August 4, 2019
In Sequim: the lavender loop
Perhaps we’ve been on the road together too long.
Walking to dinner tonight, as a way to pass the time I began broaching an idea for a tour that I’ve been mulling. Not yet two sentences into my pitch, Rachael forcefully interjects “B!”. Hilarious laughter from both of us breaks out immediately, and lasts us until we get two blocks closer to dinner.
The reference is to this short clip shared with us two weeks ago by Keith at the largest CycleBlaze BBQ to date.
Before that though was the ride. We’re in Sequim for two nights to allow time for a leisurely ride through its regionally famous lavender fields. It’s perhaps just a bit of a stretch to market themselves as America’s Provence, but they do put on a good show. There are about ten lavender fields scattered nearby, leveraging Sequim’s surprisingly mild climate here in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains.
We’re here at an excellent time to enjoy the show. The lavender is in full bloom, and yesterday was the Tour de Lavender, the premier cycling event in the region. It’s nice to come along on the day after, when the roads aren’t cluttered up with a hoard of other bikers.
We enjoyed a very leisurely day, stopping frequently to admire the fields or the seaside views looking out over Dungeness Bay and its incredibly long spit. We’re taking it easy while we can, hopefully storing something up for the climb up Hurricane Ridge that looms just two days down the road.
For lunch we stopped at Jardin du Soleil, hoping that they’d have cold drinks available - we should have gotten an earlier start, and by early afternoon it was getting uncomfortably warm. There was only one option available - lavender flavored lemonade, offered on a contribution basis by two wholesome looking young girls sitting at a stand in the shade. We found our own shady spot and enjoyed a nice break, gazing at the colorful display and watching the free range chickens scratch away in the dirt for their midday meal until we were ready to brave the heat again.
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Video sound track: Nefertiti’s Dream, by Susan Werner
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Ride stats today: 39 miles, 1,500’; for the tour: 729 miles, 32,900’
Today's ride: 39 miles (63 km)
Total: 717 miles (1,154 km)
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5 years ago
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But if you and Rachael decide that "B" is a nice zero-maintenance place in Port Townsend or Sequim, can we visit? ;0)
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