Day 2: Ferry Ferry frustrating

Ok, Day One was about hospitality and the formation of the Fellowship of teh Wheel with the fine Anglican Cyclists of Prayer in Vancouver. We got to a motel in Sidney on Vancouver Island after a lovely ferry ride and then a quick hard drenching. We were pleased and amazed that there was no problem at all with taking our bikes to our room.

We took a bus into Victoria realizing that we had to get on a buss back after only an hour is we were going to get a good night's sleep. We went to the Chinatown area, but ate in Vic's English Fish and Chips hous, owned and run by a very nice chinese couple.

Then we hopped on the bus to return. Amazingly there was a couple there who had been on the bus into town with us. So we got talking and lo and behold they too were touring cyclists. So was the driver! So we had a rowdy good time hearing about all their tribulations. They were a few years older than us, and had put in one 140 day once. We were humbled.

Then to bed so that we could get up in the morning and hit the road. Problem was there is only one ferry at 11:30 which would get to Anacortes at 3. This meant a short cycling day. And while the BC ferry had been sumptuous with places to eat, the Anacortes ferry had no food stuff at all. So we ate crackers and other less that auspicious things on the 3 hour ride.

When we arrived at Anacortes the Customs guy almost impounded Dave's turkey bacon (it had the color apparently of hard packed heroin) and then the lesson in frustration and humility began.

You see one truth is that it is always downhill to the ferry and uphill from it! And we were already past the day's prime. And the road from Anacortes to Oak Harbor was riddled with really dandy hills. Really dandy ones. The cleated shoes nearly ruined me and we spent a goodly bit of time pushing up hills. Very humbling to realize that however much shaps you thought you were in, you weren't. But we will be, eh!

So we slowly made the 24 mile ride to Oak Harbor. But we made it. To the first motel in Oak Harbor with a windmill and all. The lady gave us a great rate and a good room despite how bedraggled we looked. We walked to the restaurant next door and had a fine meal to top off a long ferry ride and a modest bicycle ride with almost no food. Lesson for me was ....always eat.