Post Treatment Tour D6 San Juan to Lopez

(Typical Lopez scenery)

Maps: 


Animated maps:


If yesterday was about deviating from the plan, today was about sticking to it. The plan was to ride the southern half of the island in time to catch the 11:20 ferry to Lopez. The afternoon would have me riding to Spencer Spit State Park then riding a loop around the island. 

The morning was foggy. Mist clung to my tent fly. Foghorns boomed off in the unseen distance. A few people were stirring but not my new friends. Despite the water covering surfaces it wasn't actually raining. I was able to break camp and make breakfast easily. The wet fly got strapped to my rear rack. Note to self: don't leave the seating pad on the bike. It's entire purpose is keeping your bum dry. While I was eating I heard Payam and Leslie talking and laughing in their tent and Ken pop his head out of his to check the weather. Soon everyone was out and about. I was able to say my goodbyes before I rode off. 

(This little guy/gal was sunning on the road. I moved him/her off to side)

The road outside the park wove up and down and left and right. I saw several small lizards sunning in the road. I moved them to the side. They barely moved. Were they still sluggish from the chill? I don't know what species they were. 

The road was mysterious in the dog. Soon the forest gave way to grass with small stands of pine. The sun occasionally tried to break through. The landscape looked like West Marin. The world was quiet except for a passing car now and then. 
(Misty road)

I was determined to ride all the way to Cattle Point at the southern end of the island. I was both curious and vainly striving to earn a purple line on RideWithGPS. I reached American Camp, but didn't visit having been there before. I thought it was at the end of the island but it isn't quite. I also rode past a couple beaches. Finally I reached a hill with a sign warning of a 10% downhill. Ouff! That would be a challenge on the way back up! I snapped a photo of a lonely lighthouse at the very tip of Cattle Point and zoomed down. 

(Look for the lighthouse)

I didn't stay long. I was surprised to see houses down here. I thought this was all part of the National Historical Park. I stopped at the shell of an old concrete building which turned out to be the powerhouse for the lighthouse when it needed one. I wish I'd taken a picture, but I was in ride mode and didn't think of it.

The climb up the hill was a grind, but with my granny gear I didn't have to push. It was a quick hour back to Friday Harbor. I made the ferry with a comfortable cushion. I didn't have quite enough time to grab an early lunch. I planned to get something on the ferry. I failed to remember the interisland doesn't have a galley. No worries. I made a lunch of snacks. I spent the trip munching goldfish and charging. 

We arrived on Lopez shortly after 1pm. It was still cloudy, but it seemed like it was clearing. Ken persuaded me to stay at Spencer Spit instead of Odlin County Park. He told me there was one walk in site on the beach. I high tailed it over to grab it. The plan was for me to snag it then alert Payam and Leslie who'd be arriving later. Alas, it was taken. Payam and Leslie opted for Odlin. 

The hiker/biker spots were in a pleasant clearing in the woods on top of the bluff overlooking the spit. Several parties arrived as I set up. It seemed popular with younger folk. One of the folk wandered over to ask to borrow a pump. Unfortunately, she had a schrader valve and my pump only had presta. Luckily her tire was just low not flat. I hope she got it fixed. I never found out. 

After setting up camp I biked out to ride the island under clearing skies. I passed an older guy kitted out on a downhill bike and wondered where he was going. My first stop was Barn Owl Bakery. I encountered their shortbread cookies on Shaw and knew I'd have to pop in. They are so groovy they grow their own grains. I got more cookies for Hisako and a focaccia for me. 
(The Barn Owl)

The riding was lovely. The landscape was pretty and rolling. Nothing was overly dramatic for a snapshot. The Island didn't have as many mega vacation houses like Orcas but I saw a Windermere office which is worrying. On this loop I made my only emergency trip into the woods. It wasn't an emergency, emergency, but I knew I'd have a much better time if I wasn't worrying about my bowels.
(Lopez scenery)

I ate my focaccia as second lunch on a pretty beach then headed south to Lopez Village. I arrived at 5:30 in time for first dinner. As I sadly noted the free showers at the park, I strode my stinky self into Haven, a fancy restaurant on the water. They seated me outside. But they gave me a great view! 
(Mocktail, literature, and the water)

By 6:30 after fettuccine I was ready to bike the mile and a half back to camp. I was in time to enjoy a trip to the spit. My GI system was a little perky, but I managed. A group of boaters was having a potluck at the shelter. Two cyclists identifiable by their panniers were eating dinner and playing cards. It was a lovely spot.
(Boats moored at Spencer Spit)

As dusk approached, I wandered back to camp after a full day. 
(Sunset over the Spencer Spit bluff)






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