Northwest: Lummi Island

July 4th, 2012

If you ferry to Lummi Island on a perfectly sunny summer morning, bike around for a few hours, explore numerous beaches, stop at a party for some pulled pork sandwiches and bike around a little more, I guarantee you will have yourself a nice little day. On the 4th of July, Ellen and I decided to go join at least 800 of our closest island dwelling inhabitants and explore a quiet and beautiful island less than a 30 minute drive and ferry away from Bellingham. Lummi Island is definitely the little step child of the San Juan's. But no one has ever said being a little step child is such a bad thing. 

Lummi Island: The Ferry

The Whatcom Chief

July 4th

I've ridden plenty of ferries. Mostly to Bainbridge island, sometimes to San Juan Island, occasionally to Whidbey Island, a few times to Port Townsend, here and there on random other voyages and once from Italy to Greece and back. Based on these past experiences, I knew ferry trips take some time. Maybe a half hour, maybe a little longer. Perhaps even 23 hours if you're crossing the Mediterranean en route to one of Europe's most financially troubled countries.  So imagine my surprise when we successfully navigated the harsh waters between Gooseberry Point & Lummi Island in under 8 minutes. Seriously, imagine my surprise! Whatever you imagined, it's not as surprised as I really was. A jaw droppingly quick trip.  So quick in fact, the USADA is dropping their doping case against Lance Armstrong to instead go after the Whatcom Chief. See what I mean?!? The trip was so quick I didn't even have enough time to come up with a better punch line for that ill-fated attempt at a performance enhancing drug joke. 

Bellingham: Marine Park

Marine Park

This was a good evening.