bikes 'n' books

 Yes, now actually enter into a really lovely wide unpopulated lane surrounded by trees and even Wilderness Lake, er. I mean Lake Wilderness... Heck, there's even an arboretum out here! But coming off of this and pedaling down the final forgotten road to Black Diamond, it finally had to happen, right?!: my back tire suddenly went flat as can be, dang. The good news is that I am only 3/10th of a mile from Black Diamond The bad news is that this must be one of the only libraries without a bus stop nearby, shucks... Staff are even more discouraging but I get on a computer and DO discover bus service not so far away... snap a photo inside  & am off -- unfortunately I immediately head off in the wrong direction and walk a mile or 2 before realizing it, turn around and, yes, of course: the big roads and buses are where I had originally come from, right?! So, my only injury so far on this far flung journey is a blistered toe from all the walking, not biking... Thankfully, the inf...

 After a bit more mad urban driving, finally -- with portions of Wax Road -- find a quieter serene one lane country avenue to bike along, ahhh -- and Maple Valley itself keeps to this bucolic theme surrounded by a big Evergreen forest, yes! But still not finding any staff I know or remember -- ah, meetings and absences! -- and the inside of this branch has nearly nothing to recommend it... That's ok, we're entering the quieter areas of the county finally...!

 This time drive to Kent station, pull out my bike and start the long slow slog up Kent-Kangley road -- a small or no shoulder and one could  ride on the sidewalks but those dips for all the driveways can be a killer after awhile.... But there finally is Covington -- arriving before they're even open for business for once...: Staff inside are about as excited about my journey as if I told them I had a new pencil, oh well.... Time to head off for Maple Valley....

 So, ok, it's flat and kinda scenic & away from cars  but it's still about another 9 miles and I think I have to catch this bus back from Carnation soon or wait for another hour & a half at least (my now common tale trying to return from these far-flung regions of the county) so I'm pedaling hard and fast even as I vaguely recall that I went on a walking blind date along this dusty path a number of years back -- who was that girl that I only remember was quite short & worked in a Leavenworth bookstore...?! Oh well, cycle cycle, shucks, I'm not gonna make that bus, so it goes....(the whole day's ride set up in order to get done fairly early to make it to a jazz show that evening)..... Flat & steady & frankly, a little dull, but here comes Carnation!: Rebuilt since the centuries ago when I was last here but at least still preserving the Native American art a little bit inside with even a goofy beaver!: & so I get my clams & chips down the s...

 From the pleasantest ride through woods and isolated trails I now rode along an increasingly narrow shoulder trying to make myself skinnier as SO many cars and trucks and all kept rushing by, many not edging from their lane....man, I had been thinking this should be ok cuz who ever goes to Duvall anyway..??! But no, there are nearly no quiet country lanes left and everyone is going everywhere all the time now and so I pedaled along on edge both physically and mentally (& metaphorically!) -- now finally I see the first buildings of Duvall up ahead but now the shoulder completely disappears and I even pause waiting for a break in traffic and then try racing along....but, oh no, here comes a giant truck behind me...! Fortunately he doesn't try passing me and my scared tired legs get me to the last bridge before town...But this bridge is as slender as can be with a tiny thin raised walkway on each side that I try still biking on, almost rolling off more than once (into traffic, y...

 From RR I quickly enter onto just about the best bike riding route ever: a serene, heavily forested wilderness -- unpaved but nicely tamped dirt and no one except horse turds to avoid...! Only too short but then emerges onto the also newly discovered Tolt Pipeline trail with none but occasional walkers joining me... & parts very steep but fortunately going down for me -- this is looking back at what I raced down!: Then back on busy Avondale and finally rewarded -- way off the beaten track with Woodinville!: & such a nice outside playground play area that I didn't even take any photos inside (though I did get to see Pam!) -- but how can you beat wine barrels & xylophones?! Or the most artistic admonition to whisper (which I only just now realized how appropriate for a library..!):

 Ok, so we're doing things a little different this time: actually loaded my trusty bike into my car (gasp!) & drove to Redmond (the light rail/bus commuting can take too long!) where I saw the welcome: "Redmond: Bicycle capitol of the Northwest" which seemed like a good sign....! Park in empty library parking lot (since these branches don't open until 1pm, geez!) and set off:  so, they brag about being the capital so I guess that means wide shoulders for bikes but the roads are certainly not empty and I quickly start ascending on a "Novelty Hill road" which has very little having anything to do with novelty, bah! Then, there finally, the branch that isn't a branch: Redmond Ridge: No staff here but you just need to type in your library card number to get into the building -- and I even thought that maybe it wouldn't let me in unless I had a hold waiting so I dutifully placed a hold on a special CD and here it is: (a jazz CD which includes a song t...