Friday 3 July - Sunday 5 July

Friday 3 July

I have arrived in Blaine, WA. I will be storing my truck and trailer here until the end of this bicycling adventure. Steve Watts from Oregon City, OR came up to ride with me for a couple of days.  

Today we rode to the International Peace Arch, which is located at the U.S. / Canadian boarder. We took a round about way, which included a small ferry ride. A short distance from the Arch we stopped for lunch at a red caboose restaurant. A ferry ride back across the inlet and an easy ride back to the trailer

getting ready

small ferry. See the two people standing on the back

At the International Peace Arch

lunch stop

 Saturday 4 July

Early rise to clean the trailer, last minute email check, load the bike and head out. Steve and I headed down the road at 6:30. Steve had written down directions for todays ride which we followed. I hade also created a route with an internet program and downloaded to my Garmin. The two were very similar. We followed Steve's directions, the Garmin saved us where a street sign was missing. We stopped in Birch Bay for breakfast. The traffic was light so no issues there.  We stopped several places along the way for pictures. When we arrived in Bellingham, Steve suggested that we stop at a farmers market which was a great idea. We bought blueberries, hazelnuts,  and honey sticks.  A great snack.

about 1/4 mile from the start

my riding partner Steve 

we found the HMS Minnow

We traveled through some heavily populated areas

snack at a farmers market

We set up camp in the Bay View State Campground. They had a very nice area for hiker-biker. A campground area set aside for people arriving by walking or biking. 

Sunday 5 July

Steve and I loaded up our bikesand headed out. A 1/2 mile down the road Steve turned left and headed for the train station in Mt Vernon and I headed on. It was a great start having a cycling buddy help get me started.  The ride today had several more hills than yesterday and some very steep hills. I found doing 8% hills slow but do able, 10%  lot of work and12% or more I'm walking. Today Iwalked parts of 3 hills.

getting ready to leave the campground

rolling hills 

lots of water views

very fast tidal flow in Deception pass 

Oyster farming in the tidal flats 

I made it about 3/4 of the way up this hill before I had to walk. I got off the bile at 12% grade an it got steeper. 

I took a ferry ride from Coupeville to Port Townsend

Port Townsend

I'm staying the night in a B&B called Blue Gull B&B in Port Townsend.