The trail system in Port Gamble was such a hit last time so we rode there again. This time we started at the small park in town and incorporated some different trails. The system is very well laid out so you can plan short loops or longer rides and even has a bike park where you can climb up and session trails.
The Hood is a downhill only trail that is like a rollercoaster. It bobs and weaves through dips, berms and turns with fireweed covering the hillside. It looks like it was logged relatively recently and that’s how this area changes and grows. Another hit was Weekend at Bermies Trail. This trail features a lot of berms and fun downhill flow. In between all the riding I stopped to eat wild blackberries and raspberries growing EVERYWHERE!
After our ride we walked around the tiny downtown of Port Gamble. The highlight was stumbling across the Kitsap County Dahlia Society public garden. Dahlia’s were one of my grandmothers’ favorite flowers. This garden was IMPRESSIVE with over 50 varieties.
Some fun facts I learned: Dahlias are named after 18th-century Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. He actually categorized dahlias as a vegetable because of their edible tubers. The tubers are said to taste like a mix between potatoes and radishes. Dahlia is the national flower of Mexico because the plant was first recorded in the country in 1615. The first tubers were sent over to Europe by Spanish settlers in Mexico. Before insulin, the tubers of dahlias were used to balance blood sugar due to their high fructose content. The petals were used to treat dry skin, infections, rashes, and insect bites.
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