bronskcloosper
03-13-07, 09:10 PM
I'd like to take a week to do as much as possible. Does anybody have any suggestions on routes, websites, maps, or personal experiences?
Touring - Any advice on a San Juans Islands tour?
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foggydew
03-13-07, 11:56 PM
I'd like to take a week to do as much as possible. Does anybody have any suggestions on routes, websites, maps, or personal experiences?
In the 90's I spent many, many long weekends cycling on the San Juan Islands with friends. Sometimes, some of us would cycle down from our homes just across the border in Canada to Anacortes (about 115 km) to catch the ferry to the islands and at other times we would drive down and leave our vehicle in Anacortes. Most often we would use Lopez Island as a base -- either camping in Ogden Park (fairly close to the ferry dock) or stay in one of the rental homes in or near Lopez Village. Lopez Island is the least hilly of the three larger islands and we would usually spend a day exploring all the roads and bays.
We would then cycle to the ferry each of the other mornings and go to either Orcas or San Juan Island, both unique in their own way. A climb to the top of Mt. Constitution on Orcas is well worth the panoramic view of the surrounding San Juan Islands and the Canadian Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island to the north and west. San Juan of course has the history surrounding the "Pig War", which resulted in the border between the US and the British territories being drawn through the islands - not a shot was fired!! The British and American camps are now historical sites on San Juan Island. San Juan has great roads over looking the coast where pods of killer whales can often be spotted. This is just a brief overview - I have many stories and wonderful memories of these trips.
I hope you have a great time!!
In the 90's I spent many, many long weekends cycling on the San Juan Islands with friends. Sometimes, some of us would cycle down from our homes just across the border in Canada to Anacortes (about 115 km) to catch the ferry to the islands and at other times we would drive down and leave our vehicle in Anacortes. Most often we would use Lopez Island as a base -- either camping in Ogden Park (fairly close to the ferry dock) or stay in one of the rental homes in or near Lopez Village. Lopez Island is the least hilly of the three larger islands and we would usually spend a day exploring all the roads and bays.
We would then cycle to the ferry each of the other mornings and go to either Orcas or San Juan Island, both unique in their own way. A climb to the top of Mt. Constitution on Orcas is well worth the panoramic view of the surrounding San Juan Islands and the Canadian Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island to the north and west. San Juan of course has the history surrounding the "Pig War", which resulted in the border between the US and the British territories being drawn through the islands - not a shot was fired!! The British and American camps are now historical sites on San Juan Island. San Juan has great roads over looking the coast where pods of killer whales can often be spotted. This is just a brief overview - I have many stories and wonderful memories of these trips.
I hope you have a great time!!
Losligato
03-14-07, 01:22 AM
We visited Orcas (http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/BikePostcardOrcasIsland.html) and San Juan Island (http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/BikePostcardSanJuanIsland.html) by bike last summer. Here is a map of the route we followed (http://www.vwvagabonds.com/Bike/BikeRouteWashingtonState.html).
We took the ferry from Anacortez to Friday Harbor then across a few days later to Orcas before continuing to Sydney on Vancouver Island. From Sydney we cycled south the Victoria and took another ferry back into the U.S. at Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula.
Happy travels
We took the ferry from Anacortez to Friday Harbor then across a few days later to Orcas before continuing to Sydney on Vancouver Island. From Sydney we cycled south the Victoria and took another ferry back into the U.S. at Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula.
Happy travels
mycoatl
03-14-07, 12:23 PM
See my route suggestions here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=3241588&postcount=2).
bronskcloosper
03-14-07, 04:15 PM
cool, thanks for the advice!
tblendell
03-17-07, 01:36 AM
you might also think about hitting the gulf islands to the north. have fun!
FlowerBlossom
03-17-07, 08:27 AM
I like Lopez Island best (haven't been to Orcas yet, that's on the list).
Fewer people, wider roads, Lopez Island Creamery (ice cream...very important for a bike tourist). San Juan Island has much more commercial stuff going on, and, therefore, bigger trucks. But, I like San Juan Island too. The county campgrounds rock (on both islands).
Fewer people, wider roads, Lopez Island Creamery (ice cream...very important for a bike tourist). San Juan Island has much more commercial stuff going on, and, therefore, bigger trucks. But, I like San Juan Island too. The county campgrounds rock (on both islands).
fat_bike_nut
03-17-07, 03:59 PM
On crazyguyonabike, there is a journal by another (former) bikeforums poster:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1gci&doc_id=545&v=3E
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1gci&doc_id=545&v=3E