Folks come from all over the world to ride bikes through the San Juan Islands. We are fortunate to have them in our backyard, and can ride them on weekends for just a few dollars! John Sargent led eight Washington Alpine Club members on the Lopez Island Ramble Bike Ride. Dennis Pierce, John Sargent, Audrey Pitigliano, Doerte Mahanay, Mike Mahanay, Amy Sargent, Laura Sargent, and Les Sargent all participated!

After meeting at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, we transferred our camping gear to Les Sargent in the van, then rode our bikes on to the ferry. As always, we watched very carefully for Orcas.

Upon arrival at Lopez Island, we rode to the campground and set up camp. We had a fantastic view of the water from the shelter of the trees.

Our group getting ready to ride from the campground. Dennis Pierce, John, Audrey, Doerte, Mike, Amy, and Laura.

The day was cool and cloudy, and all the ride was on pavement. There were very few cars on the road, and most of the locals would slow down and give us a friendly wave. Our route took us on a 34.5 mile loop from the North end of the island to the South end and back. We had snacks at Agate Beach, and rode through the village.

Lopez Island is also popular for kayaking.
 

The views were fabulous even with the cloudy weather! Photo by Dennis Pierce.

Lopez Island Map

http://www.lopezisland.com/map.html

At the South end of Lopez Island at Agate Beach. Audrey, Doerte, Dennis, and John.

Lopez was named after Lopez Gonzales de Haro, the Spanish captain who "discovered" the San Juan Islands in 1791. The next Europeans to come to Lopez were the Scandinavian fishermen in the early 19th century, having discovered what the earlier cultures had known all along - that the shores of the these islands teemed with fish.

Lopez's gentle topography encouraged agriculture somewhat earlier than the other islands. When white settlers arrived on the San Juans in the 1850's, Lopez was their first choice. Now farmers raise everything from sheep to llamas, and their crops reflect the same exotic range: from wine grapes to apples, from pears to kiwis. Visitors to Lopez will see a pastoral landscape with fewer luxury summer homes compared to the two "big" islands of Orcas and San Juan.
 

The San Juan Islands Photo by Dennis Pierce

Worthy of a visit are the Lopez Historical Museum in Lopez Village, and Centre Church, built in 1887, along with pioneer Union Cemetery on Davis Bay Rd.

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Doerte getting ready to disembark from the ferry at Lopez Island.

John Sargent has real knack for putting together fun bike rides. This was the second one of the spring. The first was the Inland Empire Bicycle Tour which covered the Columbia Plateau Trail from Sprague thru the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge to Fish Lake, and then the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, from Plummer to Enaville, Idaho. He did a wonderful job of organizing two rides that was appropriate for everyone. 

A huge big thanks to Les Sargent for hauling our camping gear to the Island and running the Sag wagon!