After a fine cooked breakfast we wave goodbye, for a flat ride to near the end of the Hood Canal where a pair of Bald eagles are eating fish. Then gentle undulations around lakes, surrounded by fine wooden holiday homes. The traffic is lorry-free as it is Sunday, but fairly busy with holiday traffic, mainly 4x4s pulling caravans or boats. Hand written boards advertise "garage" or "yard" sales. As always, Janet and Ian's smart yellow tandem attracts admiring glances, from the tiny girl who accurately calls it a "double bike", to teenagers saying it's "cool"!
At Shelton we stop outside the library to use their free wifi and replace worn brake blocks before, 5 miles on, reaching our Warmshowers Host, also generously hosting 2 young Americans who have cycled from Maine. Mike helps them repair broken spokes. They explain to us the rules of golf frisbee , involving 3 different sizes of frisbee.
An autumn mist hangs amongst the morning trees, but soon burns off. The easiest road yet, very quiet on a Holiday Monday, (Labour Day). After a river valley of cattle and horse farms, at Elma there is a long cycling and running road race, which confuses us as they are going in both directions!
We bump into the two American cyclists again at Oakville, and reach Centralia by 4pm. The very basic camp site was also very cheap and VERY close to the busy freight line, so we expect to be woken early by the loud hooting at crossings.
After our evening meal, we hone our frisbee skills with a large lid from a giant yoghurt pot, leftover from our dessert.
Tour miles to date: 794
Location:Seattle to Centralia
