August 7 Crossing America

Orcas Island – Port Townsend, biking distance 48 miles.
Total distance traveled through today 3,994 miles, on my 3,328 of them.

It’s late when I posted this journal entry, I put all the pictures from our island hopping in August 6th entry.
Our plan of attack for Orcas Island we’d drive to the top of Mt. Constitution morning and then ride down it, saving a couple of hours climbing this 2,400 foot high steep monster.  The view from the top of Mt Constitution is fantastic in all directions we even could see Vancouver Island, Canada quite clearly.  While in the opposite direction there was a huge cloud cover hovering just above the water
and well below our vantage point.
After taking a few pictures Larry and I put our plan into motion.  First, I rode my S-Works down to the base of the mountain about 4 ½ miles where Larry was waiting for me.  Then I drove Larry back to the top and he rode down.  My ride down was much slower than  Larry’s as he clocked over 40 mph on the run while I did a mere 33
mph.  Must be an age thing? While I love the thrill of a fast down hill ride this mountain was steep with many sharp switchbacks and blind curves.  Plus on the way up saw a dozen or more deer along the  roadway.  My decision to ride this mountain slow was confirmed as I did have a close encounter near the top with a motorcyclists on a café style racer who came zooming around one of those blind curves.  He was over the center line while I was near the center line myself.  We passed within inches of each other.  Thank you God, for that  Guardian Angel you’ve sent to protect me.

Once we completed the downhill run, Larry drove to Eastsound where we would have a pancake breakfast thanks to the local fire department having a fund raiser there.  During breakfast we sat next to Harvey, a local who shared with us how best to make our ferry connection from Coupeville to Port Townsend, after we completed our hop to Lopez Island.  His shortcut from ferry landing to ferry
landing paid off as we barely made it in time to catch the last ferry crossing of the day.  Harvey you’re a good man, thank you for the invaluable information and great conversation.  After filling up on pancakes, eggs, sausage links, milk and coffee I rode my S-Works the remaining 11 miles to the ferry dock.
Lopez Island the third island on this whirlwind tour of the San Juan Island chain was the most difficult for me to ride as it had many hills to climb.  The lay of the land was very similar to riding in the Ozarks, you ride up one hill go down and then right back up another hill with no time to fully recover between attacking each hill.  As on San Juan Island most of the roads on this Island were inland.  I did make a ¼
mile detour to stop at Sharks Reef to see if I could see some Orcas or sea lions.  The walk from the road down to Haro Strait was about a mile, first through a lush rain forest and then onto a bluff overlooking the water.  Glad I made this detour and walk as it was beautiful and peaceful magnificence of Mother Nature.  Gene M. this would be a great place to come for solitude and writing sermons. Back on the road I hooked up with Larry at Lopez Village.  We were going to have dinner here but due to time constraint to me being able to ride the remaining 5 miles back to the ferry dock I decided we needed to keep going.  Brain fart on my part as I was thinking it was 9 miles.  Oh well, I can afford to skip a meal.
Thanks to Larry once again sacrificing being able to ride all of Lopez Island we were the 17^th vehicle in line for the last ferry to Anacortes.  Again sorry you had to give up riding for my benefit but you are greatly appreciated for it.   Once we arrived in Anacortes we drove non-stop to Coupville arriving 20 minutes before the ferry was to depart.   Thank you again Harvey as we would not have made it without your giving us the shortcut route.  The ferry landed in Port Townsend at 10:00 PM.  Thankfully we had phoned ahead and made arrangements for me to stay at the Olympic Hostel International this night and caretaker Christopher said he would stay after regular hours for me.  The Hostel had dormitory style sleeping with about a dozen bunks in the male dorm.  There were only two guys in the  dorm, a couple Canadians on a two day bicycle loop ride and myself.  This is the third hostel I’ve stayed in on this adventure and all of  them have been clean, comfortable and affordable.  I think I was asleep soon as my head hit the pillow.  Sorry Larry had about a 3 hour drive after dropping me off, which would put him home about one in the morning and he had to get to go to work.   You are a good friend Larry and I appreciate the sacrifices you made on my behalf this weekend.

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