Solo Pacific Coast Bicycle Tour: Washington State (Seattle to Cape Disappointment)

Journey Start & Initial Adjustments

• 🚀 The solo bicycle tour began in Seattle, Washington, after a cross-country train trip, with the first leg covering five days from Seattle to Cape Disappointment.
• 💡 The first night in Belfair highlighted the need to adjust to the touring groove, including time zone changes and finding self-registration, cash-only campsites.
• 🚴‍♂️ Day two involved a 57-mile ride to Elma, where the cyclist found a highly recommended RV park friendly to cyclists, offering hiker-biker sites.

Navigating the Washington Coast

• 🗺️ The cyclist relied on Adventure Cycling Association maps (both paper and digital via Ride with GPS) for navigation, appreciating the turn-by-turn audio and routes that avoid high-traffic roads.
• 🛣️ The route included diverse terrain, from the Hood Canal and Shahalis River to sections of Highway 105 and 101, often featuring wide shoulders and light traffic.
• ⚠️ A self-plotted route through Aberdeen (Kurt Cobain's hometown) and a detour to the International Mermaid Museum added unique experiences.

Touring Insights & Gear

• ⚙️ A key gear addition was the Click Stand, a simple aluminum pole that provides a rigid, upright stand for the bike, making camp setup and access much easier.
• 🤝 The cyclist encountered a fully supported Adventure Cycling group at Elma RV Park, contrasting their lightweight, carbon-fiber bikes with his self-supported setup.
• 🌦️ Weather conditions varied, with heavy fog, rain forecasts, and eventually glorious sunshine and tailwinds, influencing daily riding plans and mileage goals (around 40-50 miles per day).

Coastal Encounters & Landmarks

• 🌊 The journey included scenic rides along saltwater marshes and Wapa Bay in the Wapa National Wildlife Refuge, showcasing the natural beauty of the Washington coast.
• 🦀 Passing through "Oyster Country" and observing logging trucks highlighted local industries and environmental aspects.
• 📸 The tour revisited significant personal landmarks, including a photo stop in Seaview on Long Beach Peninsula, a place from previous transcontinental rides.

Reaching Cape Disappointment

• 🎯 The final destination for this leg was Cape Disappointment, a location holding personal significance as the starting point of a 1985 transcontinental ride.
• 🛣️ The ride to Cape Disappointment was described as a glorious day of bicycling, with light traffic, beautiful roads, and comfortable weather.
• 🌉 Anticipation builds for crossing the infamous Megler-Astoria Bridge into Oregon, known for its challenging conditions for cyclists due to narrow shoulders and highway-speed traffic.