June 8, 2025
California Weather in the Pacific Northwest
Anacortes to Friday Harbor; it is very warm here
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The high today in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island was 82 F, “feels like 84.” When I checked Napa at the same time, it was only 70. It felt really hot to me.
Jim, Rich and I rode 5 miles to the ferry terminal in Anacortes while Amber drove the truck. We were catching the 10:30 am ferry so we left slightly after 9. It was already “single layer” temperature. We arrived at the terminal early and waited about an hour to board the ferry. We boarded first and tied our bikes to the side walls on the lower car deck, then went upstairs to one of the viewing decks.
The ferry ride was uneventful and we disembarked first with the walk-on passengers. The three of us riding actually beat Amber to our hotel, The Discovery Inn, where our hosts greeted us and checked us in even though the rooms were not quite ready. This was fine because once Amber arrived, she left the truck there and we all did a loop ride around the northern part of the island.
It was already very warm, bordering on hot. Once we got riding, it got even hotter. I don’t like heat, especially early in the summer when I am not used to it, so today I felt like I was melting much of the time. At the other end of the spectrum was Amber, who likes heat, and she thought the temperature was great for riding. The guys were somewhere in the middle.
This island, like all the San Juans, has topography that rolls up and down. It makes for fun but challenging riding. The island is beautiful with lots of open and cultivated fields and forested areas and it is dotted with small ponds and lakes.
About half-way through the ride we deviated from the road to look at English camp, where an English Marine Troop was garrisoned between 1860 and 1872, while the border between what is now Canada and the US was decided. Ownership of the San Juans was disputed and almost came to blows when a pig was shot. Eventually the dispute was resolved peacefully and the pig was the only casualty. The camp was in a stunningly beautiful setting on Garrison Bay and manned by knowledgeable docents.
After exploring the camp and climbing back to the road, we rode on to Roche Harbor to eat lunch. By this time, I was very overheated and a bit dehydrated as well as very hungry. Lunch from the grocery was not particularly good or satisfying but it was calories and liquid. The atmosphere of Roche Harbor was festive, very vacation-like. It is a pretty harbor surrounded by many upscale older homes and quite a bit of new housing development.
The final 10 miles went by quickly. Jim was pushing the pace to get out of the heat. We did a section of gravel as part of the ride as well.
The bikes are housed securely in a yard area behind the hosts’ house. Our rooms are spacious and well-appointed and well air conditioned! The hosts are very friendly and helpful. We are here for 3 nights and it should be an enjoyable stay.
Tomorrow we will explore the southern portion of the island by bike. Hopefully it will be a little cooler than today.
Today's ride: 32 miles (51 km)
Total: 237 miles (381 km)
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