Blue Star

Orcas Training Camp

I just returned from spending the long Turkey Day weekend on Orcas Island. Orcas provided the perfect backdrop for some long training rides, good food, and family time.

Day 0 (Travel Day):
Both SLR and I had to work on Wednesday, so we didn't hit the road until about 4:30 or so. The drive north to Anacortes took forever. We didn't exceed 15mph all the way north to Marysville. The exhaust fumes were actually nauseating with the windows UP! We sat in traffic for two hours before the gridlock eased. We were starting to worry that we were going to miss the 8:25 ferry we were trying to catch and was the last of the day. We made it with not much time to spare. Once on the ferry, all the stresses of life, work, and driving melt away. I slept the entire way to Orcas.

Day 1 (Turkey Day):
The biggest training day of the weekend. 4 hours on the schedule had me doing some rough calculations of how many paved miles of road are on the island. According to H's contact, there are 59 point something miles, which was plenty to get the job done. The riding was the stuff that bike tours are made of. I saw nearly every corner of the island and the roads were empty. I may have passed 10 cars the entire afternoon. While over near Olga and Obstruction pass, I watched as the shroud of clouds that blanket the Olympics this time of year parted for a brief moment to reveal the snowy mountain treasures hidden underneath. The Olympics were a sight to behold especially when backlit by the waning sun. At one point near the end of my ride, a bald eagle and I glided along at the same pace along a desolate stretch of road that tracked the water's edge. The only sound was the ticking of my freewheel and a slight wind that pushed us both along to our future destinations. Invigorated by the Island's beauty, I hardly noticed that my scheduled riding time was almost up. I circled back to the house to finish the day.

Recovery is easy when you can consume enough protein (the Bird), carbs (mash and stuffin'), and fat (in just about everything on the table) in one sitting. Upon my return, I pitched in to finish up the preparations by mashing some taters and prepping the bread putting for desert. The Chef's creations could have graced Martha Stewart's Living. I tore into a heaping plate and enjoyed with much thanks for family, bikes, and the beauty of Orcas. I'm sure I downed enough Kcals to replace what I burned over the course of the ride.

Day 2 (Rainy Day):
The rain was falling fast with big drops for almost the whole day. In other words, it was really wet and not the best riding weather. Good thing I have a coach that can make it rain when I have a gym day scheduled. 1 hour of max strength time at the Orcas Athletic Club. Max strength phase requires moving lots of weight until your legs feel like they are going to fold over backwards. Mission accomplished. Tossed in a few treys on the court to make sure I still have the j working.

Day 3 (Dirty Roads Day):
Having exhausted all the paved roads on Thanksgiving, I decided to hit some dirt roads on Saturday. 3 hours of chamois time on tap. I made it my mission to explore the nooks and crannies that most visitors of Orcas pass by on route to their respective destinations. I headed down seldom traveled dirt roads, most of which were plastered with "Private Road" signs. I think I ended up in places like Spring Point, Killebrew Lake, and Victorian Valley, but one can never be sure because I was winging it. Another solid training day in the books.

Day 4 (Last Day):
3 more hours. I took the Killebrew/Dolphin Bay Road route into town. Both are open dirt roads that pass by beautiful lakes and wetlands. The trees and moss form a tunnel hiding the sun making it rather cold riding. I decided to retrace my steps out to Olga to see if the Olympics would make an appearance today. No such luck. I headed back via Crow Valley Road with a brief jaunt towards Deer Harbor on the way. The water of Massacre Bay was green and still giving off the appearance that it was solid jade and not really H2o. One last slog up the hill on Orcas Road that leads to Orcas landing and I called it a weekend. That hill is a grind, even more so because at the crest there is a road sign laughing at you, "Uff da Hill Rd." Before I knew it, back on the ferry for the journey home; revitalized with some solid base miles in the legs.

Total Ride Time: 10 hours
Gym Time: 1 hour
Orcas beauty and Thanksgiving with Family: Priceless.

Blue Star