The Centennial Trail, Point-to-Point~

Farah & Connie - Snohomish - Start of the trail~ 9:07 a.m.

I'd decided with the opening of the north end of the Centennial Trail, I wanted to see if it was possible to ride the entire length of the trail.  There is one "No horses" sign in Snohomish & a two-mile section without any shoulder for horses.  By the "Pilchuck" trail parking on Machias Rd. -  it opens with a shoulder for equestrians.   We parked at McDaniel's & I was anxious to "get-out-of-town"!  Butch took a day off to follow us on our route & crew!

My ride plan was pretty simple, just trot & make time everywhere I could!  I had no idea how much time it would take, but was only figuring on an overall pace of 4 mph.  We hit the trot & within 50-ft. we had bicycles beside us!

Our new friends :-)

We were moving right along, bike riders have it "down"!  They set a good speed heading for intersections.  Drivers see them coming & pretty much know those bikes are not slowing down!  Most looked surprised to see us trotting right along side & we literally blew through town!  :-)

We've crossed Three Lakes Rd. & you see the start of the horse path~

To pass the couple behind us, we were on the shoulder, but moved over to the paving because of the sloppy footing.  I'd asked Butch to pull in at the parking, good thing & I had dressed Way too warm, so removed my thermal shirt replaced it with cotton!

9:21 - Farah spots Butch!

This was a quick stop/go - I left my thick pants on & figured I'd just suffer through until our planned "VC" further up the trail.  This section of trail had mom's with baby strollers, a few kids on bikes & the traffic that came from Lake Stevens.  We kept moving on, past the Machias Station, the ball fields at 16th & reached the 20th street trail-head by 10:16.

Coming into our mobile camp!  10:16

Farah polishes off a pan full of slop!  We get the "royal" treatment from "Dad"!

10:35 & we're back on the trail!

We met a Mom with her two cute kids who wanted to "pet" Farah, she was sweaty & we were on a "mission" so apologized & were on our way - this time through the edge of Lake Stevens & headed north toward "home" & the Getchell Rd. trail-head.   When we were just a couple hundred feet from the Hwy 92 underpass, we saw the Bronco & trailer fly by!  Butch on his way to Getchell!  :-)  Was so funny to see Farah's reaction!

This section is one of my favorites!   Beautiful, quite & cross-country.   We were really moving out & enjoying the morning when I saw the big, white arm of a lift & flashing red lights up ahead - right in our path on the trail.  PUD tree pruning crew at work!  As we drew closer, I hailed the guy in the basket asking if we could get through?  These guys were Great!  They instantly started running around, moving branches, moved cables & motioned we were clear.  Farah didn't hesitate a stride!  Going right under the basket, over the cables & past the running trucks!  The crew asked about our "hurry" & gave us cheers of encouragement when I told them we were headed for the Skagit County line!  :-)

11:10 We see Butch waiting!  We've reached Getchell!

The ride was going so much better & faster than I'd imagined!  Farah again was so happy to see Dad waiting for us!  She actually was "expecting" him by this time!   Again, we didn't waste anytime, Farah ate, drank & kicked up a hind leg for a short rest.

11:25, we've crossed Getchell & headed for Armar

 This stretch too we've done & were both familiar with.  But - I've decided to take up Duck hunting!  Just as we trotted by a wetland, a pair had to fly up at us with wild quacking, flapping etc.  Enough to give us both a rush!

11:50 we trot into the Armar Trail-head!

 Here again, Butch was ahead of us & everything was ready for our break.  This was the longest break of our ride, we let Farah do some grazing & I ate.   Next...  was Arlington...  Which I knew would be the most challenging part of our quest.  We only had a mile of trail with shoulder before we came out onto the sidewalk just a block shy of the big traffic interchange at 67th & 172nd. 

12:24, we leave Armar, heading to Arlington

 Butch came up beside us on 67th, just as Farah & I approached the intersection. This was one of the longest hold-ups of the entire ride, I think the light must have cycled three times before we got the white hand & second counter to cross.  Farah was so uptight - she had to stop & take a dandelion with her :-)  People were rolling down their windows to talk to us.  Farah was constantly complimented;  "That's the prettiest horse!"  Followed closely by;  "What kind of horse is that?"  :-)  Once across, I mounted up & we started north down the sidewalk.  Butch got ahead of us, then pulled in where he could to be as close as possible.

12:50 & we're officially "in town"!

Now, Farah had no clue as to what on earth we were doing?  She'd never been there of course & there were manhole covers, signs, cars, noise etc.  No fun for either of us.  Butch driving by as he maneuvered was a real comfort to us both.  Thankfully, it was possible for us to jump up onto the railroad track berm & that got us a little further away from the traffic.  We dropped off the berm just before we had to cross the track & go under Hwy 9.  Once cars were stopped every direction - we crossed onto the welcome green grass along the trail as it winds through the side of downtown Arlington.  Here, we met two ladies who'd passed us out on the road & come into the park to find out what we were doing & wish us well!  Too fun!   It seemed to go really fast & we were crossing the last road to Haller Park!

1:23, down the road to Haller

This was another quick stop!  We were on the last leg of the ride & more than anxious to leave town behind!  Farah had a quick drink & couple gulps of her slop & we headed out!

1:41 We head across the trestle~

 Now we're rolling, Bryant just a couple miles ahead, one more crossing of Hwy 9 & on the last leg!

2:05 as we near the Bryant trail-head

Butch had pulled in & met us out on the trail, but walked us right up & past the Bryant store before sending us on our way north again!

2:08 we've crossed our LAST road!!!  Red Barn here we come!

The last section is just so beautiful, we heard the honk of the Bronco's horn as Butch drove north up Hwy 9, for the Nakashima Barn!  The horse path here though was the worst of the day, wet, slippery, sloppy in places & our speed went down accordingly.  In many places we just moved over to the blacktop to make any time at all.  Luck was with us & we only saw two bikes on the way.

2:41 - Galloping to our Finish!

 Even with the footing, we were moving right along & what a welcome site to see that big Red Barn & Butch out on the trial waiting for us!

We finish!  At the Nakashima Barn.

This is the current northern most end of the trail.  There is about one more mile that is unimproved & very pretty! In the news! Our Ride Stats~