Arrival Deception Pass, bumbling in dark
The east bound ferry made arrived in Anacortes at 1825. We stopped at safeway to get food for camping tonight but we had to hurry to reach Deception pass before nightfall. We were both aching, tired, and hungry. Many times i have fondly remembered my now sold recumbent's cruising comfort. We did make it as the sun was setting and took a few quick pictures. When we arrived at the state park around 2030 the office was open so we paid $14 for a biker campsite. It took us a while to find the place as we were getting lost in the dark but we made it and now we're cooking food. We will continue south tomorrow possibly be back on capitol hill tomorrow.
Labels: Bike Touring
English camp, Roche harbor, ferry
We checked out English camp occupying much of the northern part of San Juan, which garrisoned the British forces in their territorial dispute with the US in the so called 'pig war'. There are about 5 intact buildings and a good hike up Young Hill takes you to the British cemetery where there are 5 historic graves and a scenic lookout. Several of the graves refer to drowning accidents which I think means they died trying to flee a tough life in the early camp. After that we had lunch in the upscale Roche harbor with prices geared to tourists buying $1 million vacation homes. After that we rushed to town and Jen did some shopping at the lavender store and caught the 1700 ferry to Anacortes where we will head south toward Seattle through Whidbey island. Jen's plane is at roughly 1900 on Saturday. We hope to camp at Deception pass tonight.
Labels: Bike Touring
Riding north County park, Alpaca farm
A fox tried to steal our food last night at camp and made off with the shredded coconut but I have chase and got it back though there was a hole in the bag. The deer featured in the photo was quite tame. We missed the lavender farm yesterday because it was closed when we went by but we did get to see Krystal Acres alpaca farm. Those guys are so cute as you can see in the picture. There are many items for sale at the farm plus they have a store in Friday Harbor.
Labels: Bike Touring
Friday Harbor - checking out city before exploring San Juan
We passed the night uneventfully while stealth camping. This morning we've been checking out the actual town of Friday Harbor on San Juan island. We were thinking of going to Sidney BC but I think our plate is full since we haven't seen anything on San Juan yet and we're planning to cycle some on Whidbey island and see Deception Pass.
I stuffed myself with a 3 piece fish and chips, I can't recall the name. They were quite good but I feel gorged now since Jen got fries and didn't eat them I ate them all.
So we'll be checking out the rest of the island today like the Alpaca farm and Lavender farm, etc.
In comparison with Lopez, San Juan is much more built-up and touristy. Fortunately most of the tourists have gone since it is after labor day. Jen noted that there were more organic/healthy eating options in Lopez Village than here.
Labels: Bike Touring
Camping at San Juan county park
Jen got mad at me because I left her camera at the Friday Harbor library so she wasn't talking with me for much of the afternoon. Fortunately we spoke with the library staff and they have the camera so we can pick it up later. Having spent much of the day in Friday Harbor we didn't have that much time for cycling but we went to the American Camp historical site for the conflict with the British located on the south of the island. We rode around the coast on West Side road which offered a beautiful view of the Haro Strait and cliffs but we didn't see any whales. We are camping at San juan county park ($6 per cyclist) next to the water. The Ranger Eugene told me about the mad rush of tourists in the small park in July and August. There were kayaks everywhere in the tourist season like the invasion of Troy but now there is plenty of space.
Labels: Bike Touring
Friday Harbor (San Juan island)
Jen treated me to dinner at the excellent Golden Dragon thai restaurant in Friday Harbor($35 for 2, with tax and tip).
After dinner we were making our way out of Friday Harbor to San Juan county park at the other end of the island, when I spied an opening into a clearing off Beaverton Valley Drive. It didn't appear to encroach anyone's property so we decided to camp here.
Labels: Bike Touring
Morning in Lopez village 2
After angry clouds in the sky fortunately the weather cleared and warmed. The only settlement with services on Lopez Is. is the Village. It has some nice shops including organic food. Jen recommends Vortex juice bar. Allow several hours to see the shops. We had seen the major rural routes the previous day so we decided to take the 1550 ferry to Friday Harbor. Note that you pay only once at Anacortes for the ferry (about $15 with bikes) then you can travel at will for free within the us, excluding British Columbia.
Labels: Bike Touring
Morning in Lopez Village 1
It isn't raining as much as we thought and should clear up later in the week. Today we will explore Lopez Village and probably take the ferry to San Juan island.
Labels: Bike Touring
Camping @ Spencer's Pit
We're camping at Spencer's Pit ($14 hiker/biker). Jen took a wrong turn going into the campground and I didn't know where she was for more than a half hour. Fortunately we got the tent up before it started raining again.
Labels: Bike Touring
Rural lopez, rain
(photo: picking abundant blackberries on Lopez. Some locals say blackberries are fair game, but be wary of infringing on people's property all the same. One property owner seemed disgruntled that we were picking blackberries)
We're actually seeing most of the island in just one day; we won't get over to the SE corner of the island because we know a storm is coming.
The traffic is extremely sparse so usually we ride abreast, moving to single file for the rare passing of cars. Presumably there would be more traffic if we were here earlier in the season.
It started raining so we're hauling ass to get to Spencer Pit state park where we will camp tonight.
Labels: Bike Touring
Lopez Island: Shark Reef Bee Attack
Shark Reef is one of the natural attractions on Lopez, so named because of the sharks attracted by all the seals. We didn't see any Sharks but there were yapping seals in abundance. A 10-minute walk leads down to the water and then along the water to the rocks where the seals hang out.
Unfortunately, I must have angered some bees because I was stung 2 or 3 times on my ankles, which swelled a bit.
Labels: Bike Touring
Tour de Lopez
We decided to skip seeing Lopez village today and concentrate on touring the island itself, because of the storm forecast. Likely tomorrow (Sept 4) we will be seeing Lopez village and we might go to San Juan village; it makes more sense given our limited time to focus on seeing the cities when it is cold and rainy.
Labels: Bike Touring
Odlin Park camping
We're camping @ Odlin Park it is pretty nice ($10 for 2). Fortunately since we are here at the end of the season just about everybody has cleared out.
Labels: Bike Touring
Mt Vernon to San Juans
Today we took the Sound Transit 510 bus from Downtown Seattle to Everett then another to Smokey Point and then Stanwood. We had to take all these buses because the Everett to Mt Vernon commuter bus doesn't operate on Sunday. Now we're in Mt Vernon and we hope to make it to Anacortes ferry terminal.
Labels: Bike Touring
Signing off for now
I'm back in Seattle and I'll be staying here for a while getting my life in order. After that, I'm not sure if I'll remain here, meet Jen in Emeryville or what.
I'll be signing off this blog for now.
Labels: Bike Touring
Jueves 12/21; Centro de rehabilitacion de enfermos de alcoholismo y drogaddicion
Hector y otro hombre
Aviso contra alcoholismo
Carlos, el director
Labels: Bike Touring
Jueves 12/21; Bus full, hitching out of Ensenada
Labels: Bike Touring
Sat 12/09; Dinner at Newport Beach Gas station
We were getting hungry. I couldn't see a supermarket where Greg would be able to eat the macrobiotic dinner he packed, so we went to a gas station with built-in Subway restaurant. Jen and I split a veggie delite with avocado. There was no inside seating so we ate on the benches outside. When we left, it started raining.
Labels: Bike Touring
Sat 12/09; Ride on CA hwy 1 to Laguna Beach
The ride from Long Beach to Laguna Woods is very nice and pretty mellow; most of the time you are off the road on beach bike paths. This is the second time I have ridden this stretch; the first was 2 years ago riding from Aunt Lisa's then place in Long Beach to San Diego to start my southern tier ride across the country.
Labels: Bike Touring
PC09 (Tue 10/24) Santa Monica beach path
We're on the beach bike path in Santa Monica. It is cold and cloudy so we are putting clothes on. The pier is just up ahead. We will be staying at Gregory's (Magda's ex) on Wilshire Blvd in Koreatown tonight.
Labels: Bike Touring
