Thought of the day…

Day 4: Sequim Bay State Park to Elwha River (57km)

Today was my favorite day to date! Although we woke up a bit grumpy (is this becoming habit for me?) because all our clothes were still damp from last night, we were soon on a wonderful bike trail that took us 42 km into Port Angeles. We didn’t see traffic all day!

To update you on my daily hunt for coffee, we’ve found some more success the last two days. Yesterday there was a coffee place right next to the campsite, and today we found the most amazing coffee shop in Sequim called Adagio Bean and Leaf. This is the type of coffee shop that you wished you had in your own town! Great service, great coffee, comfortable setting, and free WIFI:)

Anyways, back to biking:) it was another day that I was thankful for our Adventure Cycling Maps that brought us along the Olympic Discovery Trail for the majority of the day. We went across bridges and into Valleys. The contours of the path are built for biking. Around 4pm, strolled into our RV Park (living it up!), with WiFi, laundry, and warm showers. This feels like a five star hotel after 2 wet days. We spread all our stuff out to dry it out, and now we’re settling in for some burritos and an early night. Tomorrow’s a long day! Over 100km with some big hills, I need my beauty sleep:)

Day 3: Deception Pass State Park – Sequim Bay State Park 87 Km

Today seemed like a very long and very slow ride. Perhaps it was due to the infamous, ‘Third Day Blues’ but more likely it was the rain. It rained on and off the whole day, and the worst of the rain came in the last 3 hours of the ride.

The ride from Deception Pass to the ferry was pleasant we encountered a couple of small steep hills but nothing more than that. The most distressing time of this part of the ride didn’t actually involve our bikes. Just after we turn off Hwy 20 onto West Beach Road to enjoy a very scenic ride along the west coast of Whitby Island, the sky erupted. Seriously, I thought I had been transported to Afghanistan. Planes, or should I say a whole base worth of planes, took off from the near by naval base. The noise was so loud I could feel it travel through my entire body. I can only assume that for miles around the base, housing must be free because nobody in their right mind would buy a house anywhere close to the base. Side note, officially, we have seen more wildlife in the first three days of this trip than in the first three weeks of our Alaska trip. Suzanne eyed a doe with two beautifully spotted fawns. Once they saw us they were happy to continue to munch on grass by the side if the road, thus enabling us to get some great pics.
Insert pic of deer

The ferry ride from Coupeville to Port Townsend was short, just 25 minutes. We were hoping for an hour or two at the least. Down time, more specifically time away from the saddle, is always welcomed on a long bike trip. The crossing was uneventful other that the fact we had to queue with the cars to get tickets which was frustrating, but the price we paid was great. $8 for two people and two bikes. I think it would have been $800 on BC Ferries.

We stopped for lunch and to pick up groceries in Port Townsend and then headed for the campsite. As soon as we left, the heavens opened… The next next 35 Km were wet and difficult with several longer hills and certainly our most aggressive terrain to date. We rolled into late after 5:30pm and quickly set up our tent during a brief let up in the weather. Luckily the campsite had a large covered area to cook under, and double as a laundromat.

We’re both hoping for a dryer day tomorrow because our rain gear will definitely not be dry for tomorrow and worst thing in the world, when you are biking, is to have to put on wet gear in the morning.

It’s already 8:51pm I see, so there shall be no Modern Family tonight. Instead I’ll continue with my book. I’m reading about the life and times of Sir Alex Ferguson, and it is monumental!

Thanks

Christopher

Day 2: Larrabee State Park to Deceptions Pass (67km)

After waking up late, and listening to Christopher’s heroic tale of how he saved our lives (but not our bagels:) from the vicious raccoons, we packed up camp and headed off. I had high hopes of an early coffee break to get the day started. Just past our camp site, I could see off in the distance a cute little cafe. I got my hopes up as I climbed the last hill to reach the cafe, and, to my disbelief, it was all boarded up! Being a good soldier, I put on a big smile and pretended that it was no big deal. The next 15km were filled with scenic views of boarded up coffee shops. I thought to myself, “where the heck am I? Alaska?” After 18kms, we finally found a cute little cafe where we stroll in for coffee, only to have the waitress inform me of my flat tire, no wonder the morning felt so tough!!

With caffeine flowing through my veins and an inflated tire, I knew the rest of the day could cause me no more grief!

Today was a perfect example of why I LOVE our Adventure Cycling Maps. If you’re considering doing any type of touring, don’t leave home without these. Not only do they show you all the cheap biker/hiker campsites, other accommodations, bike shops, and service stops, but they also take you off the main route as often as possible. As one who hates large RV’s and semi’s spitting up dirt and mud into my face as they pass, this is a key reason I love the maps. The rest of the day took us along peaceful ocean trails, and a beautiful bike bridge and trail that brought us into Anacortes. It was what great bike touring is all about! My only wish, is that they’d extend these touring maps to include more Canadian tours.

I was really excited to stroll into Deception Pass because I have fond memories of camping there as a child. After crossing the infamous Deceptions Pass Bridge, we found our campsite, sitting proudly on top of a large hill (oh, the joys of bike touring!). Another fabulous day in the saddle!

- SBartel

Day 1: Chilliwack BC – Larrabee State Park, Washington USA 95 Km

Day one was a beautiful ride. We made great time to the boarder and experienced some excellent riding conditions through Bellingham. Our stops in Bellingham didn’t seem to slow us down. We picked up an SD card reader attachment for the iPad from Best Buy. This allows us to import pictures and video from our camera to the IPad. Along with the iPad attachment, and on the advice of a Telus rep we were supposed to purchase a month data plan from a cellular supplier in the US, Verizon or AT&T, but as it turns out it’s not possible. In other words we will only be able to blog when in wireless service areas. Unlike Northern BC, it shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience.

Dinner last night was gourmet compared with our nights on the way to Alaska. We were able to indulge in fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. What a treat!

Suzanne slept really well last night. So much so that after hitting her on the head several times in the early hours if the morning, while searching for the headlamp, I still didn’t wake her up. You might think that I was searching for the headlamp at 2am because I needed it to go to the bathroom, but you’d be wrong. Something more sinister woke from my slumber. In the middle of the night I heard growling coming from the area close the bicycles. Not the growling you associate with a domesticated dog, more like the growling you associate with a wild animal… Luckily, it wasn’t a bear. Once I determined it wasn’t a bear, I found two raccoons feasting on the our next days breakfast. It doesn’t take long for two raccoons to eat six wholewheat bagels, let me tell you. Not only that but the little toe rags eat through one of my expensive dry bags. We now need a large dry bag and a wind protector for the stove. Thank goodness this is the US and not Northern BC!

For those who have subscribed thanks for following along.

Christopher