northbend 

I had a fun time riding around San Juan Island with the D-Dude on Sunday.

We rode a 44 mile clockwise loop around the Island.

northbend 

We passed by a crew filming an Eddie Bauer commercial

And saw some seals and a Minke Whale just off the Southernmost tip of the Island

The clouds stubbornly gave up their hold on the sky around noon
My favorite stretch of road is along the West Side.

The road skirts the hillside above the water and there are plenty of opportunities to pin your ears back and zoom as you approach Lime Kiln State Park.
Vancouver Island is seen faintly off on the horizon

northbend 

We climb back up to the center of the Island enjoying the fall colors

I stop a few times to take photos




We reach to northern tip of the Island - Roche Harbor

northbend 

And have Salmon for lunch

Below our table was this interesting sight

After lunch we take the obligatory Hotel De Haro shot of the bikes


Then climb back out to head back to Friday Harbor and the ferry ride back to the mainland.



A great day to ride with Jeff and his cool 'nago

rootboy 

Splendid photo essay as usual Northbend. Great shots. Superb scenery and a couple of great looking bikes. You guys are OK too.
Is there a nicer guy than D. Dude? Not. Great pics, thanks.

wrk101

Boy, makes me want to make it back to the PNW, like tomorrow if possible!!

13 years out there was not enough. But the dreaded J O B got in the way.


Corrected typo, although Pacific Moist West is pretty close. Looks like you got great weather!

rootboy 

"Pacific Moist West?

mikemowbz

Making me miss the coast, too! With all those pics, I feel like I've done the tour...though I imagine it the photo-essay version doesn't burn as many calories.

Reminds me of the Gulf Islands, just NW of there. Will have to get out on the ferry for some riding when I'm back next year.

Flying Merkel

I hate you. For the best of all reasons, envy. That's a perfect place to ride.

scozim 

Glad you guys had a great time. Looks like some very fun, low traffic roads to ride on.

gaucho777 

Looks like you both had a day to remember! Thanks for sharing the great pics.

1 Lugnut

I thought DD as taking his Mondia to San Juan...? Or, so the poll said!

Regardless, looks like a great place to ride & the Colnago is serving him well....

northbend 

Lugnut, you're getting your Islands mixed up. When the Dude moves to his next assignment it is on Diego Garcia in the Indian ocean. San Juan is a bit closer..It's in Washington State :-)

Andycapp

Brings back memories. As an early teen I took a bike-tour/summer camp on the San Juans. Besides me only one other kid was on a road bike, the others were all on MTBs or hybrids. So understanding gearing the camp leaders let the two of us take off on our own every time we hit the hills, which was most of the time. So we got to spend most days racing each other around the islands after dropping our gear at the days camp spots. Together we broke the camp record climbing Mt. Constitution. I don't remember the model but I was on my first road bike - a Bridgestone sport-touring rig. I just remember it had Bridgestone branded brakes and pretty racy geometry for a bike with eyelets for racks and such. Bought it at a pawn-shop with paper route earnings, kinda miss that bike.

-Andy

Drillium Dude 

I already knew I was going to be a slacker and not get my pics uploaded until this evening at the earliest; I was plumb tuckered out at the end of the day (for a guy like Matt, this was a noodle-ride; for a slacker like me, I thought I was gonna die a couple times ). But did I have fun? Oh, yeah - I did. And I certainly felt a sense of accomplishment, although once or twice that sense of accomplishment was simply that I didn't have to get off the bike and walk the remainder of a climb!

Some pics, and then a little more babbling.

Matt along Cattle Point Road heading towards Cape San Juan:



Cape San Juan:



Cape San Juan again:



Descending from the Cape; South Beach to the left, Matt up ahead:



South Beach:



Funky shot on the South Beach descent:



Quiet country road:



The sun finally comes out on West Side Road:



Matt on West Side Road:



More to come...

DD

Jseis 

Lived in Friday Harbor, worked at the "Labs" and spent the day commuting to my research site on Garrison Bay and the evening chasing my buddies on my Moto B to the west side (gravel road in the 70's). Great pics.

Drillium Dude 

Here are some more - notice the sun finally came out!

How does one hit the only tree on this side of the road? DUI, anyone?



Beginning of the descent down West Valley Road:



Matt opening the gap:



I spent almost 5 minutes waiting for this guy to face me and hold for a couple seconds to get this shot:



Roche Harbor as seen from the overlook:



Outdoor market, Roche Harbor:



Hotel de Haro - this place is purported to be haunted:



McMillan's Dining Room:



Matt at lunch; Lime Kiln Cafe:



Sockeye salmon Caesar salad at Lime Kiln Cafe:



A few more to come...

DD

well biked 

I think the "Funky shot on the South Beach descent" may be the best photo ever. That is just awesome.

Drillium Dude 

Last pics...

Matt's circa '93 Merckx MX Leader - signed by the Cannibal himself:



My '78 Colnago Super, not signed by Ernesto:



Vintage steel on the waterfront:



Pals:



Roche Harbor waterfront:



The day started off overcast, but not really all that chilly. I took the precaution of protecting my knees from possible cold by sticking with the knickers. Good thing, as it turned out, as I had no problems with my knees the entire day. 800mg of Motrin before I left also ensured I had no back issues, and I didn't even have a sore neck at the end of the day, which was somewhat surprising - I normally do after anything over 30 miles.

My hip-flexors were taxed last week during one of our PT sessions at work, although I didn't know it at the time. But, boy oh boy, I sure noticed it early on in this ride Anyhow, with a few apologies along the way for my turtle-slowness on the climbs, I made it up everything SJI threw at us and Matt simply rode his pace and waited at the top on those occasions I dropped a couple minutes back. Thanks a ton, buddy

Saw a decent amount of wildlife along the way. Right off the bat at Cape San Juan there was a Minke whale breaching - I hadn't seen a whale for a couple of years. We saw the odd deer here and there, and I happened to get a pretty close-up look at one when it suddenly popped out of the woods about 40 feet directly in front of me, took about four strides and went right back into the woods from whence she came! That close call elevated my heart rate, let me tell you!

Another deer I saw in the ditch hadn't been so lucky; dead as a doornail with a big hole eaten out of her underbelly. Ugh.

The real highlight was the owl, however. I noted the movement out of the corner of my eye and glanced over - I thought it was a falcon or something until I saw that unmistakeable pumpkin-like head. That was really, really cool - I haven't seen an owl in years and never in the daytime. Wow...

The scenery, like I need to tell you, was absolutely breathtaking. The last time I was out there was in October of 2005 or 2006 and it rained all day. This was 100 times better, particularly since I had such good company Matt really is great to ride with; if you get the chance, don't pass up the opportunity - for real.

After a nice lunch in Roche Harbor, the return leg took much less time than I'd anticipated. We got back to Friday Harbor in plenty of time to catch the delayed ferry, so we had a couple of Ambers (only one for me - and I really felt it, too, that's how much I took out of myself this day) and BS'd until it came in. Snacked and talked on the ferry ride and then parted ways at the Anacortes terminal. As stated earlier, once home I showered and went directly to bed after feeding Sacha.

A fantastic day out, a mettle-test for yours truly and memories of some really great riding. Thanks again for the invite, Matt - one of my top-ten rides ever!

DD

Ciufalon

This is great stuff. Nice to see you two had such a great day. I think I am going to have to head up that way and do a ride there myself. It just looks like a wonderful place to spend a day riding. You both got some great photos! That shot of the owl is a super lucky thing to get and was well worth the five minute wait! Thanks for sharing.

-holiday76

Dd drilliumed his helmet so much i cant even see it!

tremolo1965

Great shots. Can't wait to explore further North by bike. Also, I agree with well biked that "Funky shot on the South Beach descent" is a truly awesome shot. Reminds me of '70s formula 1 - just awesome.

Italuminium

another spot added on my dream bike tour through the U.S.

gomango

Looks like a fantastic day for you two.

Thanks for the shots and the memories.

We visited Seattle and the islands in the sound five years ago when the kids were little.

Time for another visit, as those shots really bring out the incredible beauty.

BTW Those blackberries were delicious.

pastorbobnlnh 

Thanks for all the beautiful pictures in this thread. This is a part of the country I've only visited very briefly and it was primarily just in Seattle. I feel like I've been to SY Island now!

DD, impressive climbing with that gearing set up on the 'Nago!