June 18th – Anacortes to Rockport, WA
The beginning – see photo (note the yellow rain botties).
8 am, Day 1 – Dipping the bike in the Pacific Ocean
June 18th Statistics – Anacortes to Rockport: Distance – 74.2 miles; Average speed – 14.1 mph; Beginning elevation – 0 feet; Ending elevation – 222 feet; Total ascent – 1,888 feet.
Today’s highlights: Mile views of the mud flats at low tide on Padilla Bay; 30 miles of scenic views biking along the Skagit River without traffic; a record speed for me for the miles and ascent; a 16 oz buffalo burger at the Rockport Buffalo Inn (surprisingly ,I did not order the Rocky Mountain Buffalo Oysters). Not a highlight: Overcast all day; rain for last 10 mile climb; cold and wet biking.
Steve Prichard's 2012 Cross Country Bike Tour 
Enjoy your trip. Sounds like quite an adventure. Stay well.
June 20, 2012 at 1:23 pm
I didn’t realize that bridge over the Pacific Ocean was finished yet! Ha ha. We had cold rainy weather for our dip and I considered myself above the ritual of slogging across wet sand to dip my wheel and elected to just ride on. I see you had a ‘sand-free’ location to dip. Nice. At least now you’ll know how your tires work in the rain. Hope everything is meeting with your expectations. I thought your electronic shifters were quite a luxury but reading more on the web about how they never need adjusting or lubricating and prolong the life of the chain and cogs made me re-think my opinion of that technology. It is a danger having the trip become more about the technology than the rider, but I think you’ll stay focused on what is important. Sounds like you have all the toys to accompany you on the journey. When will we get a helmet cam video of a screaming downhill?
June 20, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Al, thanks for all the advice and guidance you provided – it really helped. I love the electronic shifters – my bike companion, Robert, has them as well and swears by them. No time to install and use the head cam yet. It would have been particularly great for the long downhills I have run the last three days. The toys are great, but I am very grateful that Classic Adventures did not have a weight limit on gear (clothing, bike gear, sunshine/rain/wind bike wear) I brought – I find that I am using more of it then I thought I would and it has all been exactly what I needed. Best to Carol.
June 22, 2012 at 8:30 pm