The Simple Pleasure of a Bike Ride

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride." ~ John F. Kennedy

Fans of epic ride reports will do well to skip this post, for there is no drama here. No adversity was overcome to bring you these words, no weather endured unless you count enduring a sunny day in February some sort of hardship. There were no close calls with cars and all canine encounters were most cordial. My machine fell victim to no mechanical maladies and I encountered no obvious injustice to make me righteously rage against the world.

I ride my bicycle and since the day is sunny and my immediate obligations are slight, I ride the long way to the city. The direct route uses the floating bridge and the clever tunnel but the long route follows the shores of lakes and rivers. What was once a native path became the rail line and now that the age of steam is mostly a rusting memory, this route is mostly trails once again.

The sky and the lake are blue, the air is crisp and my clothing is warm enough for the day.

Many of the homes along the trail have privacy fences and one home owner along the route makes and sells pictures for the fences. I always think this one would look more at home in a coffee shop.

There are hundreds of geese at Marymoor Park.

Marymoor Park is also home to a velodrome.



Much of Marymoor park is the old Willowmoor Farm site. The windmill is over one hundred years old.

I have a huge collection of "my bike next to things" pictures. Here's my bike next to the "naked woman sitting on nothing" statue.

It is still early in the ride, but I suspect this will be the oddest photograph of the day.


There is a bunch of salmon-themed art along the trail. This is the Salmon-Moon sculpture in Woodinville.

I pause to browse and grab some lunch at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park and then continue on my way.

The Burke-Gilman Trail is in the Rail Trail Hall of Fame. On sunny days in the summer, it's packed with people. On a sunny day in February, it's not as crowded.

Despite the "it rains all the time" reputation, blue sky days are amazing in Seattle. This is Lake Washington as viewed from Matthews Beach Park.

Yet another picture of my bike next to public art. This is the UW Husky.


One of my favorite bits of home-brew public art.

Yet another view of Lake Washington, looking east towards the Cascades.

The switch-backed road leads back down to the water.


The boats at Leschi with Mount Rainier in the distance.

My favorite road sign on Lake Washington Boulevard.

Looking back at the Seattle skyline from Seward Park.


Mount Rainier as seen from the southern edge of Seward Park


I roll onward to Renton, the land of airplanes. These are some of the little ones.


The Cedar River Trail loops back towards home.

I try to be courteous on the roads and trails, but I suspect I am not the only one who may occasionally exceed this limit. I'd much rather see a sign that says "Don't ride like a jerk!"


The sun is getting low as I turn off the trail. The Cedar Grove Road leads to the Issaquah-Hobart Road which leads me home.

Just a day in the sun, on a bike. A simple day to remember the simple pleasure of a bike ride.

Keep 'em rolling,

Kent "Mountain Turtle" Peterson

Issaquah WA USA