Introductions - Greetings from the San Juan Islands, WA

Hello everyone!

My name is tdp currently living on Orcas Island in the San Juans in Washington state. I found this site looking for information on bike parts.

I've been a mountain biker for years and years but found myself converting my Bianchi Superbee into a road bike so my wife and I could tour together. However I kept running into obvious issues with panniers, racks, and etc... So recently bought a Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) from our local bike shop and absolutely love it! My favourite addition to it is a Brooks Flyer Special saddle, honey brown and will soon have the bars wrapped with Brooks perforated leather tape also in honey brown. This is my tour bike and therefore will also have it decked out with a good Tubus rack (front and back), and Ortlieb panniers. I have some silver SKS fenders on order but may later pickup a set of Woody fenders. I'll post pictures soon. This is such a beautiful bike, I just wanted to come out to say hello!

My wife and I mostly tour Vancouver Island, the Gulf and San Juan Islands and are planing a two week tour of the Discovery Islands this summer. When we move "back" to Europe in the next two or three years we plan to do a bit of touring there as well.

BTW I am also a member of Surly Long Haul Trucker & Cross Check (http://surlyville.net/) Owners Group and BikeList.org (http://bikelist.org)

Anyway, I wish everyone good health and good riding!

Cheers!
tdp

The SO and I were just up on Orcas a couple of weeks ago, in the Deer Harbor area. I have always wanted to ride one of my bikes to the top of Mt. Constitution.

Hi tdp, it sounds as if you have already had quite a bit of fun touring. I'm really interested in doing a tour of Vancouver Island in the next couple of years, just have to convince my husband to be my SAG guy :) . I should do the San Juan Islands as well.

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

East Hill, San Juan Island is simply wonderful for bike riding/touring. It is somewhat flatter than Orcas, has lots of scenery, and Friday Harbor has a bit more in the way of dining and lodging options than Orcas. The traffic seems a little bit better as well.

It's got the interesting birds, too, if I remember correctly :) . I just have to work on Mr. East Hill...I have to ease him into the touring thing, paving the way for eventual retirement.

I don't have as long to wait as he does, though :D .

East Hill

Cool! I never got any emails to tell me that I got replies so didn't know (sorry).

I like Orcas the best because of the hills (I only love them when I'm done) but the roads are not biker friendly and the county isn't planing to widened them any time soon :(

Orcas is less populated than San Juan so if you like small, quaint and being closer to nature, it's more so here. Yes San Juan has more hotels and possibly B&Bs but Orcas has Moran State Park which is absolutely beautiful with three + lakes and lots of camping and as for B&Bs, it comes in a close second to San Juan.

East Hill, every summer Wildlife Cycles has the Wildlife 100 which rides four of the islands (for 100 miles) and is a lot of fun. A lot of great people and locals riding it. There is also the Tri-Island Ride that comes up from Seattle every year that is gaining in popularity.

My wife and I love touring Van Island and the Gulf and do it twice a year (would like to spend more time on the road though). I highly recommend a tour of them. You can start by parking at the Anacortes landing and taking the ferry to San Juan (or side trip to other islands first) and then San Juan to Sidney, BC from there it's a short 6 or 7 kms to the BC ferries and on to Mayne, Salt Spring and others. Mayne is becoming my favourite. I could go on and on about it.

Cheers and happy riding!
tdp

I just have to work on Mr. East Hill...I have to ease him into the touring thing, paving the way for eventual retirement.

I biked around San Juan Island some time in the 90s, completely cold, first time on a bike in 5 yrs. Ferry out, ride out, eat lunch, and back, ferry home. It was a pretty easy ride!

A neighbor was trying to talk is into an only semi-paved trail from Victoria up the west coast of Van I, 30 miles, something like that. My wife didn't immediately object, and I think the kids would be into it.

I biked around San Juan Island some time in the 90s, completely cold, first time on a bike in 5 yrs. Ferry out, ride out, eat lunch, and back, ferry home. It was a pretty easy ride!

A neighbor was trying to talk is into an only semi-paved trail from Victoria up the west coast of Van I, 30 miles, something like that. My wife didn't immediately object, and I think the kids would be into it.

Yes, I've been mulling over a ride from Victoria up to Port Hardy. As always, time is a factor. I think I would have a hard time convincing Mr. East Hill to ride with me, although he'd be happy to be my SAG wagon :) .

East Hill