Day 10 - Bellingham to Anacortes - Ferry Good Times: Cycling the Salish Sea

June 7, 2025

Day 10 - Bellingham to Anacortes

From hills and forests to bay trails and sea

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It promises to be a great day today — we have a 40-mile ride to Anacortes and we’re all raring to go after a day of rest yesterday. Genny is our driver today, so it’s Rich, Jim and me.

The first half of the ride is rollers and some mild climbing — nothing over 5 or 6%. We are having to detour inland due to road closures along the coastal route. But this means we get to experience a more diverse landscape. For several miles, we pass through forested areas, with sometimes glimpses of larger landscapes through the trees.

Genny snapped this pic of us on the road a few miles into the ride.

The route leads us through about 2 miles of graveled road — a sign at the start of the unpaved portion reads “primitive, with no warnings.” But it is a well-maintained road, shady, with beautiful trees. We pass several pedestrians and there is no car traffic while we are on it.

We have a great long downhill ride down from the hills, the vista opening to wide pasture lands and meadows with hills and mountains in the distance. From here until just east of Anacortes, the road is flat, flat, flat, but we have a strong headwind every time the road turns west.

This part of the ride brings back a ton of memories from when I rode through here during my West Coast tour in 2022. In fact here’s the link to my ride through this portion of the country — some of the pictures are nearly identical: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/calidream/day-3-larrabee-to-deception-pass-state-park/

Down from the hills and the start of farmlands.

I HAD to stop at this bakery on the corner turning toward Edison, since I had stopped here for lunch in 2022. If you are ever in the area, this is must-stop, as their baked goods and sandwiches are fantastic.

Matching bikes (I have the same handlebar bag, but had taken it off because it also functions as my purse.)

Crossing the Samish River— view to the right

After Edison we turn toward and ride alongside Padilla Bay, turning onto the Bay Trail. This is one of my favorite parts of ride.

One of the first views of Padilla Bay not blocked by trees.

View of the mudflats on a portion of the Padilla Bay Trail.

We have to get on Hwy 20 for a bit to ride over the bridge leading from the mainland to Anacortes. Riding on high trafficked roads is always uncomfortable, even when there are wide shoulders. The heavy traffic and trucks and noise just makes me want to get through it as quickly as possible. Fortunately the bridge has a separated bike/pedestrian lane. I stop at the top to snap a picture.

We turn right after crossing the bridge and then turn left onto the Tommy Thompson trail, which begins with a long wooden multi-use bridge (pedestrians/bikes) across the water. Rich and I crossed this bridge once before in 2020 when we bicycled the islands.

View from the top of the bridge leading to Anacortes.

Anacortes in the distance to our left. We’ll be crossing that long wooden bridge, the Tommy Thompson trail.

Crossing the bridge. The Tommy Thompson Trail leads all the way through Anacortes along the bay.

After a couple miles farther, we arrive at our hotel, the Marina Inn. The room is compact but serviceable. We meet Genny here and, after showers and a change, we drive down to Adrift restaurant, recommended by Jim’s brother. And they don’t disappoint.

We have an early day tomorrow as we have to catch the ferry to Friday Harbor in San Juan Island. Our plan is to meet at the hotel there, which is not far from the ferry dock, and then ride a 20 or so mile loop around the north part of the island.

Today’s video

I had some trouble with my GoPro at the end of the ride, so the video ends rather abruptly, but it is what it is, and it still captures the ride pretty well overall.

Today's ride: 40 miles (64 km)
Total: 213 miles (343 km)

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