Day 2: Snoqualmie Pass to Ellensburg, Wash.

Today followed a long, slow, careful descent into the Yakima River Valley. We said our goodbyes to Niamh and Brenda, and quickly returned to the Iron Horse Trail where we continued for about 33 miles through quiet, tree lined forests, across refurbished railroad trestles, and over rivers and a very active railroad line. Weather was again excellent with a cool morning and good cloud cover throughout the day.

Although we had a substantial net loss in elevation, the rocky trail required a lot of energy to remain upright, and by mile thirty, both our necks were sore from the bumpy terrain and diligent focus on our path ahead of us. In Cle Elum we stopped for lunch, and debated about whether to continue on the trail, which would have taken us another 25 miles into Ellensburg, or to cut to the other side of the river and follow highway 10. We were both having a hard time deciding, and lucked out as our indecision caused us to wait out a 20-minute rainstorm. We ultimately opted for giving our bodies a break and taking the highway, which ended up being relatively quiet, with nice scenic vistas. We were following the same river as the trail, and could see it to our right for much of the afternoon.

By the time we arrived in Ellensburg, there was about 40 miles left to Yakima along the Canyon Road and we debated whether to continue, but decided to stay in Ellensburg and start early tomorrow. We are at the Motel 6, the same place where we stayed 2 years ago when we rode the Iron Horse on our mountain bikes. So far, we have found ourselves re-tracing routes we either ride regularly, or have done before on our tour. Canyon road tomorrow will be the first real “new territory” of the trip.

Daily numbers:
Miles traveled: 58.8
Elevation: 471ft climbed, 1800 descended
Burritos consumed: 1
Miles of Iron Horse Trail Covered: 36
Anxious deer spooked by our bikes: 2

 View from Highway 10. Iron Horse is to the right adjacent the river.

 Taking a break just East of Lake Easton SP

 Another view from Highway 10

 Getting back on the trail near Hyak.

Near Ellensburg, back on the trail. Dry, straight, rocky trail from Cle Elum eastward.

Day 1: Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass

Today, our first on this trip, saw 70 miles of slow climbing. We started our morning early at the Olympic Sculpture Park at the Seattle waterfront. After joining the Mountains to Sound Greenway, we followed a series of trails and roads across Lake Washington, through Bellevue, Issaquah, Preston, Fall City, Snoqualmie, North Bend, and eventually caught the Iron Horse Trail, which follows the old railroad grade adjacent I-90 to Snoqualmie Pass.

Niamh and Brenda capitalized on our proximity and met us at the pass for our first night of the tour.

By the numbers:
Miles covered: 70
Total climbing: 5000ft
Flat tire repaired: 1
Tunnels: 3

First stop on Mercer Island

Ascending on the Iron Horse Trail, somewhere between North Bend and the Snoqualmie Tunnel

At the start near Myrtle Edwards

Overlooking the Sound

Post-ride brews with Brenda and Niamh

An idyllic flat-changing spot along the trail

Pre-trip Preparation

This summer, my father and I will be venturing on a cross-country bike tour from our home(s) (near) Seattle, about 3800 miles across the country to DC.

We'll follow a slightly modified version of the Northern Tier route, including a few sections of the Lewis and Clark Route, and ending on the 333 mile C&O, GAP trails from Pittsburgh to Washington.

We depart Saturday, June 28, and hope to arrive just under 2 months later

Follow us here for more updates.

Ed & Colin (Author), Father's Day 2019, Lake Washington