OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN: BIKE RIDE TO ARTIST POINT

Earlier this week, the road to Artist Point re-opened for the first time since 2010, and it goes without saying that I couldn't wait to get back up there. (Then why did I say it?) David Longdon and I were planning to ride up but after he cancelled, I only had about an hour to sulk before Pat Skaggs e-mailed and invited me to join he and Steve George, a sorta Bellingham legend in the multi-sport, jack-of-all-endurance-trades world. I'd never met Steve before, though had seen him a few years ago when I did the Bellingham Traverse relay race and our team members kept almost catching Steve--who was soloing the event, by the way--only to have him pull away maddeningly and repeatedly. As I found out today, he's a super nice guy. (In the above pic, that's he on the far right, Pat in the middle, me in the French champion's jersey on the left.)

These two pics are what the Artist Point parking lot looks like today.

                          

Below is what it looked like just two weeks ago when Titanium Cancellara and I rode to the top. (Here's that post.)

Looks like the D.O.T. guys got busy over the past fortnight. Here's one of them talking to Steve while taking a break from clearing the mountain of snow atop the privies. (Which aren't open yet. However, the restrooms are open at the Heather Meadows Visitor Center, a couple miles below Artist Point.)  

I'll ride this road again and again, any time of the day or night, I love it so much! (Hyperbole, I know, but my brain is still in the throes of that hypoxic Cascade Mountain high.) Always stupendous scenery, always really really challenging--especially the last couple miles when it seems the altitude starts to kick in--always my favorite road on which to spend three or four hours. Highly recommended!



MOUNT ERIE LEG SHREDDING BIKE RIDE

Our hero, Glenn Gervais, suggested we do Ride 6 from my "75 Classic Rides" book.

Sounds great, said I. Which one's that?

Page 42, Fidalgo Island--Mount Erie Leg Shredder, said he.

Ah yes, I remember that one well. Lots of fun, up and down island-esque rollers, spectacular water and island views, not to mention the route's centerpiece, Mount Erie: 878 feet of pointy-stick-in-the-eye climbing in just 1.5 miles. Youch! 

Thus, joined by Pat Skaggs, we found ourselves early Sunday a.m. at March Point Park'n'Ride ready to rock, as it were. We began by crossing the Tommy Thompson Trestle Trail (above), headed into Anacortes and then out toward the ferry and Washington Park. From there we rolled south and thusly began the rollers. Eventually, we pedaled inland (see my book for the exact route) and made our way south where Mount Erie awaited.

Here's Glenn, nearing the top of Mount Erie, climbing so fast up its 18- and 20-percent evilness that he's little more than a blurry smudge.

Here's what he usually looks like.

Here's the three of us, happy as heck that we've made it to the top of Mount Erie. As you can see, weather-wise we seemed to be stuck in a giant damp cloud. Never actually rained but somehow we got sorta wet and it never really brightened enough that I could safely wear my glasses without riding somewhat blind.

Re: Mount Erie, it's just killer steep. Even though I ride it probably once every two or three years and I know what I'm in for, I'm still stunned and surprised when I round a bend and see the road slanting seemingly straight up in front of me. Strava says it's average grade is 10.8 percent but given that there're a couple flat stretches, it's much harder than that. But we came, we saw, we kicked its ...  

(Above is a photo from about four years ago of Titanium Cancellara and I after a Mount Erie ascent. Here's a post on that ride.)

Here, Glenn fixes a flat while I watch.

The route ends with a fun, flat waterside 6-mile loop around March Point.