Canada - Day 40 - Eaglemont Rockery to Deception Bay

47.5 (5.5 on ferry) miles, 2001’ climbing, deer

We had a dozen or so miles to our ferry in Port Townsend, and we knew it didn’t leave until 11am due to the tides. For 4.5 miles, we were back on the road with no shoulder and a lot of traffic. When a dump truck breezed past our elbow, we could see that the driver was trying to give us space, but due to oncoming traffic and narrow lanes, there was no space to give. We were glad to turn off onto a less travelled road and finally a trail into town. We had breakfast at the Blue Moose Cafe, pumped our tires at a local bike shop and cleaned our drive trains, then finally boarded the ferry to Coupeville along with 10 other bike travelers.

After leaving the Coupeville ferry, we were on a charming road between the east and west coasts of Whidbey Island. The breeze, the clapboard houses, and the feel of the place made us think of New England, a different feel than Vancouver Island or the Olympic Peninsula. 

We passed through Coupeville and headed up the coast. Near the town of Oak Harbor, we ended up on the highway shoulder with a lot of traffic, and the riding was less enjoyable. We picked up some groceries, then continued up the highway to Deception Bay. The campground was fully booked, but they have hiker/biker sites which are available without reservation to those not arriving by way of car, and we were the only people doing that today. 

Cranberry Lake is separated from the ocean (straits of San Juan de Fuca?) only by a spit of land. We walked down along the lake and then the dramatic west and north beaches of Whidbey Island, next to our camp site.  It’s a beautiful place to camp.

Tomorrow this ride ends, which we both look forward to and are sad about. Sarah handed off her bear spray and threw the dreaded blue shirt in the garbage, the shirt that stretched and looked weird, was hot in the sun but not warm in cool weather, that was slow to dry, and that she spilled food on repeatedly. Adios, dreadful blue shirt. Throwing it out felt great.