Pacific Northwest - Headwaters Century,the ride!!!!

Ok first off I only did the metric century but it was still a good ride plenty of good climbs (Flaming Geyser 1.6 miles upward) some nice rolling bits in the middle,the course kinda looped round on its self a bit, you did the same feed station twice so there was always plenty of riders there.
The only part of the course which was a bit bland and uninteresting was the return to Euamclaw this was about 4 miles of riding with little or no shoulder and a fair amount of traffic and just straight and flat,well that was probably the best option but it didn't ring my bell, anyways like I say the rest of the course more than made up for it..........as for Mud Mountain..........maybe next year

Did you take any pictures? Sounds fun

I didnt but East Hill was there with her man and she was brandishing a camera so pics might follow

I did this ride also, had a blast. The weather was perfect and the scenery was amazing. I was the guy on the red Scott with the Hammer kit.

-Barry-

I couldn't make it this time, but I would love to see pictures :) Thanks for the report.

I did this ride also, had a blast. The weather was perfect and the scenery was amazing. I was the guy on the red Scott with the Hammer kit.

-Barry-

Oh, I remember seeing you! Darn!

East Hill

All right, here's the photos:

The start--around 7.15 am. Not many people here yet...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1288.jpg

Katym finds me, thanks to my beautiful jersey:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1290.jpg

The meeting spot for katym's group:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1289.jpg

Mr. East Hill and I had signed up for the century, so we started by heading over to Mud Mountain. A nice long haul up there, but a fun descent back down. As it was early in the day, it was just the right temperature to make it up there without dying from the heat. A paceline went by at one point, ruining my photo of a good looking tom turkey. A few minutes later I came across the paceline looking at someone's wheel. Hmmmmph!

The Mud Mountain loop brought us back into Enumclaw High School's parking lot. Joy! There were real bathrooms to be found there, and an opportunity to refill water bottles before heading out for the rest of the ride.

A long distance photo of Mount Rainier

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1292.jpg

Closer view of Puget Sound's favourite mountain

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1293.jpg

Me looking very happy at the beginning of the ride--about 25 miles in

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1294.jpg

Some cows who had not yet gotten breakfast:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1296.jpg

The first rest stop

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1297.jpg

The first rest stop was in Flaming Geyser State Park. The Flaming Geyser is but a pitiful remnant of it's former glory, and I didn't get any photos of it. Flaming Geyser derives its name from the seepage of methane gas from an old test core bored into the underlying coal seams. The gas, when ignited, creates a small torch flame in a rock pit. Last time I looked at it, the flame was only ten or so inches high, and could barely be seen against the sun.

Looking back across the bridge into Flaming Geyser Park, with the Green River below. No fish here...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1299.jpg

Colourful horse--he had some beautiful markings on him. This was a young stallion, who did not want to turn around to let me get a photo of the other side!

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1300.jpg

End of Part I

East Hill

Part II:

Jones Lake--only the century riders went this way...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1302.jpg

The next part of the ride was shared by all--A ride through Ravensdale to the second rest stop. At this point, I was getting increasingly worried by Mr. East Hill's problems with leg cramps and general fatigue. He had actually walked up a few hills, as he just was too tired to ride. The century riders were to ride a twenty mile loop which would take us within ten miles of home :eek: ! We managed to get to the second rest stop, and got Mr. East Hill back to feeling a bit more rested. We decided that the twenty mile additional loop for the century was not going to be feasible for Mr. East Hill, but he thought he was up to the last twenty miles back to the ride's start point.

Hurrah! Mr. East Hill manages a feeble wave at the camera as he comes in to the finish.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1304.jpg

Ouch! Mr. East Hill was quite tired at the end of the day

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1305.jpg

Some great photos of that beautiful jersey, and one of my favourite bikes. Thanks to krntourist and bigbossman for their parts in getting the Nishiki International on the road to me.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1308.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1306.jpg

I was still pretty fresh, although I was getting about half a mile ahead of Mr. East Hill at points, and would return to make certain that he was all right. All told, Mr. East Hill managed to ride 80 miles, and my guesstimate for my total would be around 85 to 90 miles.

A great day for a ride! I know I'll do this one again next year :) .

The mapmyride version of the ride:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wa/enumclaw/1048912254

East Hill

Hey, thanks for the pix. Now I can show my wife what it was like. Did the 65....my longest since starting to ride a little over a month ago. I was the strange dude riding a mountain bike (folding) and wearing an Oregon State Beavers jersey. Thanks to all the Dawg and Cougar fans who said "Go Beavers!" (as they passed me).

It was a great day and a beautiful ride. Hope to do it again next year

OL, I don't remember seeing you...what time did you get going? That's a great job, riding the 65 miles after just starting a month ago, congratulations!

East Hill

I didn't leave the parking lot until 9:05. The first picture you took in the lot looks like it was taken from about where I parked our white Chevy camper van. I hope to have a road bike before I do any organized rides next season. The folding MTB is a good boat bike (I live aboard) and for the short commute to my part time job, so I will keep it for that reason and for those yukky days when I don't want to expose the new bike to the elements. But I will be looking for something lighter and quicker between now and next spring.

I looked for you but you were obviously on the course way ahead of me.

My was I lucky to have my picture taken with the redheaded road burner!!!!!!!!!!