the isle of lopez

This a.m. we packed up the beetle with 4 bikes and 4 friends for a 4 hour journey around lopez island. First of all, I'm amazed we even were able to get 4 bikes on the beetle...secondly, I'm amazed two guys over 6 ft. and meg and I all fit inside the beetle...and thirdly, I'm amazed we made the ferry - barely - it was a close call due to a late start, which occurred because some took too long to eat breakfast and make sandwiches for the road...Meg and I were so on time and ready to roll.


The weather was phenomenal and the company relaxing...I love adventuring with these friends. They are so flexible and easy-going, incredibly funny, and rediculously good looking! We went through a thick wall of fog on the ferry that filled our cups full of whipped hot chocolate, then so many nice people mentioned our left behind bike helmet...which I gladfully retrieved. We biked off the ferry into pure sunshine and continued through rolling hills, with views of pastures, sheep, horses, vultures, cows, wildflowers, haystacks, farms, and then to a spit near fisherman's bay. We rode out along the spit - amazing beach views...the grooves in the pavement were filled with crushed shells and it smelled like the sea. Then we headed for Shark Reef...went through more fog to get there and sang a song about baby sharkies and swimmers swimming. Finally, arrived at the Shark Reef sign...after going through more fog and thought for sure we would find the Black Pearl...unfortunately to get to the actual Reef you had to hike 10 minutes which we opted out of and continued to loop around lopez back to the ferry. We at lunch at a small park near the ferry where I cooled off in the water, threw seaweed at the camera...and Alec, ate pb&j, took funny montage pics, and laid out in the sand...the sun and warm sand felt so good!

I can't believe I hadn't mentioned it by now, (probably because I feel like such a natural...knock on wood) but last night before we went riding today Brian switched out my pedals and helped me put my clips on my new shoes...we took the bike out for a spin last night around g-lake and today I extended my record of not falling down another day! yay!

I am so thankful for...adventurous friends and gear jammed in the beetle, outlets, new bike pedals, the ocean, fog, and island cultures where everything seems to move a little bit slower...