I’d slept pretty well and, as usual, was awake by 5:30 and with a light rain falling I decided to read on my Kindle for a while before starting the packing process. I have a book by Nevil Shute, “Round the Bend,”and really am enjoying it. I’ve read several of his novels and plan to work my way through all of them. He’s especially known for “On the Beach,” a real masterpiece and quite unsettling.
By the time I started packing the wind had kicked up and I decided not to do breakfast but just get on the road and stop somewhere along the way. I was on the road a bit after 7am and headed north to see the rest of the Yakima Canyon. The ride was beautiful and the roads were perfect.
Some miles along the way I saw two more campgrounds in this string of BLM Recreational Area sites and wished I’d picked the Big Horn camping area as it looked really nice. I may try to get that one on my return trip. There were lots of trees and looked not heavily used.
Somewhere along the way I grabbed a few photos.
When I exited the canyon, I pulled over to check the map. Getting to Sequim from here is tough. It’s possible to go into Seattle and take a ferry to Port Townsend or ride around the bay via Tacoma. I was already tired of the traffic even though I’d just started and didn’t want drive into a Seattle at their rush hour(s) so I headed for Tacoma on the freeway.
Before I’d gone far I decided to eat my breakfast and post yesterday’s blog so I exited in Ellensburg and checked my map for a city park. One was a short ride away and it was great. It’s a community garden with a picnic table, perfect for stopping. There’s even a Porta-potty.
I got the blog updated and had a couple packets of fig newtons as my breakfast. Before leaving I took a few more photos of this park.
Now it was riding the “slab.” I scooted along I-90 until I turned off onto Hwy 18 south toward Auburn. Wow, the northbound backed up for over 7 miles due to construction. I am noting that this might not be the best choice of routes for my return trip. I made it past Tacoma and then crossed the Tacoma Narrows bridge which is free in this direction.
It was about time for lunch so I stopped at Safeway in Gig Harbor and picked up a salad kit and an apple. I parked next to a cool car.
My map indicated a city park nearby so I headed there. It was great as I was able to park at the end of the lot where I could keep an eye on the bike while I ate my lunch under a large picnic shelter. It was quite pleasant as the playground was full of little kids and some other young ones were batting on the baseball field.
Next I headed north on an uneventful ride except for the many stops for construction. At least I got to spend time with the roadside flowers.
I arrived at my mom’s place a bit before 3pm and here I will be until next Monday.
It was a 243 mile day.
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