Best place to get back to:

Route 203 off I-90, Washington
North Bend to Monroe (30 Miles)

The next time I’m traversing Western Washington’s I-90 with a bicycle strapped to my car, if I’ve got a passenger to spare; here is the junction where I pull over, run a Chinese fire drill, unlash my lonesome steel horse, and make for the Northwestern farmlands that are both easy on the eyes and light on the legs.

North Bend
Only a scratch off the Interstate, North Bend marks the beginning this route of backroadsing which meanders between the foothills of Washington’s Southern Cascades and the lush green pasture lands of it’s first valleys East of Seattle. By the time I realized I was off the freeway, North Bend was gone.

Snoqualmie
Had I not been busting the 10 mph I would have taken a glance at the trove of understated mom and popshops that edge up against this flower trimmed Main Street. At the far end of town nearly mile of weather beaten steam-engine locomotives sleep back to front. Undoubtedly a photographers play set, this rusting museum would fascinate even the casual historian or engineer.
A sweeping 12% grade drops you out of town and down in the valley below. From a 15-passenger van, the entire thrill is absorbed by the coosh of a captain’s seat. Dairy farms and fields of melon, strawberry, and front lawn market places abound.

Carnation
Carnation could have a main street parade every day and a farmers market every evening and I wouldn’t be surprised. Norman Rockwell may be cryogenicly frozen in the town hall that too would not surprise me. What did take me aback what that Carnation has quite possibly the finest Mexican food restaurant in the state of Washington. Well, I don’t actually know this, but with Mexican food- unlike Pizza parlors or Chinese food, you can sence it from down the street. Also, a killer place to get a Porsche.

Duvall
Lots’ a skinheads & churches in Duvall. I’d keep riding.

Monroe
By the time you’ve arrived in Monroe, you’re back to Anyplace, USA. Remember that the magic was not the destination but that space between the rolling green pastures and an abandoned route over a lonesome wooden bridge.