This was a day of three, maybe four parts.

1. The early morning

This involved frantic packig of kit, ehich seemed to have exploded out of 6 pannoers with no real idea of how to fit it in again. Also, some last minute bike adjustments, all slowed by a lack of sleep (we only finoshed putting the bikes together at midnight the day before).

Finally, done with out bikes and kit around 10:30, we said goodbye to Mary (WS host). And said goodbye again a little further down the road when she dropped off a cable we'd left - whoops.

2. A pretty ride by Lake Washington

Afterworking our way through Seattle (keeping an eye out for familiar bokes in Fremont), we found a great bike path that ran round Lake Washington and then along Squamish river. Unfortunately, it was such smooth going that we ended up following the trail roud south again for a bit and had to reroute. Luckily, with no bike computers, we had no idea how far we were going.

3. Straight up hwy 9

Knowing we still had quite dar to go, we decided to head north along hwy 9 and just make up some miles. It wasn't the most pleasant ride. The shoulder was broad, the traffic was constant, and I was a little jealous of the pace at which my brother went up every hill.

Indeed, I spent most of today getting used to riding with other people again. Having to adjust slightly to other paces and break needs. Annoying too (at least initially) was the need to inform everyone of decisons and routes - just having and especially changing, them in my head no longer cut it.

Still, by the end of the day, we got a pretty good rhythm going.

Unfortunately, it wasn't until the end of the day that out WS host told us that there is a bike trail which runs pretty much parallel to hwy 9. Ah well.

4. Fed and showered

Food was tasty and plentiful. Shower hot. 'Nuf said. Oh, and there were lots of fireworks, but I was pretty out of it by then...