Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Pics: Foothills, farms, and temperate rain forest from this weekend's rides...

I thought you folks might enjoy a look at our scenery. Almost all of my riding winds up being a loop from my apartment ... back to my apartment. But spring is in the air, and I've been wanting a change, so this weekend I went exploring. On Saturday I took my bike to Monroe and did a loop to Sultan and back, and on Sunday I went to the outskirts of Issaquah and did a loop to Black Diamond through the Green River Gorge, all on back roads.

The first ride was easier (30 miles and only 1,200 feet elevation gain) but much more scenic. The second ride was nice, and a little hillier (almost 30 miles, 1,600 feet elevation gain) with some great, curvy descents. I would recommend either, but will probably only do the first one again. Anyway, they were both new to me, which gives me an opportunity to draw on my maps, and I'll be taking my bike out to new places again soon. :)

Here are lots of pics, of somewhat mixed quality.

This was near the start of the first ride. I crossed US 2, but didn't follow it. Here was the first glance of mountain scenery.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00179.jpg

I think this was the water treatment facility. I was surprised by all the moss on the roof.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00180.jpg

Monroe is about the point where the suburbs give way to farm land.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00182.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00196.jpg

While this road has no shoulder, it also has almost no traffic.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00203.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00205.jpg

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You can see the chasm between the mountains leading toward Steven's Pass in this one.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00223.jpg

The sign warned about crossing sheep, llamas, and dogs.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00232.jpg

This was just in front of the beginning of the best descent on the first ride.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00234.jpg

And here's the bottom.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00237.jpg

Here I came to Sultan, a small town on the highway. I explored town a bit, had a snack, and started back toward Monroe, and my ride home.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00242.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00243.jpg

The whole trip, it looked like it would start to pour any second. And it never did. But I missed out on some nice, sunny weather in Seattle.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00244.jpg

Look at the moss on the trees, and all the ferns!

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00258.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00267.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00271.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/MonroeToSultan/DSC00274.jpg

Day 2 was the Green River Gorge, and Black Diamond. This ride wasn't nearly as scenic ... what that really means, is there were fewer mountain views.

A tree farm.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/GreenRiverGorge/DSC00285.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/GreenRiverGorge/DSC00291.jpg

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A short detour into a state park.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/GreenRiverGorge/DSC00295.jpg

I rode down a short, narrow dirt and gravel trail to get to the river.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/GreenRiverGorge/DSC00297.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/GreenRiverGorge/DSC00298.jpg

The Green River Gorge.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/GreenRiverGorge/DSC00299.jpg

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/GreenRiverGorge/DSC00302.jpg

Here, I was trying to get the smaller waterfall at the top in the frame with the bigger one near the bottom.

http://landscapephoto.us/Events/GreenRiverGorge/DSC00306.jpg

Wow! Nice and very different from what we got as a loop out our front door.:D

I love the rain forest pictures. The moss and ferns look so primeval.

Wow! Nice and very different from what we got as a loop out our front door.:D

I drove the bike out to these ... they're probably 30 to 40 miles from my front door, so doable by bike, but it would be a commitment.

I was babbling in the OP. What I meant, was that I've done so much riding within Seattle's city limits, that I needed a change of scenery, and went out and got one. :D

Spring is in the air? Not from my window....

Spring is in the air? Not from my window....

No snow here, but now that its March, the temp has dropped 10-15 degreees... Its colder now than it was last month.... WTF???

That's some beautiful scenery. I don't get to see much in the way of mountains where I am.

Awesome pics.

I think I really made a big mistake moving from Washington State to NJ. Money aside, it was a $hity desicion.

Great pictures, thanks for them!

Reminds me of the Mt. Hood national forest.

Very nice pics. Looks like a couple of very nice rides.

Now I'm jealous.

:)

=sigh= BEAUTIFUL! too bad I don't like cold and wet... it sure does make for a lovely green countryside!!!

Great pictures, looks like a nice place for a ride.

That looks like some pretty spectacular riding... We pretty much get brown scenery down here although the mountains look good in about Jan-Feb.

Stick a tripod in your water bottle holder and bring a real camera next time. :)

I've carried a tripod, SLR (5D), and two lenses before, on a 30 mile dirt ride in the mountains. I got some good shots that way, including the one below, but it was a pain in the ass, and would definitely get in the way of road riding. Ironically, I've been on the same trail as the one I shot this on several times, covering the whole extent of the ride, and haven't been able to find this again.

http://landscapephoto.us/Images/IronHorseTrail2.jpg

I think I've showed you how I roll:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4019/4709340699_66ceab39ea.jpg

:roflmao2:

I haven't crashed in a million years but you know the first time I put my camera (1d3) in a backpack would be the next time.

Hmm... I wonder... nope, no room. My tripod won't fit between the head tube and the seat tube on my new bike but it barely fit on my merlin (pictured).

Oh well, a P+S fits nicely in the middle jersey pocket, that'll have to do.

Is that a 300 mm f/4?

I've go a 1D m2. And a 5D that died two and a half years ago. I'm somewhat tempted by the new 5D m3. It's a lot of money, and I don't know that it really makes sense ... ever since I started getting really fanatical becoming a more avid cyclist, my interest in going out and shooting photos has been waning. It's not that I'm less interested so much as less compelled. It doesn't help that I have a crappy wide angle lens in bad condition.

It is... I have a veritable sack full of lenses and flashes and umbrellas and stands and what not. 95% of my photography is kids sports & vacations, so cycling interferes not one whit.

I could afford one of those new bodies if I wanted to I suppose, the same way I could buy a new bike instead of cobbling one together out of parts, but where's the fun in that? I bought my 1d used about a year and a half ago and could probably sell it for the exact same amount, 50,000 frames later. Can't go wrong with that. :)

That's two expensive and time consuming hobbies right there...