Day 2: To Rasar State Park

Thur. May 25, 2017

Today's stats - Road:  46 miles; 110 miles to date
    Elevation climbed:  297 ft; 1209 ft to date
    Temp. Low: upper 40's: High: mid 60's;
     Tailwind, sunny

Guemes Isand, WA to Rasar State Park, WA

Sunrise from Guemes Island

Thank you Dick and Sally for your generosity.

                                             

We got a later start today, not arriving at the ferry on Guemes Island until 10:40. Our goal for today was only 46 miles of flat road and we were happy to have the wind at our backs. We rode in the Skagit River Valley and along the rushing, olive green river on our way to Rasar State Park.

Coming out of Anacortes and onto the main highway, we stopped to have a snack at an underpass. Two guys with loaded bikes saw us there on their way by and were excited to talk about their upcoming adventure. Nick and Spencer from Indiana and Ohio, will also be traveling the Northern Tier.  After discovering that we're all Christians, Nick shared a prayer request with us about whether to accept a job offer and I prayed for wisdom for him as I rode today. When we arrived at Rasar State Park, we went to the three hiker/biker campsites and I was just wondering aloud whether we might see Nick and Spencer again, when a lovely couple, Tom and Jane from New Zealand pulled up on their tandem. They said, "There are more coming", just as Nick and Spencer showed up. As we were chatting, Nick mentioned that he had decided not to take the job and had real peace about it. When he mentioned the timing of the decision, it was right about the time I was praying for him.

One thing we love about touring is this kind of comeraderie. Who knows? We may meet up with lovely people again all along our route.

Wild flowers in the rain.

A bike path in Anacortes.

Leaving Anacortes on USBR 10 (US Bike Route 10)

Otherwise known as Washington State Hwy 20 or North Cascades Hwy.

Spencer and Nick

Beautiful Rhododendrons along the ride.