Day 2. Arlington, WA to Rockport, WA, 52 miles

Today was much drier and, in related news, much better. The rain stopped around 2 a.m., and I was able to pack up under a picnic shelter this morning. After having dried all my clothing under the bathroom hand dryer (a godsend!) last night, I dried each piece of the tent this morning. Such a relief not to have to pack and carry a wet tent. And then it didn’t really even rain! There were occasional showers, but it was sunny and in the high 60s much of the day—perfect riding weather. Everything but my socks and shoes got dry. After weighing the options, I went with bare feet in wet shoes—seemed like the best shot for the scant sun to dry them. Such are the choices on bike tour.

The riding was beautiful. Some real climbs and descents (my device says I hit 40 mph!) and a lot of riding along rivers, first the North Fork Stillaguamish then the Sauk. Tonight’s campground, Howard Miller Steelhead Park, is on the Skagit.

The campground! When I arrived, the camp host told me the tent sites are flooding, and they’d best put me in “the Adirondacks,” which turns out to be a three-sided shelter with bunk beds, a covered picnic table, ample electric, and water. And there’s WiFi! This is a posher setup than I could have dreamed of, and I am feeling pretty good. Off for a shower, and then a relaxed evening in the bunkhouse with my Kindle .