Biking the Peninsula

We woke up early on Saturday morning because we planned on going for a bike ride. My Uncle Dick is an advanced cyclist who has participated in the Seattle to Portland Bike Ride (STP) too many times to count. The STP just happens to be a 220 mile bike ride–that you can complete in one day if you are good enough (which he’s done!).

STP *Not My Pic

My Uncle Dick is 65 years old, previously had a heart attack and bypass surgery, and is still in better shape than most people I know! He’s an excellent cyclist, so when he offered to take us for a bike ride we jumped at the idea. Don’t be fooled by this goofy picture! 😉

TOUR de POULSBO

Michael and I got up about 8:30am Saturday and found some mini bagels. Michael had 2 and I had 1 and some Bing Cherries for the pre-ride breakfast. Dick showed up and we changed into our biking gear and left. My cousin Matthew decided to join us. The four of us headed out on the scenic country road.

The day was perfect for a bike ride! We saw sooo many other cyclists on the road too. At one point some professional-looking cyclists joined us and started talking to Dick and Matthew like they were buddies. Small town-livin’ folks! It turned out they knew them.

The bike lane was wide and safe. I never felt unsafe on the route we took. I wish for the life of me that I could recount WHERE we road for all you Washingtonians out there….but I just wasn’t familiar with the area. I just followed the guy in front of me. 🙂

The temperature was getting very warm–even at 10am. I was sweating profusely. And not just because of the rolling hills! We were riding through some pretty intense “S” curves -uphill and even more downhill! We took a corner pretty fast and tight and then I saw the view:

View

Wow! I wish I had been able to take my good camera with me to get a better picture of this amazing view, but all I had was my iPhone. The view is of the Bay that feeds into the Pacific Ocean.

The air was fresh and ocean-like. I inhaled deeply, and not just because I was riding hard. I wanted to savor the aroma of the sea. We left the ocean-side and headed inland where we rode through countryside: farms, ranches, fields of horses, old barns. I wish I could have taken pictures of that but we were riding pretty briskly at that point.

We had to ride on the Highway for a short while to get back to the road they live on. That was a tad scary! Trying to time the traffic just right to cross a highway is not my idea of fun! But it was pretty early in the morning still and traffic wasn’t too bad. We got to the road and there was a KILLER HILL! Of course it was at the very end of the bike ride!

I wasn’t tired but that hill was brutal. Michael mentioned to me that he thought his heart was going to explode on that hill. I did not get a photo of the hill because I was kinda busy trying to survive it.

My Uncle Dick was right in front of me and while he’s a great cyclist, we have different styles. He takes hills pretty slow and steady. I tackle hills with as much power as I can muster before I burn out. Since I was sort of stuck behind him, I was forced to go slow and steady and try to just push myself up that hill. I don’t know the elevation but my heart was ready to burst out of my chest. I was breathing very hard but not one minute did I consider getting off the bike and walking.

I got to the top of the hill and was able to coast down the other side to their street. The ride was over and I was feeling great!

Saturday’s Stats:

Time: 1 hour

Calories Burned: 548

Miles Biked: About 11

By the time we got back to the house, everyone was up and moving around. I grabbed another mini bagel and spread the homemade smoked salmon spread on it. Delicious!

I showered (that’s MY kinda camping LOL) and then kicked back by the campfire to relax after the ride.

Not too long after we got back, the SCAVENGER HUNT started!

QUESTION: Have you ever been to the Washington Peninsula? What’s your favorite location?