In getting ready for the bike tour that Randy and I are leaving for on Saturday, June 21 I've been communicating with a number of experienced bicycle tourists. One nifty resource I learned about recently was this international organization called Warm Showers. The idea of the organization is to link potential hosts with bicycle tourists. What a great way to learn the real travel secrets of an area!
I signed up but mentioned that I would be on my own bike tour from June 21 until July 13 so would not be available for hosting bicyclists during that time. Five days later I received my first request from a small group that would be riding the Northern Tier route from Anacortes, WA (where I live) to Bar Harbor, ME. The hard part was that the group would be arriving on Sunday, Father's Day. It had already been a planned, packed weekend with 2 birthday parties and one Father's Day/Graduation party plus packing for my tour. Still, I couldn't say no and warned them that I may not be such a great host but they could certainly throw down their sleeping bags in my unheated, unplumbed building in my backyard. And I'd let my neighbors know that I was expecting bicyclists whom I'd never met before in case they arrived before I did.
Unfortunately we didn't get to visit for very long because I was at Party #3 until about 8:15; they arrived from dinner about an hour later. We gave brief introductions, briefly described out upcoming tours, and planned (maybe) to ride a little together in the morning — I decided to commute to work by bicycle in honor of their journey.
Cassie and Tim are from Montana. Tim just finished nursing school so was taking the opportunity to do this cross-country trip with a college buddy (whose name escaped me as soon as we were introduced), who is a school teacher and out for the summer. Cassie only has 2 weeks off so will go as far as she can until she has to go back to work. I wish I hadn't packed my camera in my touring panniers so I could've got a picture. Tim had a camera and took a picture of me. I hope he sends me pictures of their inaugural day.
It was a short send-off since I had to ride to work and they still had to do the ceremonial rear tire dip into the Pacific. The Guemes Island ferry landing is about a mile from my house so I directed them to that. Unfortunately I had to ride fast to get to work on time. I wish them a good journey and hope to hear from them.