Month: July 2021

Island life

  • Rode to Anacortes over awesome bike bridge and through boat graveyard
  • Jim got new tent stakes at Ace – it truly is The Place
  • Second breakfast and future lunch at delicious deli
  • Ferry time!
    • Sundeck and galley were closed due to cobid
    • Saw an otter 🦦
  • Orcas island!
    • Disembarked ferry to be met with Uff-Da Hill.
    • Maps to star’s homes are available
    • Orcas island didn’t live up to reputation of being tranquil and serene – overrun by rich boomers, much traffic. Also, dang those hills were steep
    • Tailwind for first half of ride, headwind for second
    • Stopped in Eastport (hey look, a generic touristy Irish-themed pub) . Entertainment was provided by a ill-fated sailboat being buffeted against shoreline in heavy winds – sheriff got involved
    • Arrived at Moran state park – hike/bike site was available, but they make you work for it. Only beautiful people get convenient access to pristine lake/showers/bathrooms.

Land ho!

  • Rolled out of campsite
  • Waited too long in boogie bakery line, only for Zach’s dream of savory scone being gobbled up by the person in front of us – Jim waited patiently
  • Took slight detour to avoid main road traffic. Also, return trip was easier
  • Had to wait 1.5 hours for return ferry to mainland. Entertainment was provided man with acute seasickness which required EMT intervention
  • Boarding of ferry involved rare trans-deck bike ride
  • Ferry trip featured ad-hoc D&D session ending in cliffhanger – Jim waited patiently
  • Deception pass bridge crossing was less spectacular due to narrow sidewalk + heavy traffic
  • Arrived at deception pass state park – once again, hike/bike sites were inconveniently placed on a single-track trail 1/2 mile from bathroom
  • Debated pros/cons of four six-minute showers vs one 24-minute group shower
  • Entertainment was provided by fully-armed navy jets buzzing the campground
  • Nick assisted lost child – another theme that would continue in Washington state parks

And then the were two

  • Breakfast at Frank’s Place – we think Frank may have been in the military
  • Got to port Townsend ferry where Nick and Jim had to split off – they had a 50+ mile journey to get to Seattle
  • Bid farewell to our brethren – many tears were shed – we shall meet again in Milvia
  • Got to port Townsend – hey look a brewery!
  • After beers and tasty tacos, we rode to the Olympic Discovery Trail
  • Just before trail entrance, I saw Green New Deal bus that I had seen in desert outside of Taos, NM during BikeBums 2020. Had another rambling chat with occupant and his dog
  • Trail out of Port Townsend was fantastic – mix of pavement and smooth gravel
  • Met two women touring from San Diego – they had even more crap strapped to their bikes than I did
  • Got supplies at S’Klallum fancy gas station/grocery store with bumping soundtrack
  • Rode into Sequim state park campground late, met Mer and friend. Mer was two days away from completing cross-country ride from Baltimore, 60% on rail trails