Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Orcas Island - Day 3

 Monday Sept 19, 2022. The Queen’s funeral. What a great lady and what an extraordinary public service she’s performed. And regrettably I missed completely all coverage. We have been out of wi-fi and cell phone internet service all day and I haven’t even heard how it went. Particularly poignant for me as one of my early memories in 1952 was huddling round a radio, as a family,  listening to the BBC news bulletin announcing the death of her father the late King’s George VI and remembering what a big event it was for my parents.


Most previous bike touring trips that Mary and I have had, have been goal oriented. It has been a joy therefor, apart from having occasionally to catch a certain ferry, to have a more relaxed program. We explored the east side of the island pretty extensively visiting the idyllic Doe Bay and the Obstruction Pass State Park hiking down to the remote beach from the trailhead. We didn’t cover huge mileages but the constant descent down into bays and inlets and back up again meant that we probably had total ascents of over 3,000 feet. But leaving gear at the tents was a game changer. And the same tomorrow when we’ll head towards the north end of the island stopping in Eastsound for coffee, laundromat and library on the way. The weather staying brilliantly fine, but always a cool breeze. As near perfect cycling conditions as you’re likely ever to get. And no bugs. What a bonus. 


We’ll be in this same campsite tomorrow night before loading up again to ride back down to the south end of the island , catch the ferry to Shaw Is. and then back to Annacortes the same day on the late afternoon ferry from there. 






















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