Skagit Spring Classic 2025
A Ride, A Camp, and a Cookie (or Three)
One of my favorite rides each year is the Skagit Spring Classic, hosted by the Skagit Bicycle Club. Like in years past, I camped the night before at Bayview State Park, just a few miles from the event start. I’d reserved the same campsite as last year—strategically chosen for its proximity to the restroom. But when I arrived, I discovered that restroom had been torn down and was being rebuilt. That meant a much longer walk to the other facilities… a real pain in the butt when you have to get up in the middle of the night to pee!
After setting up camp, I went out for a warm-up ride. Just like last year, I started with the Padilla Bay Trail—a peaceful stretch of gravel—then looped back via the paved road. I rode past the state park for a few miles before turning back. A mile or so from camp, I stumbled upon the Padilla Bay Aquarium, which was open. I stopped in for a look, and though it was small, it was quite lovely. If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend a visit.
Back at camp, I refueled with a quick bite: ham and cheese baguette, olives, and strawberries. Then I headed to the school to drop off my three dozen homemade cookies and see if they needed help sorting the rest. The cookie table is one of the highlights of the Skagit Spring Classic—riders genuinely look forward to the wide variety of homemade treats.
The club had ordered pizzas for the volunteers, and I stayed for a slice to socialize with fellow members before heading back to camp.
Ride Day
The next morning, I spotted a truly unusual bike at the start line—a recumbent with a fiberglass frame built around it, making it look like a miniature race car zooming down the road. It was colder than last year, and I was riding solo this time since my friend Donna couldn’t join me. Still, the route was nearly as lovely as ever.
Unfortunately, a massive rock slide had closed Chuckanut Drive, one of my favorite stretches of the ride. The detour was fine, but I missed the scenic beauty and winding charm of that section.
After the ride, my stomach wasn’t feeling great, so I couldn’t really indulge in the traditional spaghetti feed. I didn’t even want the ice cream that came with it—and that’s saying something!
