Chilly Hilly

Recently people have landed here when searching for information on the annual Chilly Hilly ride, coming up again in February. So here are some old photos from the time I rode in 2010.

That year we had a spell of sunny, warmish (for January) weather. I'd been commuting ten miles round-trip, with a daily hill-climb of a half-mile or a bit more. With the nice winter weather, I got out for a few hilly 25-30 mile rides, to be well-prepared for the Chilly Hilly. The day of the ride started out foggy, with temperatures in the mid-50's. I'd aimed to get to Seattle in time for the first ferry, but the line-up was already so long that I didn't board until after 10am, on the third boat. You really can get hypothermic just standing around that long, and it's even colder on the car deck of the ferry. Once on the road, I warmed up and started shedding layers of clothes, and ended up with a little sunburn on my face and arms. But 2010 wasn't a normal winter - cold and rain is more usual, and sometimes there is snow.

Some scenes from the 2010 Chilly Hilly, a 33-mile ride

around Bainbridge Island, in February:

The bike deck on the ferry

Lining up to disembark - people were very orderly
and docile, probably because of hypothermia.

Rest-stop at the half-way point

The line-up for the return trip on the last ferry to Seattle.

Rest stops along the way serve hot apple cider, and the ride ends with a chili feed, but I recommend saving your appetite for fish and chips at Steamer's restaurant, just a little ways down on the Seattle waterfront.

2013 update: sad to say, Steamer's has closed. Another of my Seattle favorites gone.