a good rest stop before returning to Magnuson Park via the Sammamish River / Burke Gilman Trails.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

Historic Snohomish

Urban Century

This ride starts at Gas Works Park and heads west to Discovery Park and Magnolia. Then its onto Seattle's Waterfront and the International District, passing under the China Gate on King Street. Take the I-90 Trail/Tunnel/Bridge to Mercer Island Way West. Taking a counter clockwise route around the island, round the south end of the island to Mercer Island Way East to the East Channel Bridge and Bellevue. Head north to Lake Washington Blvd on 108th Ave then over Clyde Hill on 24th St to 112th Ave, skirting Kirkland or have lunch there.

Kirkland makes a great stop for lunch since it offers a wide variety of eateries (try Taco Del mar for a quick burrito). Kirkland's Marina Park makes a great place to eat or just take a break there. From Marina Park take Kirkland Ave to State Street which intersects 68th St to continue up Rose Hill.

Climb up Rose Hill toward Redmond and Marymoor Park. From Marymoor Park head south on East Lake Sammamish Pkwy to Issaquah. Head west on West Sammamish Pkwy to SE Newport Way toward Factoria. Take 124th Bike Trail to Coal Creek Pkwy / 119th Ave to Newport Hills then down to Lake Washington Blvd and into Renton. After passing along the south end of Lake Washington head north through Renton Airport toward Seward Park. Continue on Lake Washington Blvd to the I-90 tunnel and back to the International District via Dearborn. Continue along Seattle's waterfront through the Olympic Sculpture, Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Parks to Fisherman's Terminal and return to Gas Works Park via S Ship Canal Trail, Fremont Bridge and the Burke-Gilman Trail.

For details on this route such as map, ride stats, full directions and elevation profile:visit RideWithGPS

East Portal Viewpoint looking east toward Mercer Island