Gig Harbor Washington to Bar Harbor Maine 2001

File it under "It Seemed Like a Good Idea At The Time."

I woke up about 5am and got up about 6. The Mikes were up soon after. We each had our favorite, nearly sacred, cereal for breakfast. Garcia had his frosted flakes, which was nearly frosted powder after a day in the BOB. Mike had his special blend of Raisin Bran and Grape Nuts. I had my great granola.

We knew it was going to be a long day, so before we went to bed we decided to leave by 6:30. We left at 8:00. The Hood Canal Bridge wasn't as bad as I expected. Rush hour traffic was over and the remaining cars were polite. The grated bridge deck and train-track like gaps didn't present any problems. I knew the hill on the first backroad after the bridge would be tough, but we handled it fine. I think we all felt a little stiff from the day before and we were slow to warm up and a little tired and sore all day.

It was a cloudy day, just like the campground host had promised, but beautiful nevertheless. Like all roads along the water, they were roller coasters. Still, they were by the water and when we didn't have water views, we had wildflowers and birds. It was a very pretty 32 mile roller coaster to Port Townsend.

Those long lonely days on the road

Gridley was wishing the ferry ride were longer than 30 minutes so he could nap. We were all grateful for the break.

The ride was similar on Whidbey Island but the rises and falls of the roller coaster were longer. We stopped for some really good sandwiches at Coupeville Deli. We'd already stopped for coffee, tea and a bagel in Port Hadlock and made several food related roadside stops.

I kept threatening them with the dreaded Monkey Hill Road. When it finally came, it was only a little longer and steeper than anything else we'd ridden today. We tackled it admirably. As Gridley put it, "We spanked the Monkey Hill Road". Anything was a welcome break from highway traffic. We stopped at a tiny grocery before Deception Pass for dinner ingredients and managed to come up with a box of stroganoff to which we would add smoked salmon instead of hamburger. Deception Pass wasn't too bad. The narrow sidewalk was blocked off so we had to ride in the road. We blocked endless Friday afternoon commuters and weekend escapees. They seemed used to it except for the guy a couple of miles later who whizzed by Garcia so close that he clipped his elbow. Damn close call.

We found the cutoff to Anacortes and Washington Park, instead of taking the main route. The probable campground on the main route would have been several miles closer and a better starting point for the next day's ride. But I love Washington State Park and I wanted to show it off. Well, the traffic was better on our route, but the roller coaster was merciless. Garcia's derailleur had been acting up and now was totally screwed up. It locked up so bad one time that he fell. He was pretty pissed at this point. Gridley adjusted his derailleurs and we made him wear his handlebar bag on his back since it seemed to be interfering with the cables. After a few more adjustments we returned to climbing hills. We flagged a van at a turnoff to make sure which way to go and I eventually recognized some landmarks from Lisa's and my ride there 5 years ago. I totally bonked a couple miles from the end and had to beg part of Gridley's chocolate bar and inhale a few more inches from the enormous bag of kettle corn I'd gotten yesterday in Silverdale.

As we turned onto the final approach to the campground, at about 8:00, it began to sprinkle hard. By the time we got here it was full bore raining. We took the first empty campsite we found and scrambled to get our tents set up and our gear covered. The rain let up long enough for us to make dinner. I thought the smoked salmon stroganoff was excellent. I probably would have been happy with moose turd stroganoff, but I really think it was good. I was freezing as I made some tea and waited for my turn in the shower.

Washington Park

The shower was hot and heavenly, inside. The shower outdoors was cold and getting stronger. The Mikes were in their tents when I got back to camp and I climbed in too. So much for showing off the beautiful park. I kind of enjoy the raindrops on the tent and the foghorn in the distance, but the occasional drip in my face has me worried. Wish I'd sealed the seams.

Stats: elevation gain 5000 ft, riding time 6:50, average 10.1 mph, max 41.1 mph, mileage 68.8

Cumulative: elevation gain 8500 ft, riding time 11:36, mileage 118.7