Check, but not checkmate...

I have mentioned before that getting to the whales is like playing chess: you make the right moves, anticipate the other "player's" moves... and maybe you win.  We didn't work today - another day off, and we decided to take the scooters to Orcas Island again.  Joan wanted to walk around Eastsound; I was all for taking the scoots on some of the fun roads there.

When we were there last week, there was construction in a few places; lots of orange signs, but nothing that was a problem.  Today...

We ran some errands on the scooters this morning, then got in line for the inter-island ferry...

More bikes waiting for the ferry today...

I decided to try my GoPro - it has been a while since I've used it.  Of course, I had to start with the obligatory up-the-nose shot...

Yep, it's still a little pain in the ass, but it is tiny.  I tried to find a place to strap it on the PCX, but that turned out to be less than successful.  I decided to hang it around my neck with a strap and shoot by hand.  Some images around the ferry...

I visited with a guy on a rugged-looking BMW while enroute... turns out we both know our friend, Dick Schiefer from Sturgis BMW/Yamaha.  The time on the ferry passed quickly.  We were the first off the ferry at Orcas.  Some shots with the GoPro while riding to Eastsound...

That was shooting over my shoulder with that little camera.  Frankly, it is easier to use the DSLR.  I'll try to find a way to strap the GoPro to the bike and then shoot with the remote... one of these days.

Pulling into Eastsound, we came upon the dreaded "orange signs" - the entire town had the streets coated with fresh, gooey tar...

It was a mess!  Most of the shops had rugs or cardboard down on their floors to keep from getting that nasty tar tracked in.  Eastsound is named for the body of water there, East Sound...

The water was so low at low tide, we saw kids wading to Indian Island...

The first shop we went in was a pet stuff store...

I think we offended the lady in there... she asked if she could direct us to anything particular and we told her we were looking for a cat harness.  She opened a package and said, "This one is nice, and it comes with a lead."  It was plain blue.

Joan asked, "Do you have anything pretty?"

I saw the look on the woman's face and added, "Our kitty is a girly-girl."  OK, Izzy isn't prissy, but the harness she has now is multi-colored and goes great with the colors in her fur... plain blue wasn't going to cut it.  I added, "Well, I would bet that is the first time you've been asked that question."

"You would be right about that."

We thanked her, looked around a bit, and got out of there.  We walked around town, trying to avoid crossing the gooey streets.  People walking around weren't happy about the mess, nor were the shop owners.  I understand that road maintenance has to get done... but right in the middle of the busiest part of the season??  We checked out a chocolate shop; the bakery Joan wanted to try was already closed for the day (at 12:30... probably because of the tar).  We had lunch at...

I had misgivings... seems that when someone advertises "the best anything," it usually isn't.  Since we haven't tried the burgers at any of the other places, I have to say they were mighty fine... probably are the best in town.

We walked around some more after lunch.  The only pelican I've seen since we've been here...

Some pretty flowers along one walkway...

And some personalized bricks (mostly memorials)...

When we felt we had walked most of the tar off our shoes, we went back to the scoots.  Another look towards the sound before heading out...

I was looking forward to riding up Mt. Constitution again.  The orange signs had other ideas...

We rode right up to the fresh oil (tar) on the road, then turned around.  No problem, there are other great roads on this island.  We rode east, then took a road we haven't been on before to the north... more orange signs.  We rode across some more gooey crap and loose gravel.  Then, it was decent again... until more orange signs... and really fresh goo!  Crap!  They must have 20 crews throwing this stuff all over the road faster than we can get around it.  Yeah, we had to ride back through that.

We decided to head back south and ride over to Deer Harbor again.  Some fresh goo on the way to that turn off.  We made it through that, then turned west on the road to Deer Harbor... no construction!  Oops, I spoke too soon: going through the area where West Sound Marina is, there was more loose gravel and goo...

We finally made it to some decent road...

Finally, a good sign...

And more fun road...

We stopped at the Deer Harbor Marina to look around...

Looking south towards the Wasp Islands...

We saw this group of kids moving a couple long canoes from the high water mark down to the water...

We walked through a shop on the docks, then headed back to the bikes, stopping to see if this map knew where we are...

No, it didn't say, "You are here."  ;-)

Some good riding on the same road, the other direction...

When we got to the main road - and I am NOT making this up - the construction crew had put down about 3 blocks of goo on the road.  Seriously, it wasn't there when we made this turn less than an hour earlier.  We rode slow, trying not to make a mess of the scoots.

A short wait for the ferry, and we were heading back to Friday Harbor.  The construction crews tried to block us at every turn... but, we had some great riding in spite of their efforts!  No checkmate!  ;-)