Eric Sofen
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
University of Washington
esofen@atmos.uw.edu
Bike Touring
Allison got her start touring in high school on an Overland trip from Seattle to San Francisco, and convinced me that we should spend the summer of after graduating from college biking across the country. Now, each summer, we take a week or two to explore part of the Pacific Northwest by bike. When we came cross-country, we averaged 70+ miles/day, but now we tend to average to a more moderate 50 miles/day, because there are many things to explore off-the-bike throughout the Northwest
We both ride Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bikes. I think it's a great, sturdy touring bike, but in Allison's 42cm frame size, the geometry gets a bit funky and the tubing choices make it rather hefty for its size. That said, it's one of the only stock touring frames made that small (the only available frame that small at the time she got it). We take a self-supported approach to touring and carry everything (but the kitchen sink) we need, cook our own food, and camp at night.
Completed Tours
Northern Tier
Lexington, MA to Seattle, WA. Summer 2007.
This trip was our way of moving across the country for me to start grad school. It was a valuable experience, but we've decided that on future tours we will stick to the coasts or mountains, which provide more enjoyable and scenic riding and camping options.
Pacific Coast 1
Seattle, WA to Newport, OR. Summer 2008.
We aim to continue down the coast this coming summer (2010).
Salish Sea Island Hopping
Bainbridge Island, Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island, Vancouver BC, Bellingham, WA. Summer 2009.
What is the Salish Sea???
We were following our noses a bit on this trip, as we originally planned to do a loop through the North Cascades this summer, but it was too hot. Saltspring Island (Ruckles Provincial Park) was gorgeous, and we went to Nanaimo, home of the perfect bike-tourist's fuel - the Nanaimo bar.
Carbon River Weekend Trip
Seattle, WA to Ipsut Creek Campground at Mt. Rainier, July 2011.
Had to abandon this trip when the rim of Allison's rear wheel failed in Pacific, WA. Intended route was a loop out the Interurban and Foothills Trail, then back through Black Diamond and along the Cedar River Trail.
John Wayne Pioneer Trail/Iron Horse State Park
Cle Elum to Seattle, WA, July 2011.
Weekend trip from Cle Elum back to Seattle via the John Wayne Trail, Snoqualmie Valley Trail, Preston-Snoqualmie Trail, and the Issaquah Creek Trail. Roughly 80% of the ride was on soft-surface trail (including an unintended ~5 miles on singletrack, which was an adventure on loaded touring bikes)!
We camped at Roaring Creek on Keechelus Lake. In retrospect, I think Cold Creek or Carter Creek would have been nicer campsites, with better water access and a nicer layout of tent sites. Also, we discovered after the fact that there are coin-op showers in the bathrooms at the trailhead in Hyak.
Pacific Coast 2
Eugene, OR to San Francisco, CA. Summer 2011.
We finally got around to doing the next section of the Pacific coast. We took the train down to Eugene, then road out to the coast at Florence and headed down US-101 and then California SR1. This stretch of coast has lots to offer: great Oregon State Park hiker-biker campsites, spectacular views, redwoods, lighthouses, and lots of good food.
Future Tours
Columbia Gorge
I've been contemplating a loop along the Columbia starting from Portland and getting into eastern OR and WA.
Leavenworth Loop
Out US-2 over Stevens Pass to Leavenworth, then up the Methow Valley to SR-20, and back through the North Cascades (Washington and Rainy Passes) with requisite stops at Cascadia Farm's stand and Clarke's Skagit River Resort — two favorites from the end of your cross-country trip.
Vancouver Island
We saw a little bit of Vancouver this past summer (2009), but want to go back and explore more of it, particularly the western coast and more of the Gulf Islands.
New England
There are lots of friends to visit throughout the Northeast. ME, NH, VT have very steep hills (the roads were built before switchbacks were invented), but it's pretty, and there's good food.
Europe
Lots of possibilities. France, Switzerland (good food for refueling), UK (Across the island from Lands End to John O'Groats is a classic.), Scandinavia, the Netherlands (with their amazing marked bike routes).
