Bellingham To Orcas Island

Route 11 – 65 miles

July 21st

    I left Bellingham and was sp[it out  onto the I-5, something I promised myself I wouldn’t do. Interstate highway riding on a motorcycle is like going to the gym and sitting on a stationary bike, watching the weather channel and filing your nails. It may even be worse. I was pressed for time and wanted to catch a boat to the island so I went against my better judgement and pulled away. 30 seconds into the ride a pink head with mohawk popped out of a spray bombed (graffiti) station wagon and pointed to my bike. I immediately pulled over and saw that my kickstand was down. Not to pleasant when you’re at highway speeds and cornering, it can be quite a jolt. I hopped back on and found that I was nearing the off ramp to Chuckanut Dr. also known as highway 11. (I can remember my brother and I laughing hysterically as pubescent boys do when they see a road sign that has even the faintest suggestion to anything that can be interpreted as sexual).

    I took the exit and was transformed in green rolling canopy covered secondary highway. To my left was Larabee state park and cars pressed against the hillside, to my right through the leaves was the Puget sound. I couldn’t stop laughing and hollering. Just 3 minutes earlier I was on the I-5, now this…. magic. The corners were relentless. 30, 25, 20, and the odd 15-mile/hour corner with some rugged guardrail to stop a plunge into the trees and ocean below. Good ol’ Don Jorge was up to the task after an amazing tune up from the boys at Main Jet Motorsports in the Koots. I finally had 6th gear.

Rollin' 

 The highway descended the mountain and poured out into vast farmlands of potato and corn, bordering on the ocean and the I-5 which was rapidly approaching to my left. As the two highways neared, my pace quickened and the temperatures rose once again, drawing me back on to the route I left an hour earlier, thankfully for only a brief engagement. After a quick exit I was on my way to Anacortes and the ferry to Orcas.

I arrived at 5:35 for the 5:30 boat, sped to the front of the line, rolled on, parked the bike, took off the sweaty leathers and was nearly knocked out by a fist holding an ice cold Dos Equis. New friends everywhere!!  We sat and chatted about the Kootenays, the ocean, motorcycles and living the good life. What a great way to start my trip. This new friend (sorry, can't remeber your name) hopped on a zodiac to a remote island, I rolled away from the ferry with a sense a well being that is my first friendship of the trip.

On the ferry

Orcas is amazing – too amazing and comfortable if that is possible.

Bus and driveway

Sheep farm on the way to the Bullock Permaculture Farm 

Like many of the other Gulf and San Juan Islands there is a sense of purpose that comes from living within the defined boundaries and limitations of an island. One has to be part of a community to live happily in such  close quarters. I’ve been here for 3 days and could easily stay 10 more. I’ve been the guest of Sustainable Orcas Island where we previewed a Peak Oil movie and followed with a discussion led by Michael Greenberg on the issues of sustainability. My hosts Michael Hirwicz and Sharon Abreu have been gracious in the accommodations. A view of Vancouver, Victoria, the Olympics, Mnt. Rainer and the San Juans greets me each morning.

Sundown on Orcas

    The community has come together to build a bandshell that utilizes the materials and labour available on the island. I was fortunate to photograph the installation of the Green Roof on one of the last days of the project. Designer Patrick Carey of HADJ Design tells me that the city of Stuttgart, Germany has enacted bylaws that requires all new construction to make use of a green roof design and apparently Chicago Illinois is not far behind.

Mike and Patrick Installing the Green Roof 

I’ve also been visiting with the Bullock brothers (http://www.permacultureportal.com/) who have been pioneering Permaculture just west of Deer Harbour for 25 years.

 “permaculture can best be described as an ethical design system applicable to food production and land use, as well as community building. It seeks the creation of productive and sustainable ways of living by integrating ecology, landscape, organic gardening, architecture and agroforestry. The focus is not on these elements themselves, but rather on the relationships created among them by the way they are placed together; the whole becoming greater than the sum of its parts. Permaculture is also about careful and contemplative observation of nature and natural systems, and of recognizing universal patterns and principles, then learning to apply these ‘ecological truisms’ to one’s own circumstances.”

                                                                                                                                                Wikipedia 2006

Deer Harbour

Their farm is spectacular, their knowledge is exceptional. I’m back out there this evening (July 24th) to continue my photography although I feel I am only  scratching the surface. I will return.

I think I may need to shake things up bit which is why I’ll be making my way to LA faster than originally planned. If I make it there within the week, it should allow for a more leisurely return trip home. As it stands, I feel like this project is far too massive for my short visits so I’d rather travel home slowly than allow it to rush me by.

Dave

 One handed cornering