We tried getting an earlier start this morning because we were planning to visit with some of my (Jason’s) family in the afternoon. Breakfast was peanut butter on tortillas with chocolate chips, instead of chocolate chip pancakes. Less dishes to clean! We did get out of camp about an hour faster.
Once on the road we alternated between a brutal sidewind and a glorious tailwind. We were traveling along the farms in the flood plain along the bay. Daisy was kind enough to lead and block some wind for H and I, since I am as tall as a sail no matter what. We enjoyed seeing the different colors of wildflowers along the road. Then we turned into the highway for a short section that took us over Twin Bridges. Noisy, but there is a separate pedestrian path on the bridge.
After the bridge we were back on quiet roads and chugging along enjoying the scenery. This area is one of the largest great blue heron nesting areas, but we didn’t see any today. (Last year a group of about twenty flew over our campsite in the morning.) We saw plenty of bald eagles and other birds though!
We stopped at our favorite coffee shop in the area for special treats and a break to draw/journal. (Hey, it might be the only coffee shop in the area, but it is good!) Then just around the corner is an amazing bike path that is an old railway bridge across the bay. We passed through during low tide today, and can see how shallow the water usually is! All that was left was the channel in the middle. Luckily, we still got to see a seal.
We continued the ride along the path into town, stopped for groceries/lunch, and then finished the ride out of town to Washington Park. It is west of town on the tip of land past the ferry that will later take us to the San Juans. That is where we turned off last year, but this year we will continue further south tomorrow.
In the afternoon we visited with family! Aunt Cathy came to the campsite to chat, and then we went over to Julie and Bill’s for dinner. We missed the weekend festivities, but got to visit with a few additional relatives and partake in the leftovers, which they had catered themselves! Yum!! (It goes without saying that it was better than our camp meal would have been.) We also enjoyed (especially the kids) the boat tour. A and H both took turns sitting in the captain’s seat and turning the rudder. It was wonderful to see everyone!