We will be leaving in
2010 promises to be a leisurely ride. Our plan begins with a cool ride up along the Oregon coast keeping out of the summer heat. Our first major stop will be Lake Ozette on the Olympic peninsula. If you have not been there you really should go hike the 9.3 mile loop trail. After a couple of days at Lake Ozette we can refresh ourselves with a swim at Sol Duc Hot Springs before pushing on to "the city".
Butchart Gardens will be our next major destination. Over the years I've heard nothing but good things about these gardens and 2010 will my year to visit. While I don't much like digging in the dirt I do enjoy the results when others tend the garden. In my younger days my two favorite haunts were the gardens at Huntington Library in San Marino CA and the Arboretum & Botanic Garden located in Arcadia CA
North Cascades National Park is next on the list of places to see or pass through depending on time and weather. Hope to make a nice loop here going through the park East bound and returning West on Hwy 2 with a stop a Leavenworth WA for a brat and a beer.
Coming into the greater Seattle area we will stay off to the East taking the road along Lake Sammamish from Redmond to Issaquah. Then we can ride out to Snoqualmie Falls. Perhaps take a hike to the base of the falls and then have a meal at the lodge there... Man, they got the best oatmeal in the world...
Our next stop will take us through Maple Valley, Black Diamond and Enumclaw on our way to Mt. Rainier National Park. We tried to visit the park in 2009 but the heat wave at the time caused us to skidaddle East to get out of the heat.
Again, last year because of the heat we missed Mt. St. Helens because we were not having fun in the heat... Perhaps 2010 will have better weather for us.