Sunday, May 17, 2009

Gold Wing Ride - May 17 2009

Today was my second long ride for the season and Cheryl’s first time on the bike since 2007!

We traveled 350 miles in beautiful weather, over a variety of road types (freeways, state highways and country (yes country, not county) roads!

We left Kent and headed north on I-5 to Marysville. There we exited I-5 and headed West on Marine Drive traveling through the Tulalip Indian Reservation enroute to Stanwood.

We took a quick break at a Dairy Queen in Stanwood which was originally intended as a bathroom stop, but turned in to an ice cream cone stop as well!! Haha

Following the great ice cream we were back on the road, headed north to Conway on Pioneer Hwy.

From Conway we headed west on Fir Island Rd and then north on Best Rd to Hwy 20.

From there we headed west again crossing the Swinomish Channel just south of Padilla Bay and then nipping the north end of the Swinomish Indian Reservation as we came on to Fidalgo Island.

We remained on Hwy 20 to Sharpes Corner where Hwy 20 turns South towards Deception Pass and Whidbey Island. Along the way we traveled along the shore of Lake Campbell for a few miles. We were literally feet away from the water!

Deception Pass was spectacular as always. After crossing both Deceptionn Pass bridges on to Whidbey Island, we parked the bike and walked back across the bridges. We were able to watch people fish below from boats and from the beach on the Whidbey Island side of the pass and kayakers skillfully maneuver the swift currents.

Then we began our journey home…

We traveled to Snow Goose Produce,
a remarkable little shop! They have seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits, cheeses, wines, flowers, plants, breads and ICE CREAM. The line for the ice cream seemed to go on forever!! Cheryl had some peppermint candy ice cream. They make the waffle cones as fast as people order them…incredible!!

We bought some locally baked bread (they are very focused on supporting local businesses), humus, smoked salmon pate and wine. We then went to a lone picnic table behind the store, overlooking the fields. There we played cards, Five Crowns, ate our food, had some wine and enjoyed the sunshine, the view of Mt Baker, the birds and the nice break.

As we were leaving I heard what sounded like the neighing of a horse…and it was! Haha Two girls had ridden their horses through a field, accompanied by their Chihuahua, just to get ice cream!


I am telling you, for all this store has, I think it’s the ice cream that sustains them!!!

We got back on the road heading for Conway and I-5. Once we hit I-5, we headed south for home.

We stopped at a rest stop just south of Everett and met a couple riding a Gold Wing. Turns out they are the Chapter Directors for a Gold Wing Touring Association out of Auburn – minutes from our home in Kent! We visited for probably half an hour! I think we’ll be joining them for some rides this summer! Check out GWTA ~ Destination Friendship!

We then headed on home arriving about 8:00. It was a wonderful ride and has really excited us both about getting out more on the weekends this summer!!

(You can see a few more pictures on our smugmug site here.)