Today we set off in 3 cars to a nearby beauty spot called Rattle Snake Lake where I parked my car.
We drove the other two cars 24 miles down the freeway to junction 54. One car contained Geoff, Helen and Matt plus 6 bikes ( more of a truck than a car). Geoff’s 18 year old son, Ben, drove Maggi and me. We unloaded the bikes and Geoff handed out miniature miners lamps to each of us. The first part of the 22 mile trail along a disused railroad involved a two mile tunnel.
As we approached the entrance to this dark whole we could feel the cold. I wondered why Geoff hadn’t warned us all about how cold it would be. He pulled out several extra layers from his rucksack before we entered the tunnel. The rest of the English in the party were left with nothing to keep the cold out.
Maggi worried about her knee and dropped behind everyone. I hung back but her constant whingeing made me lose my calmness, which made matters worse. Eventually the whole party stopped and waited for us and pushed her ahead so that she had no excuse for not going on. All through the tunnel we could see the light of the exit. At first I thought people were approaching us, but as it remained constant that theory went out the window. The light seemed never to get closer until we arrived near to the exit.
We emerged into sunshine at the exit. All of us glad to warm our hands in the warmth and remove the dark and dampness from our bodies.
The trail consists of a very slow descent on mostly gravel track. My hands and wrists absorbed the vibrations from the uneven surface. I had not adjusted either the gear or the height of the saddle. Neither of these were set ideally and so the journey down could have been much easier.
The trip took 2 ½ hours to complete. On the way we hugged the side of the valley with the occasional bridge or embankment across some gulley or stream that fed into the Snoqualmie River below. We could often hear the noise rising from the I-90 freeway below. The tree lined trail guarded by tall firs hides a forest ecosystem that none of us know about or even acknowledge.
By the time we reached the trailhead where we had parked my car I had a very sore bum and a numb wrist. I drove back to the start with Geoff and Ben to pick up their vehicles. I stopped at a restaurant/bar under instructions called South Park where the others joined me later.
The beer quenched our throats, but the tofu bowl presented to me lacked any flavour or spark of creativity. As usual the service didn’t exist and they ask for a minimum of 18%. Luckily Helen insisted on paying and they received an undue reward.
Geoff had arranged a few friends to come over for dinner. His nearest neighbour Vince aged 85 and his wife 30 years younger Melinda. The Australian director of the nearby ski complex, Guy and his slightly overweight headmistress wife Shawn joined us. The final guest called Laurie, a kindergarten teacher came without her husband who was out of town.
Geoff had prepared hamburgers which he barbecued with sausages. The other guests brought salads. The burgers were succulent and tasty and it was an enjoyable meal. Everyone left just after 9 for the last day of the summer term.
We spent the rest of the evening complimenting Geoff and Debbie on the friendliness of their guests and their other wonderful qualities. Typical American.