2-Event Weekend
Tour de Lopez
I headed north to Anacortes to catch the ferry to Lopez Island, where I’d be spending the night at Lopez Island Cottage & Camping. A year ago, I’d stayed there before riding the Tour de Lopez the next day, but pouring rain cut that ride short to just 10 miles. This time, the forecast looked much more promising, and I was optimistic about tackling the 31-mile route. The only downside was that my friend, Lee, wouldn’t be joining me this year. We had such a wonderful time last year, chatting, sharing wine, and enjoying cheese and crackers. Thankfully, I made new biking friends who were sitting at the pavilion, and we ended up eating dinner together. My dinner consisted of half a ham & cheese baguette, half an avocado, some olives, potato chips, and mushroom soup.
Unfortunately, my night didn’t go very well, getting up at least three times with intestinal distress. I was also a bit chilled (maybe I had a fever?) and kept waking up during the night.
The next morning, feeling better, I started my ride around 8 a.m. Instead of riding to the starting point and looping back past my campsite, I decided to begin right from my car after packing up my camping gear. I think I was one of the first riders to reach the first rest stop. They’d prepared oat cakes—something I was initially skeptical about—but after giving them a try, I found them deliciously chewy and satisfying!
Midway through the ride, the temperature started to rise, so I shed my cycling jacket and continued comfortably in just a long-sleeved jersey.
When I reached the finish in town, I didn’t stop there. I kept riding until I arrived back at the campsite where my car was parked. Changing into fresh, non-sweaty clothes felt amazing. I loaded up my bike and drove back into town to redeem my food voucher at one of the event’s vendors. I opted for a quarter barbecue chicken with spicy pinto beans and coleslaw—it hit the spot perfectly.
Initially, I had considered waiting for a friend to finish her ride, but since she had started about an hour after me, it would’ve been a lengthy wait. Instead, I decided to hop in my car and head south to my next campsite, where I’d be preparing for another bike event the following day.
McClinchey Century
After leaving Anacortes, I made my way to Camano Island State Park to set up camp for the night. Along the way, I passed a large group of cyclists wearing Cascade jerseys riding along the Old Pioneer Highway—I suspect they might have been staff or board members.
Before pitching my tent, I had to borrow a rake from the camp host to even out the tent pad. It looked like a child had been playing in it, sculpting little dirt hills. While it was a bit irritating, the task didn’t take long. Once everything was set up, I found an outlet in the restroom to charge my bike battery in preparation for the next day.
With time to spare, I stretched out in a field sprinkled with tiny daisies, snapping a few selfies and taking some playful shots of my little rubber piglet, Matilda.
Dinner was simple—a small serving of chicken that didn’t quite pique my appetite. Instead, I enjoyed smoked mackerel on crackers with a side of olives. It was exactly what I needed.
As the day wound down, I decided it was finally time to scatter some of Tora’s ashes. I’d carried them with me for three years, waiting for the right moment. The serene field of flowers felt perfect—a place I thought she’d love.
Later, I watched one of my favorite shows on my phone, but before I knew it, it was time for bed. By 8 p.m., I was sound asleep. To my surprise, I slept straight through the night—an uninterrupted 10 hours! It’s rare for me to sleep so well while camping, so I was thrilled.
The next morning, I met Donna at the start line for the McClinchy Mile ride. The chilly air didn’t inspire me to take on the 50-mile route, so I opted for the 34-mile one instead. Donna had planned to do the 50 but mistakenly thought it went in the opposite direction. She eventually figured it out and turned around, but she never caught up to me during the ride.
At the end of my ride, I miscalculated while dismounting and slammed my knee into the back rack of my bike. It left me with a massive, painful bruise.
I stopped at Saal Brewing for the post-ride taco lunch, but they weren’t ready to serve food for another 30 minutes or so. Patience not being my strong suit, I decided to skip the wait and set off in search of something I could eat on the drive home.
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