Wednesday the 13th of January seemed like the perfect day for a long distance bike ride. I finished everything that needed to get done around the house, looked outside and it was perfect Seattle type weather. Gray and cloudy. Last I checked the weatherman mentioned no rain in the forcast, it was great because I had that day off. If anything there might be a sprinkle here or there but nothing severe. Haveing to live in Seattle for 20 years you just know that the weather here is unpredictable 90% of the time. It could be 55 degrees nice and clear but you still pack your rain-proof gear because you never know when God's gonna be dumping those "cats and dogs" on your head.

So I set out, it was 2:39pm and I went on my way going up Holman Rd towards Golden Gardens Park. With the big long hill already behind me I faced a new challange. You see when you head down Golden Gardens Drive (which is the entrance to the beach by the way) There aint no bike lanes or sidewalks for several miles. In the Summer time that place can be quit scary to bike ride. So I was honestly scared because there was no way to avoid cars. I can ride on bike lanes on roads and what not and not have any problems with drivers but I feel much more unsafe if there isn't any bike path on the roads that are busy that I need to take. In this case there was no shoulders, no bike lanes and it was gradual downhill ride. Not to mention the road down there is quit narrow and too much rain can cause a bad mudslide of turn the road into a massive sinkhole. Which did happen already about 2.5 years ago.

I went down anyways and thankfully safely. There werent that many cars behind me. I got onto Seaview AVE and found that starting point to the Burke-Gillmand Trail. I never been on that thing so it was quit exciting to try it out for the first time. Normally I commute useing the Interurban Trail thats near my house. So I started on the trail and found a stopping point pretty soon. Not knowing where the trail picks up again I stopped by a rock climbing store (which I didn't even know existed) and asked for directions. By then it was just starting to sprinkle outside so once I got out of the store I pulled out my booties pulled them over my shoes and started up on my bike again. All this time Im thinking, "Oh this is no big deal its just sprinkling and Im pretty water proofed. Got a warm coat on w/ a water resistant outer liner, got my GoreTex gloves on, my rain pants and booties all secure and on me. By the time I got down to Ballard and Leary Way it started raining even more heavier, thats kinda when I started to regret getting out on this ride.

I stopped by a local Big-5 store over there mainly for two reasons: 1.) Get a First Aid pack which was not intentional but it happened so that while trying to lock my bike to a pole I scraped myself. 2.) I needed a drier place to check my already beat up soaking map where I was currently at and where I need to go next, what turns to take and what not. I printed out another directional map from this site and even had enough brains to put it in a plastic sheet and tape the top that way it doesnt get wet when I need to pull it out while on the road. I didn't encounter to many bad drivers there was only one instance where I nearly ran into a car that was pulling out and that was more my fault then that drivers. I should have braked a lot more early. So I learned my lession that even when riding a bike your brakes get quit slick in extreme rainy conditions.

It was kinda funny cuz all this time Im nearly cursing at myself about why I took this ride on THIS specific day, if I knew that it was gonna be pouring like crazy I would have reconsidered. I was still dry on the inside my inner liner was just JUST starting to take on its first round of water from the rain but I was still dry. I find my way and get back on the Burke-Gillman trail and Im thinking, "Wow! Iam one insane freak for having to go bike riding in this kinda weather." Couple miles later, near the U-District area I see people running in this kind of weather WITH SHIRTS AND TANKTOPS ON! All this time I was thinking that I was the only crazy one, and in fact it was rather cold it was somewhere in the mid 40's outside if I can remember correctly. So Im not insane after all.

Now haveing to commute useing the Interurban trail a lot, there really isnt that many cyclists out there or runners and other pedestrians, its a rather empty kind of trail. I rode around Green Lake several times and even in the summer season where it gets pretty populated with people running, walking, or biking its still not as heavy and at times can empty out quick. But I never encountered so many cyclists in my life on a single trail like on the Burke-Gillman trail. That was something rather interesting. And not to mention calmed me down on my ride just knowing that there are others like me who will go leaps and bounds to stay in shape and still do it even when the going gets hard. It was rather motivational.

I know that the Burke-Gillman trail is pretty long and while on it I definatly knew that I was going miles on miles on miles. It was a little difficult to be riding at night when it was till pouring outside. By the time I reached Magnuson Park I was completely soaked through. I was thinking, "This stuff is supposed to be rain proof what the hell?" Thankfully my chest and back stayed dry. I did notice that I bought a really good jacket, although my arms are completely soaked through I was still warm inside. Even after stopping at a local Starbucks for about 2 hourse I expected to get cold but thats not what happened. Thats not to say that Im gonna give the same thing a try in 30 and lower temps cuz I know that can lead me to hypothermia and thats not what I want. But on a day like 1/13/10 my jacket kept me warm even while being off my bike. My feet by then were completely soaked through, wasnt really comfortable and I didn't like it much but the end result of the whole ride was that I accomplished my fist long distance ride.

I been on some 14-16 mile rides and I know how those feel. But mapping out this one and then giving it a try, I definatly know that Im going to repeat this one every once in a while. It was a great ride altogether. I recommand this route for anyone who loves to ride, especially ride to lose weight. If you like gradual long climbs that build up your heart rate to where it needs to be then this is a great route, especially when your heading out of the U-District area thats where it starts to climb and� you get a really good workout.