Western Washington has had the longest run of sunny, warm and
occasionally hot (over 90) weather this summer. Today is predicted to
be one of the cooler days (84) but mid-day temperatures and high UV make
cycling less pleasant than I care for, especially if I have an
alternative. Which I do: mornings. The temperature was 50 when I got
out just after sunrise today, around 7:00. That's higher than some
mid-afternoon temperatures during winter, so I can deal with it easily.
Still it was chilly enough that I was comfortable wearing a jacket over
a long-sleeved shirt first couple hours of the ride.
Since
much of the year here does not lend itself to early morning rides, I
enjoy the chance to get out early during the summer. It's a habit I
developed out of necessity riding in Phoenix. I soon learned to enjoy
the empty streets, the low light and the quiet. During summer in
Olympia I get a chance to indulge my fancy.
This
morning offered some fine highlights. Heading east on 33rd Avenue I
could see the road undulating under a green archway, the strong morning
light filtering through the foliage. The scene recalled summer mornings
hiking the Appalachian Trail and reminded me how luck I am to be out on
a beautiful morning like this. Returning over Woodard Bay I stopped to
watch the tide going out. A sea otter head popped up in the water,
then several more. I saw six total and from the slightly larger size of
one and the way the others followed its lead, I'm pretty sure it was a
mother and six pups out foraging.
The day was beginning
to warm up by the time I reached the northern end of the Chehalis
Western Trail at 9:00. Enough to shed the jacket for the final nine
miles. The air was still cool, though, since much of the trail is still
shaded. I never broke a sweat and felt strong throughout the ride: 25 miles and home by 10. A good way to to start the weekend.
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