Bubble Gum Ride
 

I had a free day on Sunday and the weather was supposed to be dry if not warm so I went out on a long fixed gear ride all by myself. I live in the Cascade foothills East of Seattle. I haven't commuted much this year so far so that was the route I chose to get me started. The first 25 miles or so are quiet and rural. Here I am climbing out of the Snoqualmie Valley on the Issaquah Fall City Road:
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I decide while riding to Issaquah that my goal shall be to go to the famous "Bubble Gum Wall" on Post Alley just below the Pike Place Market. With the route set I set out from Bellevue and cross Lake Washington on the I90 Floating Bridge.
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I skirt around Capitol Hill following some of the premier Bike routes in Seattle. I head North on Lake Washington Blvd, then cut west out of the Arboretum on Interlaken. Once I see the Downtown area, I drop down off the hill to Lake Union and pick my way over to the Pike Place Market and ride down the steep brick Post Alley dodging tourists to the Bubble Gum Wall:
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After snapping a few photos I head down to the Waterfront and head North to Ballard stopping along the way to tae this shot at the Sculpture Park:
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I take the Burke Gilman Trail in Ballard and ride this skirting Lake Washington until I leave Seattle. At the Northern tip of the lake I ran into some good friends riding in the opposite direction.
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The Sammamish River Trail picks up where the Burke Gilman ends and I fight headwinds all the way to Redmond. I stop here at a cafe for some juice and a pastry then it's off to climb redmond ridge via Novelty Hill until I reach my stomping grounds in the Snoqualmie Valley. It feels good to be back on the rural farm roads again.
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I decide to take the dirt n gravel rail trail (the Snoqualmie Valley Trail) in Carnation to avoid traffic. I am by myself for nearly 20 miles. I get back on asphalt by the Old Snoqualmie Mill Pond and snap this photo. Ahhh, only 6 more miles to go.
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I got home before dark - tired n hungry. My first long day in the saddle of my fixed gear this year (something over 100 miles). Tomorrow, the forecast calls for snow. Glad I got out today.

Seems like a pretty sweet adventure. Kudos!

looks like fun

but gross

I grew up in Issaquah. That is a fantastic ride for the day. Thanks for the photos, they brought back several memories.

fun and peaceful looking.

Awesome ride! You certainly picked the right day, we sure could go for some more dry days around here;)

Nice. Thanks for sharing!

Awesome Paramount!!! Great pics too!!!

But I'm with motobeCarnage, I'd never let my bars touch that wall :)

best part of the gum wall is the smell........
hard to get from pics... puke.gif

How many tries did it take to stage this photo? ;)

Y U NO TELL OF DIS WALL!?

Sweet Paramount

schwinn paramount?

EDIT: Thnx hairnet

Schwinn indeed. You can almost make out "Schwinn" on the downtube in the gum wall pic. Tough to see in the silver on rose theme though.

I could sort of make out -amount on one of the close ups, plus the font helped give it away

I was able to get the 'bugs eye view" of me on the issy fall city road on the second try.

Yes, the wall is gross but with temps in the low 50's hardened and not smelly so not as gross as maybe a visit in the summer...

My bike is a 1988 Paramount

The ride worked out to be 111 miles 3900' climbing not including a few side trips to cafes and a stop at Elliott Bay Cycles.

This is the first time I hear of the "Bubble Gum Wall" and I Know it is only a matter of time someone creates a booger wall in the Great dairy state of Wisconsin