33rd Annual Oyster Run, Anacortes, WA

Oyster Run at Anacortes, WA, Sept 27/28, 2014.

We were keeping everything crossed in the hopes the Sun God would come out for the 33rd Annual Oyster Run. Last year the skies opened up in mid afternoon and the riders vacated town faster than a speeding bagger at a Sunday School picnic. He did not disappoint this year and we had 2 great sunny days in the middle of a wet period on Fidalgo Island, WA. 

 Left North Van. at only 10 am Sat. as we are not early risers lately. Plus as we all know, a little gas up and walk around takes time. Looked for some other groups along way but most leave a bit earlier from points east.

We did the standard but awesome Chuckanut Drive to Longhorn Saloon in Edison. Had the first of our oysters here although they were saying not good conditions out in Puget Sound. What the hell, in the 70's Don and I ate saucer sized Pacific oysters right off the beach at his Grannies waterfront 200 feet of Hood Canal (she donated it to a Girls Youth group in the end) near Seabeck. I hate paying for these "boutique" oysters the size of a Loonie. But I digress ...

Had to stop downtown and have a bevvie at the Brown Lantern ... of course only a Red Bull and by then it was 5 pm so on to the B & B just 10 blocks west. Our great hosts Amy and Dan were there to greet us and give us the run down and we settled in to the warmth of the setting sun. Beauty view from the deck. Went downtown for some food and fun and ate at the A Town Bistro next to the Brown Lantern bar where we ended up later.

 

Next morning at 9 am there was a knock on the door and in came smiling Amy and Dan, trays of brekkie in hand and then they left just as graciously. Got on the bikes around 10 am and headed out further west towards the ferry terminal. I had heard about Washington Park from Amy/Dan's guest book. OK, we are on bikes so up we drove around the Loop Road of about 2 miles. The paved road had few people and we lugged as quiet as possible on an absolutely fantastic route. I didn't mind the fog as it reduced the scenery to simplicity and I got some keepers out of it.

By 11 am fog was starting to lift and we headed out to explore Fidalgo Island towards Deception Pass. Ended up stopping on the north side of the bridge and watched and got a few shots of the parade of bikes. By then Clare, says we gotta go down town so went back via Havekost Road to park out back of the Brown Lantern. The party was in full swing so we staked some ground at the front and enjoyed the scene. Typical biker hijinks ensued and by the time we wrapped it for this town at around 5 pm things were starting to wind down. We still had a couple hours to go back home and as we both prefer to ride in daylight, had a beauty ride back through Edison and Chuckanut with the sun fading into twilight and the moon. As always the border wait is a pain but that is the world we live in.

We really enjoyed Fidalgo Island this year. The roads are great and if you want to go further, Whidbey Island is just south with a longer ride and more scenes.

rmk 09/30/14