The weather weasels were calling for today to be the warmest day of the season, so far. We made an early morning call to put the scoots on the ferry and check out some different roads.
Loading on the ferry...
Joan settled in on the galley deck (upper deck) to start planning where we were going to go...
I am more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda guy - while she planned, I went outside to take a couple photos: a sharp looking navy and yellow Ranger Tug...
Yeah, it's the one between the two bigger white boats. A look at our whale watch boats docks...
The closer white boat with the logo on the flybridge is the boat I drive most often. My day off, another one of our captains is supposed to get trained on that boat today. Not by me. ;-)
We visited with one of our dock neighbors on the ferry ride over, then stopped in Anacortes for a light breakfast. Heading south...
The first stop coming up: Deception Pass. The first view of the bridge...
We pulled into a turnout before the bridge and walked out on it...
Easier said than done. One of us, and I won't mention my name, gets a bit of vertigo on high places. Oh, I like airplanes, hot air balloons, roller coasters and mountains... it just makes my ass pucker if I have to look over the side of a tall building... or over the railing of a high bridge.
But, I digress. Looking west towards the San Juan Islands...
There is a stairway that takes you under the bridge so you can cross over to the other side without mixing it up with the car traffic on the bridge. Nice view...
For some perspective, the bridge is about 180 feet above the water. Under the bridge and up the stairs on the other side...
And the view to the east...
Joan on the east side of the bridge...
Yes, those cars pass real close. And when a truck goes by, you feel the movement in the bridge... no, that doesn't make me feel any better about being on the bridge. Here's proof that I was on there...
Or, it may be one of those guys from Daft Punk - hard to tell with the helmet. ;-)
A couple more views to the east...
Back to the scoots, we rode across the bridge. Hanging with the Harleys...
A beautiful day to be out on a bike - easy to see why we weren't the only ones. Getting ready to head back across the bridge, we came face to face with this...
This vehicle blocked traffic coming the other way, and then...
Followed by the other half of that double-wide. They used up the whole width of the bridge. Then, it was our turn to cross...
We decided to head towards the town of LaConner. On the 2-lane...
And then the 4 lane...
The PCX has no problem mixing it up with highway traffic. We made our way to LaConner, and rode around town a bit...
One of the marinas, with covered slips...
Joan was kinda taken with this B&B that has a prow to make it look like the bow of a boat...
Narrow streets...
There is another interesting bridge at LaConner...
We agreed that LaConner is more interesting when visiting by boat - stay at one of the docks and walk through the galleries, and eat at the restaurants. A view of the Swinomish Channel waterfront...
We have stayed on those docks with Wild Blue. But today, we were making miles. Next stop: Wally World - little Isabella needs catfood, and the selection in Friday Harbor is pretty limited. OK, we picked up 6 other bags of stuff, too...
The area under the seats swallowed up a bunch, and Joan filled my large dry bag, which has backpack straps. We don't need no stinkin' truck - we have our two wheeled beasts of burden. And Izzy has another month's worth of food... and I have cookies, and soup, and bacon, and...
We stopped for a quick burger, then made some more miles.
I wanted to stop at the Suzuki dealer to see if they had the new Burgman 200 scooter. Joan wanted to do some more curvy road riding. Time is getting short, if we are going to make the next ferry. What the heck - let's do both! We made a quick stop at the Suzuki dealer, who didn't have any new Suzuki scooters ("Well, the scooter market has been kinda quiet lately, but we can order you anything you want..."). We twisted the throttle and headed for the winding road...
The road sign says, "Legg Rd"... I have always been a leg man - this must be the way!
Yep...
Tick, tick, tick... we needed to make a stop at another grocery store before getting on the ferry, and the scoots need fuel. Another bag of goodies added to our load, and fuel for 54¢ per gallon less than on the island. Not that we needed a lot of fuel. Yesterday when we fueled up, Joan got 104 mpg, I got 102; today: she got 102 mpg and I got 94. I was carrying more of our load, and we were a bit heavier on the throttle today... and I liked it! ;-)
Nice thing about bikes on the ferry: we already have a multi-pass - scan the card and we are told, "Go to the front of lane 4." You don't have to do the 2+ hour wait.
Head of the line! Not my rules, but I sure do like 'em. We had time to get a chocolate-dipped cheesecake "wedgie" on a stick (man does not live by burger alone), then load up on the ferry. Oh, and time to photograph a some interesting cloud formations...
The ferry ride back to Friday Harbor was kinda relaxing. Our friend Wilma said something about "letting someone else do the driving..." I like being in the driver's seat, but I have come to appreciate the ferry. Well, as long as I don't have to dodge them when coming back to the dock with the whale watch boats. ;-)
First ones on the ferry, then first ones off when we arrived in Friday Harbor. We put the scoots in the permit parking, then hauled our groceries to the boat. This is what we carried on the scoots...
Joan said it would be more impressive if she took everything out of the bags... nope, everything has to get put away as it comes out of the bag, and there isn't room to spread it all out.
Great day. The temp made it into the 80s - we haven't seen that since we left Texas. Sounds like it is a short "heat wave"... back to the low 70s tomorrow. Chores to be done before we go back to work on Thursday; looks like a busy holiday weekend ahead.
3 comments:
What an awesome day! Great pics! When I do finally get away from OKC and onto a boat Anacortes is my first choice. Seriously.
Still taking care of my dad though. He's a great dad!
I know you are just checking to see if anyone is reading.....Nordic Tug. Grins.
In the words of the great philosopher Izzy (the incredibly cute cat): "Huh-uh." We don't change boats as often as someone whose name I won't mention, Herb. You know what I mean, Herb? ;-)
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