Overnight test ride

After riding the bike around to do errands for the last couple of weeks and one day of testing the fully loaded bike up and down some neighborhood hills (it was HEAVY), it was time for a full road test.  My riding partner (SB) and I headed out in the morning with a stop by the grocery store in order to get the full bike touring experience.  Apparently it goes something like ride, eat, ride, eat, ride, eat, sleep, eat, get groceries, repeat.

We headed over to West Seattle to catch a ferry to the Olymipc Pennisula and our eventual destination at Scenic Beach State Park.

Waiting for the Ferry

The day was beautiful with temperatures in the low 70s.  Pretty much a perfect riding day.  The route was fairly rolling with several good long climbs that began to take their toll by the end of the day.  The joy of a very long, fast descent at the end of the ride was tempered by the thought that we would be going back up the very same hill the first thing the next morning.  

The park was nearly empty and lived up to its name.

Enjoying the view (and not being on the bike)

We got started very early in the morning for the return trip which would be via the ferry at Bremerton.  The long hill was indeed still there the next morning but as it turned out it was not too bad with the energy of the early morning.  I am sure it would have been a different story had it been at the end of the ride.

It was a good test of gear and equipment and has led to several gear decisions: The hammock which sounded like such a good idea for resting at the end of the day is useless when all you want to do is sleep and eat at the end of the day.  The same can be said for the crazy creek chair and the small backpack for hikes in Yosemite will now be mailed directly to Yosemite via general delivery.  The clip less pedals are indeed an improvement but the shoes that I had been using for commuter riding will not cut it for extended touring.  The significant numbness in my feet made that very clear.  Glad to learn that before heading to San Diego instead of after.

The ride is getting closer and the anticipation/anxiety is building.