It was one of those warm, golden, Indian summer days, and I was itching to take a bike ride.
But I wasn't in the mood to play road warrior on the Burke Gilman Trail. I wanted to meander lazily at my own pace without having to hear "On your left!" every few minutes from those singleminded riders racing down the trail at breakneck speeds. With a more tranquil environment in mind, I headed to Duvall, where I knew I could access the Snoqualmie Valley Trail - a route for non-motorized vehicles that follows the abandoned line of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad.
The Snoqualmie Valley Trail goes for 36 miles, south from Duvall to Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area, where it then connects to the cross-state John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Iron Horse State Park. Opting for a leisurely ride, I chose to take the trail only as far as Carnation, approximately nine miles one way, and then return to Duvall.
The trail's surface is primarily crushed rock, making it ideal for mountain bikes or those bikes with slightly larger tires. Although the day was quite warm, it never got hot as I rode; the trail is mostly tree-lined and shady. And I had the place pretty much to myself. On occasion, I would come across another rider or someone walking his dog, but there were stretches where I was the sole presence on the trail unless you count the wildlife.
The area between Duvall and Carnation is one of the most scenic agricultural valleys in the region. The trail rambles past bucolic farms, preserved open-space areas and parks, and wends along creeks and riverbeds. At times I played peekaboo with the views through tall cornstalks standing as sentinels along the path. The leaves were just beginning to turn color; in fact, it looked as if an artist had come along and, on a whim, dabbed a bit of paint from his autumn palette on a tree here or there.
All too soon, I arrived in Carnation and decided to do some off-trail exploration before heading back to Duvall. First I rode out to Tolt MacDonald Park at the southern edge of town, got off my bike and stretched my legs with a short hike. The park - a vision of John MacDonald, chief of Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America - was created in 1976 as one of the nation's largest Bicentennial Projects. Over a period of five months, more than 20,000 Boy Scouts cleared, leveled and constructed campsites, picnic tables and shelters for the 451-acre park.
In conjunction with the Scouts' efforts, the Army Reserves 409th Engineering Company out of Everett constructed the famous 500-foot suspension bridge, which hangs 28 feet above the the Snoqualmie River's known high-water level and links the park's east and west sides. The bridge leads visitors to various nature trails, grassy meadows, picnic areas and camping sites. There's also a picturesque, historic Dutch colonial barn that now serves as a popular picnic shelter for large groups.
Another of Carnation's points of interest is Remlinger Farms, a working farm that has become a favorite destination for families. The farms, which are to the south of Tolt MacDonald Park, began in 1965 as a humble dream of roadside fruit-seller Gary Remlinger. He purchased the property with money earned from a high-school 4-H project. It was originally intended to grow products to sell at the fruit stand as well as providing a home where Gary and his wife could raise a family.
Over the years, however, the farm has grown to become a bustling spot where corporate events, school tours, harvest celebrations and festivals are held. There are also "U-pick" fields with seasonal fruits, a farm market, gift shop and restaurant. At the family fun park kids can climb aboard an authentic miniature steam train, take a pony ride, see a puppet show, go through a hay maze, visit a farm animal barnyard and enjoy amusement-park-style rides.
I grabbed a ripe Granny Smith apple from the market and a molasses chew cookie to munch on, then bought some raspberry honey for my family back home. After drooling at the selection of take-and-bake pies - bumbleberry, apple, blueberry, marionberry, rhubarb, strawberry - I made a note to myself to return when I wasn't on my bike so that I could buy one, or maybe two, of these delicious-looking creations.
My trip back on the trail to Duvall helped me work up an appetite for lunch. For a small town, Duvall has several choices of eateries, ranging from the Duvall Café, with its all-day breakfasts, to Jaspers, a barbecue smokehouse. The River City Café serves up burgers and other fast-food fare, along with more than 60 flavors of milkshakes, including such exotic options as tiramisu, licorice, amaretto and ginger. Then there's the Speakeasy Café, a local hangout known for its Paninis, quiche and interesting salads.
If you just want a coffee drink or an ice-cream cone, head to C.C. Espresso and Ice Creamery, where you can park yourself at a table or bench outside and grab a few rays while enjoying a snapshot of small-town living.
It was a pleasure getting off my bike and walking along Main Street, ducking into a few of the eclectic shops to chat with friendly proprietors and browse the merchandise. Duvall Books is a great place to pick up some good reads, secondhand, while at Country Collections you can find a variety of antiques and collectibles.
But my favorite spot is Gardens and Sunspaces Gallery, a special art gallery for garden and nature lovers. Owner Sunny Ruthchild has amassed a wonderful array of whimsical treasures by local artists and has created an Eden-esque garden outside the shop with fountains and unusual pieces of statuary. I plopped myself down in that garden and closed my eyes while I listened to melodious wind chimes and the soothing sounds of trickling water. I was alone, just me with a pair of ducks nestling nearby and a cat, napping, surrounded by all this serenity - the perfect oasis!
Back in my car and heading home, I felt content after my day's outing. Maybe another time I'll check out what's beyond the next bend in the road.[[In-content Ad]]
