August 12, 2010
Day 1 - 49 miles - Good Karma and the kindness of strangers: Seattle to Shelton via Bremerton Ferry
Distance = 48.80 mi We have a dear friend Jo-Ann McDevitt that always says Janet and Jack are NEVER on time!! They are always early.....proved to be true today. We planned on taking the 8:30am ferry and understood we should be there thirty or so minutes early as the bicycles line up and board first before the cars. Neither of us were able to sleep much and we were up and ready to go by 7:15. We figured we would just have to wait a little longer than planned. When we arrived at the dock they were loading and sent us right on the boat. As we were tying the bikes to the rails we noticed that we were underway.....seems we were 'late' for the 7:35 but it was leaving late by ten minutes so we were actually an hour ahead of our day.
We were pleased by this outcome as it allowed us to be on the road by just after 9am. One of the commute cyclists gave us insider info for leaving Bremerton which was great. I have read how the hill out of town is such a killer that I have been having bad dreams for weeks thinking I wouldn't make it and the trip would be over before it started. I am happy to report that I made it and made it on my bike!
Here is how we did it. Leave ferry....head up slight hill to 4th street one block past Burwell (4th street quiet and biker friendly) turn Left on 4th go to dead end at Navel turn Left go about two blocks or until it looks like you are going into Bremerton Naval Yard STAY RIGHT. You will take the right go to the dead end and jog to the left to cross the 304 and turn left onto 304 as it then merges into Hwy 3. This is local knowledge. Head on out of town on 3 towards Shelton.
This is where we had our second encounter with the kindness of strangers. We were on Hwy 3 about 8mi from Belfair when a local gentleman waved us off the road. He encouraged us to take the right at this corner which was Old Belfair Road. He said it was much prettier, less hilly and MUCH less traffic. All of which sounded great to us....another thing that would be better was the amount of glass and just plain debris which was the most we have ever encountered in a bike lane anywhere!!!
The ride was beautiful through forested area mostly and it brings you right into Belfair. Heading out of Belfair the traffic was amazing I was really shocked. There was also lots of construction so again it was not the quiet backroads we were looking for. Now we are given our third act of kindness....a couple heading out for a little local wine tasting ride stopped us and suggested that we take route 106 -follow them and wind our way along the Hood Canal. He did say it would add a few miles as it brings you out on 101 Hwy about 10 miles North of Shelton. We decided to take his advise as the traffic was really hectic at that moment. It turned out to be really beautiful pleasant ride. We took the Wallace Blvd exit into Shelton as there were indications of motels and food. We are at the Supper 8 on Olympic Hwy. All in all it was a pretty great day.....one down! Bikes on the ferry
Today's ride: 49 miles (79 km)
Total: 49 miles (79 km)
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