As amazed as I was a month ago with the nice weather for Chilly Hilly, I was equally stunned at this cold snap that had dumped snow throughout the Puget Sound region the past few days.
But when the snow starts falling around here and I have an itch to ride, sometimes I'll head uphill where the snow is usually deeper.
That was the case this morning. In addition to the snow on our lawn, I could see what looked like a thicker covering up toward Somerset and Cougar Mountain.
Great view
When I finally took off shortly before noon, I quickly realized that my slick rear tire really wasn't up to the job of finding traction in the slop at the side of the road (left). I couldn't turn around, I'd just have to be careful.
As much as I bitch and moan about the space afforded to golf courses, I have to admit that I enjoy the Newcastle Golf Club. It sits atop an old landfill and has an amazing view of the surrounding countryside.
I gingerly rode up there and shot some pictures of Lake Washington (top); those buildings in the center of the picture are in the vicinity of the University of Washington. Those white dots in the lake — sailboats.
Cold descent
While I got nice and warm with the effort of climbing, coasting downhill gave me a chill. My hands and feet were extremely cold by the time I got down to Lake Sammamish; I changed into a dry pair of gloves and headed over to Issaquah. My feet warmed up on their own.
Pedaling up Issaquah-Hobart Road I saw three cyclists — the only other bicyclists I would see on my 30-mile ride.
Snow had dusted Tiger Mountain and Squak Mountain overnight, but by now it was melting with temperatures rising to about 50 (it was 35 when I left). I could hear water rushing in small waterfalls and springs that run out of these hills.
By the time I turned onto May Road, I started to get hot and opened up my Gor-Tex jacket to get some air flowing inside. But even as I vented some steam, I could still see the snow covering the top of Squak Mountain (left).
By the time I returned home, all the snow on the lawn had melted. Looking up toward a corner of the golf course I can just from my house, however, I could still see the fairway still covered in white. A sure sign that winter was still hanging on.
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