day 95, SEATTLE! WA 80 Mi, 4260 total

Calm down everybody! We're not done yet! Still have to ride down to some salty pacific backwater in the next day or two to baptize the front wheel!

Got an early start from Darrington after a good breakfast at the Glacier View Cafe (majestic Glacier peak towers over the little town!). Lynn had forecast some rain by midday so we were hoping to get a good part of the ride over before it hit. We had the first 29 miles into Arlington covered by mid-morning but by the time we rolled onto the Centennial Rail Trail just south of town the drops began to fall. We arrived in Everett very damp and chilled (dispite our multiple layers of clothing and rain gear). Thank goodness for the American institution of Denny's which appeared as an answer to our prayers: steaming chicken noodle soup and the bottomless mugs of hot chocolate. Soon our inner cores were warmed back up and we were ready to face mother nature and father traffic again.

A few hours later the rain let up as we found the entrance to the Burke-Gilman Bike Trail and headed down the west side of Lake Washington towards Dave and Lynn's. Before long we met Dave who had ridden out to greet us and make sure we found the way to their house!

Later in the evening we walked down to a nearby restaurant to celebrate the 99.9% completion of our voyage. we are looking forward to this weekend when there will be more family get-togethers with the entire west-coast Battisti/Smith clan!