Island Bike Ride

I am very blessed to live where I do. I have access to some great outdoor playgrounds and one of them is just a short one mile bike and 15 minute ferry ride away. Yesterday, I planned on a 50 mile solo bike ride on Vashon Island. I've only been there once so I am not familiar with this place at all!

I was armed with my turn-by-turn directions thanks to the Cascade Bicycle Club, my iPhone (complete with GPS directions, turned on),three water bottles filled, a flask full of Hammer Gel, debit card and cash, I set out on the ferry. I was a little nervous as I am not good with direction and GASP, I don't know how to change a flat, nor do I carry things to change a flat with. This one day will change ;)

I floated to the island and disembarked and hopped on my bike straight up a giant hill. Not a great way to start without a good warm-up, but I made it to the top. Then I stopped to figure out where to go next. Which I had to keep on doing because there were so many turns right off the bat.

I came to an intersection and was completely confused. The name of the road in front of me was not on my direction or on my GPS. Hmmmm, maybe I was to turn way back there at the top of that giant hill I just came down. I was frustrated, until this nice lady stopped and clarified that this is a confusing intersection and to ignore the street name as it will change into the street that I want. Yay! Thanks nice lady! That is also when I decided that since I was in the middle of nowhere I was not going to be riding 50 miles that day.


Throughout my ride I kept stopping because I had no clue where I was and did not want to miss any turns. I came across a little town that was so cute. Beach cabins everywhere, crystal clear water and just beautiful. I stopped at the town's hardware/grocery store to make sure I was heading the right way back to the ferry. I was told I had 11 miles to go, but I could take a bus if I wanted. I decided to ride... of course!


I made it to the town of Vashon to eat and have some coffee. And to just relax. This ride of 25 miles was actually pretty difficult with all of the starting and stopping and HILLS! I am going to probably do this one again as it was good for hill training without a ton of traffic!

I found an organic fruit stand and bought a peach. YUMMMY!!

The town of Vashon is pretty cool. Lots of green and hippiesque shops and restaurants. I went to Cafe Luna and ate a yummy tuna melt and drank an icey cold vanilla latte. I also saw this: water that has been filtered 10 times. Starbucks only filters theirs three times!!

After my lunch it was time to head back to the ferry, which by the way was ALL downhill. It was great!

I wasn't following the directions while waiting for the ferry to go home: "No Parking, Stopping or Standing"

Sitting on the ferry waiting to go back home. Good bye Vashon!