Here's a great ride on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands.
We rented bikes at the Lopez Bicycle Works on Fisherman Bay Road. The owner said, "In summer I rent bikes and in winter I look for work." Not only are his good fleet of bikes in top repair, you can also buy some of his wife Linda's (delicious) Blackberry Jam and other canned goods.
The ride starts with a big climb, then is an easy trip on rolling hills through farms and along the coast with glimpses of the ocean. We stopped at Shark Reef park and spotted seals perched like anvils lying in the hot summer sun.
"Are we in Nova Scotia?" I asked looking out at the cove at the bottom of Richardson Road. We headed south along the beach and waved to the owner of the Mackaye Harbor Inn -- a bed and breakfast that is high on my list of Favorite Places to Stay.
Agate Beach is another fantastic place. The entrance to Iceberg Point is just past the beach. Park your bikes in the rack and go the rest of the way on foot. Trails criss-cross the park. We followed the trail along the cliff edge out to the very end. There we had our picnic lunch spread out on the rock. Our sandwiches were squished, but I think they taste a bit better that way. Again, it reminded me of similar rocky shores of Nova Scotia.
We took a different route back, zigzaging through more farms. My favorite was the hillside of yarrow -- spectacular. We were exhausted from the heat on the last stretch and were glad to get back to Lopez Village for the promised reward of a ice cream from the Lopez Island Creamery.
We found out later that that day was the hottest day ever recorded. Beer-o'clock on the boat never tasted so good.
Click on FULL VIEW to see the whole map...
Happy Riding! Colleen
