A Northwest cycling tradition marked the beginning of the season on Sunday, as more than 3,500 people rode around Bainbridge Island for the 2009 installment of Chilly Hilly.
Though I wasn’t out getting wet with all the other hard-core folk out there, I was happy (and warm) keeping up via Cascade’s twitter feed and following the many photos.
And so we officially kick off this year’s line-up of Cascade’s events. Clip in, folks.

It was a smoothly run ride as usual. Nice of the good people of Bainbridge Island to tolerate being bike-swarmed for the day. Of course I don’t feel too bad considering we subsidize their ferry ride the other 364 days a year.
I thought getting sprinkled with holy water before the last hill was a nice touch. I’m not religious, but I’ll take being blessed over being cursed at any day.
From all reports, it was a beautiful ride this year. And I was so curious about the “holy water stop”. Thanks for sharing your experience. I do hope to be out there next year…for real this time.