Rain Delay

Day 4 of the great bike ride across America was halted by a rain delay.

Earlier during our car travel we regularly checked weather reports due to the ever-present grey skies in Washington.  We would check the Weather Channel website and sure enough, no rain was predicted. True to predications sunshine joined us.

Interesting face on a quilt
Click to enlarge all photos 

So when we woke this morning at Deception Pass State Park with dark skies, we said, “Hey, sunshine will join our travels today.”

Jay started his 50-mile ride, first heading north up the west side of Fidalgo Island. Once in Anacortes he would turn east towards our day’s destination in Concrete, WA.  Helen, in the Prius with Nando, stopping to visit the Textile and Quilt Museum in La Conner.

A bit more than an hour later, phone calls were exchanged, discussing the constant falling rain. Jay paused his riding in Anacortes, WA and took refuge in a donut shop. Helen backtracked and joined Jay. We booked a pet-friendly room in the San Juan Motel.

In the center of town, near the water

The advantage of this motel was that it was close and relatively inexpensive. The room was spacious but bizarrely configured with two bedrooms with a small galley kitchenette between the rooms (no dishes or silverware).  Jay spent a goodly amount of time getting the internet and TV to work. At least we were dry and comfortable.

Walking on the beach in Anacortes, WA

We are in the early phase of our bike ride adventure.  From our car camping experience coming out to the west coast we developed a good routine of setting up our tent. With Jay riding and Helen driving, we now have to plan each day differently. Jay checks his maps from Adventure Cycling to determine a day’s riding distance. We then explore potential campsites at end of his day’s ride.

We are doing okay, but have room for improvement. Camping at Deception Pass State Park was recommended to Helen as she did laundry before catching the ferry to Fidalgo Island.  She called Jay to divert him from Fort Ebey State Park and to continue further north to Deception Pass. “Roger Dodger.”  When Jay arrived at the popular state park there was only one tent site open (with over 220 sites). That open site was due only to a recent cancellation.  Yikes!

Jay’s ride is taking on a different dimension as well. At first he rode the traffic-free Olympic Discovery Trail; now he is on busy highways some with limited shoulder space. The sense that this a “long" bike ride has not yet penetrated his thinking. Rather, he sees each day’s ride as just a day’s ride surrounded by wonderful landscape and sometimes lots of traffic.

More Photos (click to enlarge photos)

Olympic Discovery Trail

Deception Pass

West Coast of Washington State

Nando on his Bed