Wow, what a day - towards the end of February in Seattle - usually it's drizzly, gray, or outright raining.  Today was 60 degrees and sunny.  Where were those "sports glasses"?  Had to settle for driving glasses - just not used to needing sunglasses.

Today we did some training on the road.  Virginia planned a great route - aptly named, The Tour de Hood.  We started at Gas Works Park, a Seattle icon and a must-see for those visiting the area.  The view from the top of the hill looks out over the lake and the Space Needle.  Met up with 5 other riders (all girls except for one) and we planned on meeting Jodi as she rode towards us from West Seattle. 

Started at Gasworks and rode a combination of trail and road through the Wallingford, Fremont and Ballard neighborhoods.  Then we jumped off our bikes for the walk through the Hiram Chittenden Park on the way over The Locks.  The Locks serve 3 purposes - to maintain the water level of the fresh water in Lake Washington and Lake Union at 20 or so feet above sea level, to prevent the mixing of salt/fresh water from  Puget Sound with the fresh water of the lakes, and to move boats from the water level of the lakes to the water level of the Puget Sound (and vice versa).

After we crossed over, we picked up Jodi and then rode out towards Discovery Park.  Discovery Park is situated in the Magnolia neighborhood in the northwest part of Seattle.  Discovery Park is on 534 acres of a decommissioned army fort - Fort Lawton.  The fort was part of the 2005 base realignment and closure list.  As you ride through the park, you pass barracks and decomissioned buildings on the way to the lighthouse.  The lighthouse is currently under construction but the beach front and the water, mountain, and space needle views are well worth the descent and subsequent climb back out.  Virginia wants to do intervals on the hill - huh - she might be a little crazy but I guess I'm willing!

After Discovery park and our cruise through the lovely Magnolia neighborhood, we headed back to the bike trail that runs through Interbay on it's way to Myrtle Edwards Park and into the downtown area.  As we continued on through the park and exited the trail onto the road we rode past a small portion of the Olympic Scultpure Park.  If you haven't had an opportunity to take in the sculpture park it is another must see.  A trail meanders through huge metal and wood sculptures.  Along the water front there is a series of "Eyes", we did a quick stop for a photo moment and to admire the Olympic mountains in the background. Again thinking wow - it really just doesn't get any better than this! 

Continued on down the water front and past the ferry terminal.  We'll be seeing that next weekend on our way to the Chilly Hilly.  We headed across the bridge and out to West Seattle for a tour of Alki.  After riding along the water front and gaining yet another viewpoint of the Space Needle, Jodi broke off to head back home so her hubby could get his ride in.  The rest of us climbed a few hills, found ourselves on Fauntleroy and headed back out of West Seattle.  We exited back towards downtown, headed up Jackson through Pioneer Square and then the International District and the Central District.  Right on 23rd for awhile and on to the tunnel under I-90.  After jumping onto the Lake Washington Loop, going through the Leschi neighborhood, we made our way through the Arboretum (really - some day I'm going to stop there for the tea ceremony in the Japanese gardens).  Lastly we went over the Montlake Bridge and headed back to Gasworks park on the Burke Gilman through the University District.  

4 Hours and 20 minutes, 44 miles, no mechanicals, tons of smiles, sunshine, a bag of almonds and 2 water bottles.  Done by 12:30 and a whole day ahead of us.  What an amazing day and a great group of ladies to ride with. 

Oddly - for a die hard mountain biker, I'm actually looking forward to my next road ride.  Guess a change of pace is always welcome and makes getting back on the mountain bike that much more exciting and fun.  Hoping for a solid base fitness for the BC Bike Race too!