2013_05_25 Impromptu Ride (Orting --> Wilkeson --> Carbonado --> Fairfax Bridge --> Carbonado --> Buckley --> Mud Mountain Dam --> Buckley --> Orting)

Author:  Mike Hassur

Since we cancelled the Cyclopath Snow Ride (potentially bad weather) and replaced it on the spur of the moment with a ride out of Orting, we weren’t sure how many people would show up.  In the end, we had a pretty good turnout:  Les, Leon, Scott, John, Brent, Kurt, Nick, Erik, Mark, Conor, David, Duane, and I as well as Chris & Chet (two friends of Conor and David who joined us) – hope I didn’t forget anyone.  Chet drove all the way from Edmonds to join us!  Even Rob Critchfield and Chris Allen stopped by the start to say hello - though they were heading out toward Ashford and Packwood and didn’t ride with us.  We were on our bikes heading out of Orting by 7:45 AM. 

We cruised along the trail toward South Prairie visiting all the way.  As usual, it was a nice “warm up”.

At South Prairie, Leon peeled off from the group as he did not want to go up the Tubbs Road Climb (which is still a bit steep for him at this point in his rehabilitation).  He continued through South Prairie on the main highway (in the end, Leon road all the way to Carbonado and back which was a pretty nice ride considering he had done over 100 miles the day before – I think the rehabilitation is going well). 

The group went up the Tubbs Road Hill at different speeds with Chris, Chet, and Conor leading the way. 

We re-grouped (and hit the bathroom) in Wilkeson.  Back on our bikes and heading out of Wilkeson, the hill going up to Carbonado once again split our group.  We rode in various groups out to the Fairfax Bridge where we re-grouped and headed back toward Carbonado.    Since it is a gentle downhill, the ride back to Carbonado was quick. 

Past Carbonado, we blew down the hill toward Wilkeson.  I’m not sure what the top speeds were for the rest of our group, but my Garmin recorded a little over 40 mph on that stretch. 

Most of the group stayed together in a pace line from Wilkeson through Burnett and on over to Buckley, so that stretch was fun and quick.  

After Buckley, we took the back roads to the Mud Mountain Dam climb.  We were all separated on the climb, but we re-grouped at the top.  The descent down highway 410 separated us again with Conor, Chris, Chet, and Scott going fast at the front.  They continued that pace back through Buckley, South Prairie, and all the way back to Orting.  I’ll bet it was fun.  The rest of us formed groups and rode the same route back at a decent clip (visiting most all of the way).   Once Scott and Conor got to Orting, they turned around and came back out to meet us.  John and Kurt had gotten separated from us between Enumclaw and Buckley and were “time trialing” behind us trying to catch us (John had called my cell phone to find out where we were).  We all came together by the farm that has the bison, long-horned steers, etc.; and enjoyed the ride into Orting together. 

 

Unfortunately, I did not get a pic of all 15 guys on today's ride

This turned out to be an enjoyable ride.  Lots of good guys, and the weather was great (overcast and in the 50’s with no rain – perfect).

It’s too bad that we couldn’t do the Cyclopath Snow Ride today.  Next week is the logical time to try to do it; but, unfortunately, I’m on call and can’t go.  If anyone would like to get a group going up there next weekend, let me know.  I’ll be happy to send out an email to see who is interested if you want me to.

Looking forward to the Skate Creek Loop Ride on June 8^th.

Link to todays photos (not many pics taken today):  https://picasaweb.google.com/103821724300588557330/2013_05_25ImpromptuCyclopathGroupRide#slideshow/5882156956355186642