Back to Orcas Island

 It took us the usual two and a bit hours to have breakfast and decamp. So left the Lakedale campsite that has been our delightful home for four nights at about 9.30. Time in Friday Harbor to get morning coffee and buy a new calor gas canister and some more dried meal packets before getting the 11.35 ferry to Orcas Island for the second day running . We’ve greatly enjoyed SanJuan Is. but in terms of spectacular countryside, bays and inlets and the magnificent Mt Constitution, Orcas Is. wins hands down. So we were excited about returning and the hour long ferry journey was as fun and relaxing as ever. We took the quieter road up to Eastsound, had lunch in Olga Rising cafe and with the burden of fully laden bikes climbed the hill over to Moran State Park . But this time, instead of turning left up the steep slopes of Mt Constitution, we turned right into this gorgeous campsite we have on the edge of Cascade Lake. Didn’t get here till 4ish and enjoyed another evening  by our tents as the sun set in front of us. We’ve booked in here for three nights , so we’ll explore much of Orcas Island from this base. 

Orcas Is. For a day trip

 … and what a day trip!

 Having the luxury of being able to leave our tents, etc all here on San Juan Is, we were able to get away by 7am with only a couple of cups of tea each to get us the 5 miles back to Friday Harbour. Got there at 7.45 in good time for the 8.30 ferry to Orcas Is. Had our traditional expressos and salmon and cheese bagels and enjoyed the glorious trip up the Sound to the south end of Orcas Is. The idea was to explore what campsites might be available for the next couple of nights were we to come back. Answer yes as we found out later in the day, at Moran State Park, and we booked in for Sun and Mon nights.

Rode the 6 miles from the Orcas Is ferry terminal to East Sound where we “refueled” before tackling the 2,500 ft Mt Constitution. A good steady climb , not a Mont Ventoux but a pretty significant one - for us anyway. 

Then a rush to get the 4.30 ferry back to Friday Harbor on San Juan Is and made it with 5 mins to spare . 

The let 5 miles back to campsite was OK, and back at tents by 6.30 . The usual dried food packet dinners and asleep by 9.30. 50 miles in all.

We’ll decamp tomorrow and head back to Orcas Is and Moran State Park.

Pics all in wrong order as usual and sorry, no captions. The rescue drill on the ferry back added a bit of excitement. And Mary sipping beer ( smuggled on board ) from a coffee cup was another highlight!

San Juan island day 3

 

The full works for breakfast in Limekilns Cafe at Roche Harbor. A 5 mile ride to get our appetites whetted. 

Walked round the marina and had a good chat with Tim, year round skipper of this multimillion dollar cruiser, Estiva, below.  Brought back vivid memories of my days on Patrina in Jamaica in 1970. 

Rode round some of the old lime stone quarries of the early 20th century. The biggest lime manufacturers west of the Mississippi at that time. 

Then rode down to English Historical Camp on the west coast and back to campsite by 4 . Shower and change and off to dinner at Duck Pond an  up market restaurant coincidentally only half a mile from our campsite. This was the hedge against rain which never happened! In fact the finest day yet. Superb meal and rode back to tent just before dark. 

Plan was to decamp tomorrow and take the 11.35 ferry to Orcas Is. But only just discovered late tonight there’s not a campsite available that we can find and too much of a risk to wing it. Will therefore leave our tents here in situ , take the 8.30 ferry to Orcas Is for a scouting day trip and return on late afternoon ferry to Friday Harbor and ride the 5 miles back to our tents. No idea what we’ll do thereafter. The luxury of flexibility afforded by self supporting cycle touring ! And no more ecferry costs. Brilliant. 

Forecast good for the week ahead . That is huge.

San Juan Island - Day 2

 Tonight will be the 6th successive night we have had under canvas. Not a record for us, but unusual.  But we’ve managed OK particularly because we’ve largely been away from people and always have had a table and benches to ourselves. No loud music, no fellow campers talking way into the night, etc. And of course you can’t beat the price especially as we’ve been cooking ( boiling water and pouring it into a packet ! ) at both breakfast and dinner for the last two nights anyway.

Cycled today 47 miles round the southern and central parts of the island. Coffee and muffin in Friday Harbor and picnic lunch at a whale watching spot on the west side of the island looking across to Vancouver Is. We did see whales but a long way out and only really the snout spray. Whether Orcas or Humpbacks we weren’t able to tell. 

Also spent time at the American Camp National Historic Park with remnants still there of the US military occupation at time of the  Pig War ( which never really was a war ) between the US and the Brits in a boundary dispute pre Civil War days. Interesting. Back on a very hilly route to Friday Harbor, replenished our supply of beer and back to campsite by 6. Another fine day but rain forecast for tomorrow am . Life will take on a very different perspective if that materializes. May try to make for Roche Harbor again and explore the very northern part of the island returning by the English Historical Camp . We’ve booked in for dinner to a smartish restaurant a mile or so away. A hedge against rain ! 

San Juan Island

 The map here shows well out route. Seattle to Edmonds, ferry to Kingston, Kingston to Port Townsend, ferry to south end of Whidbey Is, rode   to Annacortes. ferry to Lopez Is, 2 days later ferry to Friday Harbor.

No question we’re getting quicker packing up in the mornings. Chatted to our cycle touring neighbors and made a plan for San Juan Is. Will spend 3 nights at Lakeside Resort a private campsite 5 miles North of Friday Harbour and have day trips out from there.   Got to the ferry in good time for 10am sailing. Hour and a half to FH stopping at Shaw Is. and Orcas Is. on the way. Beautiful,  and another fine day.  Bagel and coffee by the pier, flat tire delay ( new rim strip required for back wheel  and fortunately bike shop close by - only one on the island !) and rode the 5 miles to Lakeside campsite. Pitched tents and set off immediately to Roche Village and Boating Resort another 5 miles further on to the north of the island. A good road and adequate shoulder. All very smart. Million plus dollar boats by the score. Different world ! One 60 foot yacht looked as if it might be in America Cup league. Enjoyed the sculpture park on way out of town. Back to campsite at dusk equipped with beer supply and dinner . Shower block quarter of a mile away , but immaculately clean and able to charge phones.