Day 68

Man it's good to be back in western Washington. Woke up before the rest of the guys and sat under the trees, listening to deadened calls of birds, the river in the distance, but mostly the silence of moss.

Lena and Henry stumbled on down the trail from the van to say bye. They had to go so.ewhere but I was glad they could come and greet me.

I put some water on to boil and the fellas stirred eventually. I saw Lluc throw off a stick that had landed on him in his hammock nest.

Oatmeal was had and camp was broken, and before we left the bikes all got a clean and lube. Out on the road, we headed down the Skagit towards Marblemount. Beautiful road. Dark green trees carpeted with moss, and blue rushing river behind them. Everything looks so shaggy.

We rode in a loose diamond formation. A hell of a lot of fun riding with these cats.

In Marblemount we stopped at an espresso stand, and got some fuel for the stoves at the gas station next door, before heading across the river onto a smaller road that would take us to Rockport. Hardly any traffic and we got to spread out and play a little as we biked. Pete Fountain's clarinet serenaded us as we went.

In Rockport we sprawled out on the grass of the city park for a while before packing up again and splitting for Concrete. On the highway just before town Lluc's chain popped off, and the underwear he wqs dryi g was sacrificed to put it back on. Grease finds its way onto everything...

Town was pretty nice. Laundromat came in clutch.