(Picture is at the incredible Deception Pass bridge -- keep reading to find out more).**Note: This post is taken right from my written journal, which is much briefer than what I usually write here. But it's 10:06 p.m., and I'm looking at a 5:20 a.m. wake-up call so my dad's old friend Janet can drive me to Coupville, here on Whidbey Island, from where I'll bike 5 miles to catch the 7:15 ferry over to Port Townsend...
Anyway, yeah, big day tomorrow. I anticipate riding over 60 miles and eventually catching the Bremarton ferry over to Seattle to spend a couple nights in the city. But let's not get ahead of ourselves -- as we all know, I could get hit by a bus and die on impact (my apologies for the vague "Happy Gilmore" reference).
Day 3...
Miles biked: 65 (115.8 total)
Roads taken: Grandview, Kickerville, Rainbow, Mountain View (became Main Street in Ferndale), Barret/Pacific Highway, W. Bakerview... in Bellingham: Maplewood, Northwest/Elm/Dupont/Prospect, Chestnut... bike path (recommended by bike store employee, Colin), Chuckanut (very hilly), Bow Hill, Bay View Edison, Padilla Bay Trail, Bay View Edison, 20 SR (highway), March Point, 20 SR (tiny, scary shoulders, but passed over the beautiful Deception Pass bridge), camp...
Places stopped: Bellingham Rite Aid (to buy cheap gorp and gummy bears!); Bellingham Library (to do my blogging); Bellingham bike store (to buy good sunglasses and get directions); Farm to Market Bakery in Edison (absolutely delectable ham sandwich with the works), Deception Pass state park (for the night).
Today was quite a trek. I started out at Birch Bay, climbed several hills and now find myself at the cold Deception Pass state park campground. They really make you earn the campsite, as I had to climb my biggest hill of a hilly day just to get here. I also went down a big hill, which will kill me in the morning.
Oh, well. As I was telling myself earlier, there are always gonna be tough times on trips like these. But usually they are rewarded with amazing views. Such was the case today when I climbed several hills to reach the Pass. There I went over a bridge that was just extraordinary.
It had to be a couple hundred feet tall and both sides looked out on huge bodies of water spanning the horizon. after biking it I also walked on the sidewalk by the railing (like all the driver tourists). Quite exciting.
After that I climbed a long, long 0.4 miles (by foot) to "Goose Rock," which was a nice, little summit overlooking the bays beneath. I actually considered going back to my bike, locking it up, and lugging up my gear to camp on top of the summit. But you never know what might happen in the middle of the night at a place with that sort of name. I also harbored lingering hope that I'd find a food joint before the campground and not have to eat PB&Js for a second night in a row (of course, my optimism was quickly doused).
The one problem I continued to have today was with my peddle clips. I continually struggled to get my right shoe out of the clip when approaching intersections. But, luckily, I avoided any big falls or catastrophes -- despite the dangerous, no-shoulder approach to the Pass on SR 20 -- and concluded a fairly long day on the bike by resting peacefully on a picnic bench by the water.
I then crawled into my tent, finished this entry and I was out.
I slept well, unlike the previous night, probably because I was layered up -- biking shirt, T-shirt, long-sleeves shirt, fleece, windbreaker, raincoat and a hat and wool socks.
Anyway, Thursday night -- tonight -- I'm staying in a comfy bed here at Janet's place, and Friday and Saturday I'll be in another comfy bed or couch in Seattle (Janet shares a place with others -- mostly young folk -- there). So no more camping for a couple nights.
But plenty of biking Friday.
Just remember: If you're ever in Edison, WA, don't miss the Farm to Market Bakery. Very delectable.
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