I am the Weakest Link

As a fall chill begins to hit the air, and the September Labour Day long weekend approaches, I find myself reflecting on the summer.  The days have gone all too quickly, with so many trips and adventures still on the wish list!  This has been a monumental summer for us in many ways.  We have watched our “flock of baby birds” with awe, pride and sometimes a sense of terror and foreboding as they have embarked on their own adventures.

Family Kayak Trip - Sechelt 

It seems like yesterday we were packing diapers, soothers, stuffies and SNACKS into our back packs – (essential survival items for outdoor travel with toddlers).   Now, we find ourselves anxiously awaiting trip reports and news from our adult children as they cycle to Mexico, paddle the waters of BC and guide in the unpredictable waters of the Hecate Strait, off Haida Gwaii.

Bunny Boyz arrive at the border to Mexico

Adam leads a Ridge Wilderness Group in a Moving Water Canoe Course

Emma strolls the beach during a Moresby Explorers Tour

Rob and I feel such a sense of pride as we watch Ian, Adam and Emma embrace the outdoors and challenge themselves to take risks and seek adventure.  However, it has become abundantly clear that I am now the weakest link.  In all honesty, I have probably been the weakest link for quite a long time, but it was this summer that it became obvious - even to me!  I began to notice everyone asking if I was all right, if I needed help.  While I am comforted by the fact that my family cares about me, it is quite unsettling to realize that I am the one that is slowing the pace of the group, and the one that the group worries about most.

Our style of out tripping has definitely evolved from those early years.  We are no longer about the speeds and distance or the weight of the pack.  And yes, it is a little harder to roll out of that sleeping bag on a cold and rainy morning, but at the risk of sounding cliché, we are taking time to smell the roses.  So, as we begin to plan our next trip, we may shorten our mileage, walk a few hills and accept help when offered. 

San Juan Islands

Rob sets up camp

YES - I am the Weakest Link….. and I think I love my new role!  Now, could someone please help me with this heavy pack?

I am the Weakest Link

Cross Border Shopping

On the weekends, the border beckons many a Canadian shopper looking for great deals down "south."  I must confess, we take a sick pleasure in doing our cross border shopping by bicycle, although the size of our panniers does severely limit the shopping experience.  None the less, it is a cheap thrill to cycle past those long weekend lineups of weary shoppers idling in their cars.

This trip we decided to venture across the line in search of Tillamook cheese.  Yes - we are the cliche.  Canadians who cross the line for cheese.  I have stopped being embarrassed by the "cheese head" label, and have instead proudly embraced the name.  Years ago, on a family camping trip to Oregon we stumbled upon the Tillamook Cheese Factory and have been faithful connoisseurs ever since.  The Cheese Factory is an award -winning farmer-owned dairy co-op based in Tillamook, Oregon and the cheese is fantastic....not to mention the ice cream!

Improved bike lane on 20th Ave. in Surrey, BC

Our route took us along Zero Avenue on the Canadian side of the border.  Although, quite hilly, the route is peaceful and scenic.  As you cycle along the border, you pass large estate homes and farmland.

Border marker on zero avenue

Welcome to Washington - Official Signage

We followed Zero Avenue to the border crossing at Highway 13 near Aldergrove.  The Custom's Officer was friendly and teased us as we produced our Nexus cards.  He seemed to enjoy the irony of cyclists using Nexus cards to speed up the entry process to the United States.

Welcome to Washington - Unofficial Signage

For those who may miss the Welcome to Washington State sign, the sight of the Marijuana Tour Limo provides a clue that you have entered Washington State, where pot has been legalized.

Dairy farms line the road

The return trip on the US side of the border is a little less hilly.  Once again, farms line the road and you begin to feel miles and miles away from the big city.  Today we enjoyed a quiet ride.  Only the odd cow seemed remotely interested in our presence.

Prior to heading home, we stopped in Blaine to take in the view of the harbour and of course, pick up our cheese!  We proudly purchased 7.5 pounds - yes pounds - of Tillamook Cheese.  I tried to put it all in Rob's panniers when he wasn't looking, but unfortunately, he seemed to read my mind and we ended up sharing the load.

Viewpoint of Harbour - Blaine, WA

Border traffic was very heavy by the time we were ready to return to Canada.  Amid the good natured catcalls and folks taking our pictures we made our way to the front of the line.  Quite a testimonial to the benefits of active transportation!

LOVE the lineups - when on a bike

As we approached the Douglas Border crossing we hopped off our bikes in order to enjoy Peace Arch Provincial Park.  This 9 hectare park straddles the border and is a beautiful, well maintained park space.  The Peace Arch Monument serves as a landmark and symbol commemorating the lasting peace between Canada and the United States.  The arch is engraved with "Children of a Common Mother" on one side and "Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity" on the other side - powerful messages.

In the summer months, the park is full of tourists and the Arch is a popular gathering place for folk from all around the world.

Peace Arch Monument in the background

What traffic?

Welcome to BC - Visitor Centre

Giggle of the day:

The ride along 0 Avenue features a series of hill climbs.  You will often see road cyclists using the loop for training as this route is generally free of traffic and the rolling hills are perfect for providing that little extra challenge. Now, I must confess I am not the fastest rider even on flat terrain, with the wind at my back, but I do try my best.  Today was no different.  I took a look at the hill, dug-in and worked hard on keeping a steady cadence as I began to climb.  I was feeling quite proud of my efforts until I came up to a radar trap.  The policemen were happy to inform me that I was doing a nice, comfortable leisurely 17 mph.  They snickered a little at the word "leisurely."  I waved and tried to smile as I grunted and groaned my way past them.  And, yes, Rob was quite a distance ahead....his mashing technique does seem to be effective on those hills!  I did not ask what he was clocked at!  Sometimes, it is just better not to know.

Map and Route Tips:

On the return to Canada there is a special entrance for bikes, and if you have a Nexus card, you will fly through the lineup.

The shoulders on this route are very narrow or non-existent, so cyclists should be comfortable riding in traffic.  Not a good route for families.

Urban Mushing and Steelhead Fishin"

Urban Mushers and determined Fishers were the highlights of this ride along the Vedder river dyke trails.  Our day began at the Mckay Creek Trail head, part of the Trans Canada Trail.

Trans Canada Trail marker points the way

As we were unloading our bikes and getting ready to hit the trail, we were greeted in the parking lot by Kathy, an Urban Musher.  Intrigued we delayed our start to chat with her.  We learned all about this dry land, dog-powered sport called Urban Mushing.  Her dogs were more than happy to give us a demo and before we knew it they were harnessed up and ready to pull.  Kathy and her team were busy training for the upcoming Iron Paws event.  I must confess, Iron Paws brought a smile to my face.  As we bid farewell, it struck me yet again that there are countless ways for people and pets to get outside and play!

Urban Musher and her dog team

We planned our route for the day to take us along the dyke trails on the both the north and south side of the Vedder river and Vedder canal.  This loop was scenic, flat and fascinating!

View of the Vedder Canal

We departed the parking lot and as we pedaled we could hear distant rumblings.  At first we thought there must be blasting going on in the area but soon we discovered we were nearing the Abbotsford Fish and Game Club.  Judging by the noise, it was clearly a busy day on the range!

Dark Sky Park courtesy of the Fraser Valley Astronomers Society

After cycling past McDonald park, we passed by an Astronomy Viewing Area, and joked about the "mini Stonehenge" in the background.  We later discovered that McDonald Park is officially designated a dark sky park with the hopes of offering views of the Night sky, minus light pollution, for many years to come.  The Fraser Valley Astronomers Society host educational programs and events at the park throughout the year.

Vedder South Dyke Trail marker

The trail was very well marked, easy to follow and yes - FLAT!

Heavily treed area of the trail

Although the trail was on a dyke and flat, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety.  From open farmland to tight, twisting turns through forested areas, the trail was an interesting ride....and did I mention FLAT?

Snow capped mountains and cherry blossoms mark an early spring

River view

Scenic viewpoint along the dyke trail

It was quite a busy day on both the trail and on the river.  At every turn we stumbled upon another fisher in search of Steelhead trout. 

The Steelhead seem to be facing big odds 

Log Jams - Paddlers beware!

During a quick lunch break we had the pleasure of meeting Dave.  Clearly, Dave had spent many an hour on the river.  He shared stories of his big catches and of course the one that got away.  He did manage to catch a record breaking 41 pound Steelhead earlier this year and delighted us with pictures of the catch.  He recommended Steelybeads as the bait of choice and Fishbum as the apparel of choice. I am embarrassed to say that at times we had no idea what he was talking about, but he spoke with unbridled passion and enthusiasm so we listened intently!  Maybe, it is time for us to take some of Dave's advice and explore fishing by kayak?

Hmmm.....should kayak fishing be next?

Giggle of the day:

As we made our way along the south dyke trail we stumbled upon a retired gentleman out fishing for the day.  He was the picture of happiness....deep laugh lines marked his weather beaten face.  We chatted for a while about the trail and the river and then the conversation turned to fishing.  He was out looking for Steelhead and to quote, "the fish taste like $@%# this time of year, but my wife doesn't nag me or give me jobs when I am out fishing.  And best of all if I catch something, I don't have to pay for dinner!"


Maps and Route Tips:


The trail for the most part is hard packed gravel, best suited for touring or mountain bikes.

Great ride for families, especially along the Rotary Trail in Chilliwack which features a virtual tour.  (another example of technology in the outdoors)

Be sure to check out the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve

Parks and Trails in Chilliwack

Trans Canada Trail

Fishing the Vedder River

A Working River - Cycle along the Fraser River

To call the Mighty Fraser a working river is an understatement.  The Fraser is one of the longest rivers in British Columbia flowing over 1,375 km from it's source near Mt. Robson to the Pacific Ocean. It is rich in history and has played a huge part in the development of B.C.'s settlement, transportation and economy.

Fraser River

This bike route, beginning in Richmond, provides up close and personal views of the river in action.  The entire ride is one of contrasts: road riding and dyke trails, light and heavy industry, parkland, scenic views, and residential development all somehow existing along a few square kilometres of space.

We began the ride near the Bridgeport sky train station and River Rock Casino in Richmond, BC.  (a potential pit stop on the way home?)  Within minutes we were cycling along River Road past the site of the Richmond Night Market,  This summer market, an annual tradition, features over 250 merchandise booths and over 80 food vendors.  An event not to be missed.

Bike path leaving Richmond

After passing the market, we quickly found our way off the road and onto a dyke trail - much better views of the river and of course, traffic free.

Heavy industry along the river banks

One of the highlights of the trip was the short section through the lumber mill.  Massive cranes and trucks lined both sides of the trail and at one point we were diverted through our very own bike tunnel!  The equipment was enormous, and we felt quite small and vulnerable on our bikes as we cruised by.

A bike tunnel!

We continued on and within minutes came across No. 7 Road Pier Park, complete with picnic tables and washrooms.  The old CN Rail loading pier is now a fantastic lookout and fishing spot.  It seemed a little surreal to stumble across this little oasis after just leaving the lumber mill and heavy truck traffic along River Road.

No 7 Road Pier Park

East of the park the route gets a little more intense as the ride takes you from the serenity of the park to the hustle and bustle of the Queensborough bridge  (complete with a panoramic view of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia's salvage yard.)  Just as you are feeling that the ride isn't quite the quiet, scenic weekend getaway you were looking for the route connects to the BC Parkway Trail and cyclists are offered an escape from the heavy city traffic.

Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park

We followed the north shore of the river for the return leg, and thoroughly enjoyed the route through the Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park.  As we exited the park, we stopped at a viewpoint and watched a tug boat in action.  It was something to see the Boom Man hop out of the tug and scamper his way across the logs.  We were fascinated by his speed, balance and agility - a true athlete in action.  We were finding the roads a little slippery.  I can not imagine what the logs must have been like!  It was yet another contrast.  I could imagine the lumberjacks of yesteryear taking a moment out of their day for a good old fashioned log rolling competition.  I suggested that Rob might issue a challenge, but my suggestion appeared to fall on deaf ears.

Tugboat and Boom Man at work

We completed our ride by crossing the Fraser on the Canada Line bike/pedestrian path, a wonderful connector from Vancouver to Richmond.  As I rode across the bridge, the Skytrain rumbling on the tracks above me, I wondered what the early explorers, fur traders and ancestors of today's First Nations communities would think of a $10 million dollar bridge connecting a cycling/pedestrian network!

Canada Line bridge across the river

Giggle of the Day:

As we were packing up our bikes, we received an excited call from one of our gang.  Could we meet in East Vancouver to look at a truck he was thinking of purchasing?  Now, how can you turn down an invitation like that?  We drove to the meeting location and watched our boy close the deal!  Now here is the giggle.  Through a friend, of a friend, of a friend our family is now attached to a 1989 NUCK TRUCK FOR A BUCK.  Yes - it is true, Adam purchased a hand -painted Vancouver Canuck's truck for a dollar.  Being a student, he is short on funds to insure the vehicle, so the final laugh is on us, as the NUCK TRUCK is now parked proudly on our driveway until the summer guide season begins and the paycheques start to flow!

Nuck Truck

Map and Route Tips:

A place for off-leash kids - Richmond, BC by Bike

The bike paths around Richmond, BC are absolutely perfect for families and for those who value the philosophy of the Slow Bicycle Movement...and I quote, "The Slow Bicycle Movement is all about the journey, not the destination. The destination is, invariably, a fixed geographical point which isn't going anywhere so you're going to get there eventually.  It's about riding your bicycle. To work, to play. Casually, in a relaxed manner. With time to enjoy the self-propelled movement that you and you alone generate. And, of course, to look around and see the landscape - urban or not - that you pass by at your leisurely pace."

Horseshoe Slough Trail Head

On this particular day, we certainly rode at a relaxed pace.  I would like to say it was intentional, but the excess treats over the holiday season had us pulling a few extra pounds and at times left us short of breath.  No time like the present to get back into shape!

Nice flat riding

This ride is a wonderful New Year's Resolution route as it is FLAT and also offers all kinds of interesting vistas and stops along the way. From historic Finn Slough, London Heritage Farm and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery to the Fish and Chip stores and ice cream shops in Steveston Village, there is something for everyone.

Road Warriors on training ride - views of Fraser River

At times you must divert from the bike paths and ride on the roads.  The roads are popular with cyclists and it is not uncommon to see numerous groups out on training rides.  We had a good laugh as a racing team screamed by us, almost doubling our speed.  Clearly they had no intention of joining the Slow Bicycle Movement! You can imagine our surprise to stumble across them later that morning at a quaint little bakery in Steveston Village.  We imagined they were carb loading before finishing their workout, or at least that was their story and they were sticking to it.

Finn Slough is a terrific spot to hop off the bikes and take in the view.  This small community dates back to 1890 when a group of Finnish farmers arrived and establish a small fishing village.

Finn Slough

As we continued on the South Dyke trail we were afforded fantastic views of the Fraser River.  We stopped and chatted with a local fisherman.  He was a wealth of knowledge and happy to share information on the salmon runs.  Sadly, he may have had more theoretical knowledge than practical knowledge as he reluctantly admitted that he had not caught a fish in days!

Start of South Dyke Trail 

As we approached Steveston Village we had the pleasure of meeting a local "granny."  (That is how she introduced herself.)  At 82 years young she had retired from the East Coast and set up shop in the condos near Steveston Village.  She was entertaining any and all who stopped along the path to view the Trumpeter Swans.  She was a self-proclaimed guardian of the birds and proudly told stories of the young ones hatching and how much they had grown.  We left knowing the flock was in good hands.

Trumpeter Swans 

Leaving Steveston the path takes you along the Strait of Georgia from Garry Point Park to the Terra Nova Natural Area.  From the northwest corner of Richmond you have excellent views of the North Shore Mountains, Vancouver International Airport, and Sturgeon Banks.  It is quite a striking contrast to watch a Jumbo Jet rev its engines for takeoff at the same time as you take in the natural beauty of the tidal flats.

Following the trail along the Middle Arm of the Fraser brings you to the Richmond Oval, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics long track speed skating events.  The Oval has been converted into an incredible  Sport and Leisure centre and is now enjoyed by athletes of all ages and abilities!  Quite a legacy from the 2010 games.

Richmond Olympic Oval

If the Oval isn't enough for sport enthusiasts, the trail also swings past the John M.S. Lecky UBC Boathouse - home to the UBC varsity rowing teams.  If you are lucky you may even catch a regatta or two during your ride! 

John M.S. Lecky UBC Boathouse

The last leg of our route involved some street riding to connect to the Shell Road trail.  Of course, as soon as we hit the open road we were lost.  After a few wrong turns, in heavy traffic, we managed to find the trail back to our start point.  Really - our day wouldn't be complete if we weren't lost at least once!

Giggle of the day:

When our children were very young (feels like 100 years or so ago!) I fondly remember day trips and vacations in which our sole purpose was to find the "world's best playground."  We would pack delicious picnic lunches and head out on our family quest.  You can imagine our surprise and delight during our recent bike ride around Richmond to stumble across this adventure playground.

Best slide ever!

The magnificent tree fort and slide loomed in the distance and we burst into laughter as we approached the park signage...it read - "a place for off-leash kids!"

A place for off-leash kids - Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment

.....and the answer is yes!  We did try out the slide.  It is FAST!  Now where are all the kids?


Map and Route tips;

Richmond offers many different road and trail options.  Lots of opportunity to plan a route for age and ability.

Richmond Trails and Cycling Maps

Bike Overnighter - Whidbey Island

Fall Weekend Cycling Getaway - Fairhaven to Seattle via Whidbey Island

It sounds cliche to say that the route from Fairhaven to Seattle has something for everyone, BUT it really does!  Rolling farmland, including pumpkin patches and apple farms, rugged coast, hills, headwinds, ferries, trains, planes on trains, trails, concrete jungles, shipyards, canals, panoramic ocean views, bridges, a bustling urban centre and numerous historic points of interest including the stunning Chuckanut Drive and the historic forts on Whidbey Island. We were only gone for a couple of days, but this ride makes you feel like you have lived a month!

In search of the Great Pumpkin

Our trip began in the quaint and historic town of Fairhaven, a great place for Sunday brunches and leisurely weekend strolls!  Our plan was to leave our car in the Amtrak long term parking lot, cycle to Seattle and catch the train back from Seattle at the end of our trip.  We were quite tickled with the long term pay parking system at the parking lot, not exactly high tech, but very effective.  Simply stuff your cash in the slot!

High Tech Pay Parking system - Fairhaven

We set off heading south and immediately noticed a trail marker for the Interurban Greenway.  Always excited to be on trails, we jumped on and discovered a great trail almost all the way to Larabee State Park.

Interurban Greenway trail marker

Fall colours along the Interurban Greenway

Leaving the trail we connected back up to the road and joined the famous Chuckanut Drive.  This road hugs Chuckanut mountain as you wind your way along the coast.  It can be a bit nerve racking for cyclists as the shoulders are narrow and being a scenic byway traffic can be heavy.  Having said that, it is a route frequented by cyclists and we enjoyed the lush forest and ocean vistas as we travelled along the drive.

Ocean view from road side pull out on Chuckanut Drive.

Leaving Chuckanut Drive the route flattens out as you travel through farm land and eventually along Padilla Bay.  Being late October and a forecast for heavy rain, we had decided to leave our tent at home and look for motels and Band B's along the way.  For our first night, we thought it would be fun to visit the Swinomish Casino.  Well, of course, best laid plans - it turns out the casino was full.  With heavy hearts and even heavier legs we kept on pedalling in search of a place to stay for the night.  We had a late start and were beginning to get worried about losing daylight.

Apple Orchard - view of Padilla Bay in the background

Not too far up the road we stumbled upon the Fidalgo Country Inn and were instantly transported back in time.  The parking lot came complete with lobbyists dressed in camouflage gear, armed with US flags advocating for Bill 594, which to our knowledge addresses background checks for firearms.  Despite our complete ignorance of the issue, the gang was friendly and welcomed us to the Inn!  They recommended we eat at the local diner.  We took their advice and we enjoyed fantastic clam chowder soup and the sounds of 60's music.....we fully expected to be caught up in a 60's style protest march after dinner, but I suggest our imaginations got the best of us.

Day 2 took us across the famous Deception Pass bridge to Whidbey Island, "the shortest distance to far away".  The Deception Pass bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic places and is recognized for it's engineering, architecture and as the gateway to Whidbey Island.  The bridge is located within Deception Pass State Park, 4,134 acres of amazing!

Deception Pass Bridge

Views: Deception Pass Bridge, Fidalgo Island Washington State by Jane Weiss (Jane and Rob)

The Island features many cycling routes and we enjoyed the numerous options to sidetrack off the highway and take the back roads through rolling farmland.  Being October traffic was light, but unfortunately the fall prevailing winds are from the south...and they were mean!  We battled all day and welcomed the break from the Kettles trail and Rhodo Trail near Coupeville.  The trails provided relief from both the wind and the road. We arrived in Freeland and began our search for a place a stay.

Picture Perfect barn

Bike route follows the shoreline

Wind breaks at Picnic area - Oak Harbour

Kettles Trail near Coupeville

As we began to cycle in to town we were greeted by three dogs....and within seconds the chase was on!  We haven't been chased by dogs in a very long time and it brought back memories of our Mississippi River Cycle Tour.  Just as we were beginning to panic, out came Sophie, the dog's owner.  Sophie was the best!  She had those dogs under control and back in their yard in seconds.  She apologized over and over and then gave us the most enthusiastic set of directions I think we have ever heard! Sophie recommended the local motel and we took her advice.  As we settled in to our room, the skies opened up and it began to pour.  We looked at each other in disbelief.  What are the odds of cycling for 2 full days in October and not have rain?

Deer crossing

Clinton ferry terminal

Creative use of bike wheels to make whirly gigs

We were up early on our last day, as we had quite a few miles to get under the belt in order to arrive in Seattle in time for our train.  Our route took us along Highway 525 to Clinton where we travelled by ferry to Mukilteo, a quaint waterfront community on Puget Sound.  We learned that Mukilteo means "a good camping ground" and I think we would agree.  The town has fantastic views of both the Olympic and North Cascade mountains.

Mukilteo

From Mukilteo we began a long uphill climb in search of the Interurban Trail, a multi-use path connecting Everett with Seattle along the old Puget Sound Electric Railway corridor.  Although, you probably would not call stretches of the trail  "pretty" we found ourselves very impressed to have a dedicated multi-use pathway in the heart of such a heavily populated and busy area.  Stretches of the trail paralleled Interstate 5, so it was very noisy at times, but the luxury of not being in traffic or negotiating intersections was such a treat.

Interurban Trail marker

Great signage

Miles of designated multi-use path

The trail was well signed and although we took a couple of wrong turns, I must confess the mistakes were ours.  At one point we were actually standing directly underneath a trail marker and missed the turn because we didn't look up.  Not our proudest moment!

We ended our trip with a classic brain fart!  After nearing downtown and travelling along Phinney Street - a really funky street with a definite Vancouver feel to it, we found ourselves crossing a bridge and looking for directions to downtown.  We were planning to either connect with the Burke-Gilman Trail or the Elliott Bay Trail for the last leg of our trip.

Canal crossing near Lake Union

We noticed a large hill, but to our right in the opposite direction of the hill was a bike path.  Being tired and grumpy we jumped at the chance to hop on the Ship Canal Trail in a feeble attempt to avoid the hill.  In our efforts to avoid this last hill, we completely lost all sense of direction and ended up cycling miles out of our way along the wrong trail.  Once again we amazed ourselves how fatigue, hunger and a sight of a hill can completely cloud judgement.  Having said that, the Ship Canal Trail was a lot of fun as it weaved through the shipyards and railway yards giving us a view of Seattle we had never seen before.

We stopped to see how work on our private yacht was coming along

Tourists enjoy a boat tour

Planes on Trains - you really don't see that every day!

Once we realized our mistake, we back tracked and made our way to downtown Seattle.....even managing to find time for a quick celebration drink before boarding the train.

Space Needle welcomes us to downtown

Celebration drink and rest at the pier

View from above - King Street Amtrak station

Miraculously the rain had held off for the full three days of our trip.  As we toasted our good fortune....we began to plan our next outing!  Rumour has it the salmon are running on the Harrison River!





Giggle:

Rob deserves all the credit in the world for capturing amazing photos on our trips.  He is always looking for an interesting shot or story to tell.  Usually, I am fully supportive and enjoy our frequent breaks while he satisfies his "inner photographer."  However, in all honesty, on more difficult days, those full of headwinds and hills I must confess that sometimes my patience runs a little short with his frequent picture stops.  At my age, when you get the train moving, sometimes it is just better to keep it going down the track!

On day 2 of our ride we had struggled against really strong headwinds for the entire morning and as we approached Oak Harbor we were fighting just to stay on the bikes.  We kept pushing forward at a painstakingly slow pace, grateful that it wasn't raining when Rob spotted a really cute roadside market, complete with giant pumpkin.  Of course, he couldn't pass this opportunity by and before I knew it he was trying to setup his bike in front of the pumpkin.  We were also lost, so Rob pulled out the maps....and with one sudden huge gust of wind....the bikes blew over and our maps went flying!!!!  We took one look at each other and burst out laughing...what else could we do?

The wind steals our maps and topples the bikes

Map and Route Tips:



Day 2



Day 3


Amtrak

Clinton Ferry

Downloadable Cycling Mpas - Whidbey Island