Friday, June 29
Tom and Judy Spear are coming in Thursday night, and Jeff Bauer, Jill Flowers, Cathie Allanson, and Steve and Joyce Grizzle arrive Friday morning. After we retrieve the van that we will be using during the week, we will assemble and tweak bikes at our house. If we can, we'll get in a ride to make sure everything works, but mostly we'll be just doing last-minute stuff.A Note About the Van: The last time that I did this route (more or less), I toted my stuff and used panniers; this time, however, we're going more plush by having a minivan with us to carry everyone's bags and offer support on the road. We will share the driving, so at least one day each of us will be in charge of the van. The driver will not really follow the group, but will leap-frogging to previously designated locations where he/she can temporarily unload his/her bike and backtrack the route to get in on some of the fun.
Saturday, June 30
Today we ride through Seattle to Everett, Washington, mostly on some of the multi-use trails that wend their way throughout the city. Highlights include:
- The Elliott Bay Trail, with goes past the piers downtown before passing into a park at the point
- The Ballard Locks (also known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks), which enables boats to go from Puget Sound into Lake Washington and Lake Union (20 feet above sea level)
- The Burke-Gilman Trail, Shilsole Marina, and Golden Gardens Park
- A few miles of northern Seattle neighborhoods before getting on the Interurban Trail, which takes us to the edge of Everett
Sunday, July 1
Today is the longest day, with lots of bumps early before we get on flatter calm roads closer to the coast. We're staying in Bellingham tonight. Highlights include:
- Head east over I-5 and the river via roads that look like they should be busy but supposedly are not thanks to bike lanes and cycling-specific accommodations
- Climb
- Ride around Lake Stevens before getting on the Centennial Trail
- After 20 miles of rails-to-trails, head northwest on country roads to Conway to meet the van and maybe get lunch
- Roll through flat coastal country to Edison (nice bakery there)
- Take Chuckanut Drive (which is lumpy) almost all the way into Bellingham
Monday, July 2
Today we leave the country, unless Canada has finally given up on us beforehand and closes the border. They could probably get Mexico to pay for a wall.
Most of today's route uses the Adventure Cycling route that I took four years ago. Highlights include:
- Head out of Bellingham along I-5 via an access road
- Beyond Ferndale, head into rolling farm country all the way up to Blaine
- Cross the border at Blaine
- Get away from traffic by climbing a long hill followed by a long descent into another valley full of farms
- Passing through neighborhoods in the suburbs of Surrey and Richmond via mostly quiet roads, bike lanes, and multi-use trails
- Cross the Fraser River and enjoy Vancouver's architecture, people, and wonderful cycling
Tuesday, July 3
There are no planned rides today, but I will probably noodle around Vancouver some. Maybe we will drive somewhere.
Wednesday, July 4
We celebrate Independence Day by returning to the good ole' U.S. of A., mostly retracing our route from Tuesday. Maybe we will stop at one of the Tim Horton's on the way out of town (I've marked two). Tonight, we will be back in Bellingham, but on the north side of town for a change of pace. There will probably be fireworks downtown.
Thursday, July 5
We will again retrace our route today, but just for the first 20 miles to Edison (did I mention the bakery?). Then we divert so we can go to Orcas Island. Highlights include
- A super-flat ride along the coast on mostly quiet roads to Anacortes
- A boat ride from Anacortes to Orcas Island (hopefully the 3:45 sailing, since the next boat doesn't get us to the island until 8:25 and one hour of daylight may not be enough for the last 14 miles)
- A very hilly ride around Orcas Island to the Rosario Resort (dropping Jeff off in Eastsound)
Friday, July 6
Since I plan to drive today, in the morning I will go out early to climb Mount Constitution. Then I will follow everyone for 50 miles of cycling and 25 miles of ferrying to Port Townsend. Highlights:
- Second breakfast (and picking up Jeff) in Eastsound
- Another boat ride (probably the 12:25 sailing, getting us to Anacortes about 1 pm)
- If we don't eat on the ferry, lunch in Anacortes
- A lumpy ride along the coast to Deception Pass
- Ault Field - last time I was there, the F-16s were doing deafening touch-and-gos
- An even-more-lumpy ride along the coast down to Coupeville (for second lunch)
- Another boat ride to Port Townsend, from which we could then just walk to our hotels (if we catch one of the last ferries)
Saturday, July 7
- Very rural riding early, passing through vacation/retirement communities in Port Hadlock-Irondale and Port Ludlow
- Crossing the Hood Canal Bridge, followed by more rural roads as we enter Silverdale
- A little more traffic as we go into Bremerton
- Another ferry ride into downtown Seattle
- Back up to West Seattle
My plan is to post a blog about the ride every day, so stay tuned.
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