For most people, bicycling the San Juan's means arriving with your bike and gear in a car on a Ferry.
But it doesn't have to be this way. Savvy cyclists leave their cars in Anacortes and ride the ferry to the San Juan Islands. Once in the islands bicycle travel is the way to go.
First let's explore a likely scenario for those without a boat, bear with me, this will get a little wordy:
You drive to Anacortes and find a place to park for free for a week, maybe more. Or park at the ferry terminal long term parking lot for about $40 per week. Next, jump on the ferry paying a small nominal fee for one passenger and bicycle for a lift to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, or Orcas, or Lopez, or Shaw. FYI: foot passengers and bicyclists never need reservations or need to wait in line like car travelers.
So far so good!
The day is still early, start touring (ride your bike). At the end of the day you will end up in a motel, B&B, campground, or any number of resorts. You probably will be well advised to have some reservations lined up in advance. Oh, and bring a pocket full of cash because restaurants and beds aren't free. The next day tour around some more then jump on the free for foot passengers Ferry to other Islands and repeat. Eventually you will end up back in Anacortes where your car is waiting for the drive home.
This is a great plan if you are into minimalist and don't have a boat, but there are a few weaknesses; number one, where is all my extra gear that I take when I travel, oh yeah its back in the car parked in Anacortes while I'm gallivanting around on an island with nothing but my pocket full of cash and what fits in my bike bags. (not good for some of us) Excellent plan if your a hard core bicyclist. Number two doesn't matter, I'm still back on number one.
Ok, here's the boating/bicycling scenario:
You drive to Anacortes, or Bellingham, or one of the launch ramps I have previously written about, splash the boat, and with the bikes on board or strapped in the towed dinghy, cast off, just like normal. Notice on this scenario you have with you, the kitchen sink, plus all your camping gear including your bed so you wont need any motel, B&B or resort cash unless you choose to raise your entertainment level some night.
By now a few thoughts have crossed your mind like, where on the boat do you carry bikes? salt water corrosion, six people, six bikes? can we raise the sails with all this cargo? and undoubtedly many more deal breakers come to mind. That's fine, this scenario is not for everyone, but for the rest of you I suggest you set course for the county dock at Eastsound on Orcas Island, or Odlin County Park on Lopez Island, or Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. All three places have good holding, free of charge anchoring, easy access docks to unload bikes, and free dinghy places where you can leave your dinghy while your pedaling around the islands.
Bringing your bicycle adds a whole new list of sights to see when cruising the San Juans. Bringing your boat means no ferry schedules, no arrival and departures times at resorts. Freedom to set your own schedule.
Now as a variation, consider island hopping with friends or the kids where you drop them off (with bikes and gear) at one point and them rendezvous later that day or in a day or two somewhere else. In case you forgot or haven't been reading this blog, the Ferry's are free eastbound for cars, and free inter-island for foot and bicycle passengers both directions. So there is no cost to send someone to another island or all the way back to Anacortes. Should you have guests that are only staying part of your trip simply put them on a Ferry and send them and their bikes home while you enjoy the rest of your cruise.
here is a link to an article about bicycling Shaw Island while camping in Friday Harbor Free ferry ride to Shaw and back to Friday Harbor with bicycles
Thanks for reading this somewhat tedious post.
