Day 2 With Spencer Spit And Shark Reef Sanctuary – Must Hike Must Eat

You will see that Day 1 of our San Juan Island journey right here: Three Days In The San Juan Islands: Day 1 And Iceberg Level. I additionally realized whereas scripting this submit that this was technically a 4 day, 3 night time journey. My hubby so hardly ever takes greater than a break day to increase the weekend that I forgot we left on Thursday. Oops. Nevertheless it’s 3 days in case you assume when it comes to a day as 24 hours and we had been gone about 72 hours, so I’m not that far off.

Odlin County Park & Campground

Day 2 on Lopez Island within the San Juans began round 6am with extra ferry watching. The purpose in the present day was to experience our bikes to Spencer Spit State Park very first thing earlier than testing of the campground as a result of it was solely 3-4 miles away relying on which highway you are taking.

After a fast breakfast we had been off a few quarter after 7.

We rolled previous the locals foraging for their very own morning nourishment.

Spencer Spit State Park

In lower than half an hour, we arrived on the state park entrance. I ended for the compulsory bike leaning snapshot.

Tenting is obtainable at Spencer Spit, together with some hiker/biker spots. As a result of we booked this journey final minute it was not an possibility for us however I’d love to remain right here sooner or later.

The rangers are a playful bunch.

After locking our bikes to the offered racks, we took the principle path all the way down to the spit and lagoon.

The solar was shortly warming the day and filtering via the coastal forest.

Being it was September and early, we had been the one ones out strolling. Nevertheless, there have been boats moored out within the water.

A couple of historic remnants of previous settler life had data markers. The picket water tank was changed with a effectively in 1926.

The kayak rental store was closed. Their web site says they run Could-Labor Day Weekend however it additionally was early within the morning so possibly they weren’t open but.

The lagoon was nice for birdwatching.

The spit ran out in the direction of Frost Island between Swifts Bay and Lopez Sound.

A homesteader cabin sat on the finish of the spit and provided a picnic space.

Contained in the cabin there have been posters detailing the homesteading historical past of the spit and surrounding lands.

I didn’t see a poster within the cabin for it however on-line you examine how the land was stolen from the Indigenous tribes:

Spencer Spit lies throughout the conventional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous individuals whose present-day descendants embrace members of the Samish Indian Nation, Swinomish Indian Tribal Neighborhood and Lummi Nation. For 1000’s of years the wealthy waters of the San Juan Archipelago have offered habitat for a various group of life that kinds the premise of their cultures. As winter days lengthen into spring, herring and herring roe acquire within the eelgrass beds close to shore. A bit of later, spring Chinook salmon move via the island channels. Early summer time brings sockeye salmon, harvested for millennia with reef nets. Sea urchins are gathered by professional divers in late summer time, and clamming peaks within the fall.

Native tribes ceded possession of the realm to the US federal authorities underneath duress within the Treaty of Level Elliot in 1855, protecting rights to reap pure assets of their regular and accustomed locations, together with the lands and waters round Lopez Island. After authorities land surveys had been accomplished in 1875, European-American homesteaders started searching for ultimate websites to assert.

There was additionally details about the geological historical past, the formation of the spit and islands after the recession of glacial ice 1000’s of years in the past.

It was such a shocking morning view, particularly with the rippled clouds above.

We walked all the best way to the place the channel present flows aggressively between the spit and Frost Island. So shut and but up to now.

Our stroll general was not that lengthy and regardless of feeling like we had dawdled, we had been again up on the parking zone a bit after 8am. I couldn’t assist however admire one other native who had chosen such a stunning spot to make its house (albeit short-term).

Holly B’s Bakery and Lopez Grind

We rode our bikes again to Odlin and packed up the automotive. We had been going to take the 1:35pm ferry from Lopez to San Juan so we had loads of time to do a couple of extra issues earlier than heading to the ferry line.

An area bakery, Holly B’s, caught our eye the night time earlier than as a pleasant spot to get a deal with and presumably espresso. It was busy at 9am, everybody assembly their bread wants for the weekend.

Gary ended up getting some drip espresso and I picked up a gluten free brownie for later. Look how darkish and wealthy they’re!

Not wanting anybody to really feel neglected, I additionally snuck subsequent door for an Americano. The Lopez Grind provided a couple of gluten free treats, themselves.

Shark Reef Sanctuary

Having looked for some native hikes on Washington Trails Affiliation, I knew we had to take a look at the Shark Reef Sanctuary. With espresso in hand, we drove south about half means between the Lopez village space and Agate Seashore the place we had been yesterday and located the county park trailhead. And what a ravishing trailhead it was!

It even had some picnic tables and bike racks in a clearing subsequent door.

The path began off on a sturdy boardwalk designed to have some traction when moist. You know the way vital that may be!

We quickly got here to a loop and went left.

The entire hike is about 1 mile so it was not lengthy earlier than we emerged from the forest and stood earlier than this view. My image doesn’t do justice to how gorgeous this spot is. Okay, possibly a bit.

Are you able to see all of the white and gray sea lions perched on the rocks?

We had been additionally fascinated by the present beneath with the lengthy strands of bull kelp. We might have even tossed some sticks into the channel to see how briskly they had been carried away. No sharks had been noticed, nevertheless.

After some time, we begrudgingly continued on the path to finish the loop hike.

If we had taken a proper on the loop at first, we might have come to this secluded pocket seashore first. All in all, it was about 45 minutes to finish the loop and be again on the trailhead.

Lopez Island Farmer’s Market

With a bit extra time to spare, we determined to cease as soon as once more on the Farmer’s Market within the village as we had been driving via. It was near the tip of their season so there was not giant number of cubicles to cease at however we did discover a bit gem. I didn’t assume to take a more in-depth image however on the fitting hand facet of this one, you possibly can see a small desk with a couple of white indicators promoting apple cider and flowers. Three youngsters had been manning the sales space, providing contemporary squeezed cider they’d made themselves that morning. We couldn’t resist!

Subsequent door was group backyard space known as Sally’s Backyard Conservation Easement. We didn’t go inside however did stroll across the outdoors studying extra from markers alongside the best way.

Sally Invoice’s imaginative and prescient for 3 acres she donated to the group, smack within the coronary heart of Lopez Village, has turn out to be a actuality. Earlier than she handed away in 1999, Sally purchased the property so she might give one thing again to the Lopez group she beloved. With enter from dozens of islanders, Sally put collectively a bunch of group members to see the job via. What emerged was a rigorously crafted plan to protect open inexperienced area within the ever-growing Lopez Village and showcase the island’s agriculture and gardening custom.

I’m fairly certain we additionally stopped by the Lopez Island Thrift Retailer simply to see what a tiny island village may need in the best way of treasure however I don’t have any photographic proof to again that reminiscence up.

Ferry To San Juan Island

Not sure what number of vehicles can be leaving from Lopez to San Juan, we didn’t need to arrive too late on the ferry terminal. This did give us a possibility to stroll across the parking zone and see what the buildings held. That infant on the left is an inside seating space and mini library! That may be a fortunate useful resource for any hikers or cyclists ready for the boat.

This was additionally a ferry first for me, the boat needed to first drop off vehicles arriving at Lopez after which flip round and are available again to choose up vehicles departing! It is because the ferry stops at Shaw and Orcas Islands on the best way to Friday Harbor. It was a enjoyable course of to look at from the viewing dock earlier than going again as much as the automotive to load. Plus, we had an awesome view of Mount Baker between the islands.

Madrone Cellars

Our ferry arrived on San Juan Island at 2:15pm so we had time to stroll round Friday Harbor earlier than we visited Madrone Cellars (moderately than drive the ten miles throughout the island to our campsite and again). We picked up snacks on the native grocery retailer and peered into store home windows.

Madrone was a mellow institution, arrange similar to a wine tasting room (comprehensible since they do make wine). Their ciders are distinctive in that they reap the benefits of spontaneous fermentations and solely apples grown on the San Juan Islands themselves.

We left Madrone and made our solution to San Juan County Park round 6:30pm, arriving in time to arrange camp earlier than the solar set. It was a brief stroll to the water’s edge to finish our day, and we seemed ahead to what San Juan Island needed to supply in the best way of mountain climbing and biking for the remainder of our keep.

Day 3’s submit will share about how we hiked round Lime Kiln State Park and quickly thwart some skinny dippers, visited a filming location for the film Sensible Magic, realized about how the British Military was as soon as primarily based on San Juan Island, and explored Roche Harbor on its remaining day of the season!

Sources For Day 2 within the San Juan Islands:

Additionally, when planning my journey I signed up for the Lopez Chamber of Commerce e-newsletter and it’s FULL of nice data on visiting Lopez Island.