06.28.2023

we both started out sleeping in the tent last night, but in the middle of the night suzi got up and moved to the car.  between the hard ground and the cold, it just wasn't any fun.   after suzi left, i grabbed the thin foam pad she'd been using and i slept much better.  but in the morning, suzi started out pretty slow.

i had a longer haul today, 70-75 mi. to the ferry and on into seattle.  suzi was going hiking, then drove to the hostel in seattle, drop off gear, take car back to airport, and finally light rail it back to the hostel. full day.

i finally found some cherry trees to grab a little fruit off, breakfast thanks to the city of sequim.  had to dodge the morning birding club on the replacement railroad trestle.  the trail followed 101 to a couple of miles from discovery bay, then it was all highway.  some pretty good climbs to test my legs.

then sight seeing was over and it was onto 104 and some harder riding across the peninsula to the hood canal and port gamble.  port gamble sounded interesting but it was really just one block and i was past it before i knew it. pretty church, though, modelled on a congregational church back in maine, of all places.  then back roads with a series of short steep climbs before crossing onto bainbridge island.

at brainbridge i took a bit of a well earned rest, walked around downtown a little.  not really much there, i was disappointed.  but treated myself to beer at the local brewhouse.  and a glass full of peanuts, unshelled.  then, what the hell, another pint of ipa.  i was done riding.

i finished my beers and coasted down the two block to the ferry and got on board.  turned out it was free to cyclists heading towards seattle.  sometimes you win.

i must admit that my first impression of seattle was shock.  first, at seeing mt. rainier; second, that there were some pretty steep hills downtown.  don't know what i was expecting, but not that.

and true serendipity, when the ferry docked and i found my way to the green tortoise hostel, there was suzi just dropping off our gear.  so i joined her in returning the car to the airport and riding the light rail back.  very tired, especially after the two beers, we stumbled into a nice little place for dinner of sushi and kimchee.