Minu 1: Yesterday morning during my first van start of the day the engine control warning light turned on. I read t he manual description that explained the engine might not have all power available. Bummer, and not a Sprinter repair shop on the island. Last night I researched shops and found one in Bellingham where I will be next Thurs thus cutting my island visit short. The light always goes out after a few minutes, it is giving me warning. I am driving such short distances the engine rarely reaches operating temp.

Plus 1: My new debit card and pin were picked up @ the PO. I paid for speedier delivery that delivered it on Sat. I tracked the mail seeing that it was delivered on Sat. I walked to the PO and read a closed sign. Today once inside the lobby I read a sign informing of Sat AM pick up. Oh well. I had $12 cash by consuming frugally. Now i can get @ $ and the van is having a hickup. And buy a second beer.

Yesterday was the last sort of nice day per the forecast. The wind died down and the temp almost made freezing. I drove back to Moran SP for a hike up MT Constitution. I was managing my time to be back in Eastsound to watch the Seahawks game. Remarkable that the high winds only knocked down 2 trees in the 2.9 miles I climbed. The ground was frozen and places the runoff was ice flows. I managed to sleep late which shortened my hike to the summit. The Seahawks lost. The small tavern, only 1 in town, was packed w/ a rowdy home team crowd.

I have been sleeping in the airport parking lot. The XGs @ Moran are up a twisting paved road that ices up. Forecast is for snow which means slippery road, I might continue to stay in town.

Island life. I am writing this in the heated library. Eastsound is the commerce center on Orcas. I haven’t seen a Verizon store. There is 1 large grocery store that has almost banker hours. There is a good brew pub.

Last night I attended a burlesque interpretation of the Nutcracker along w/ a packed house. Dancing, pasties, and G strings on both sexes. I am still processing what I viewed. The audience was into it.

In late afternoon the winds abated considerably w/ temps still in the 20s. I can’t get warm. Last night I slept in the airport parking lot exposed to the wind rocking the van. The wind played hell w/ my opened roof vent such that I was concerned the wind would destroy it so I kept it closed. Tradeoff was no venting of combustion h20 vapor which sheeted out on the inside of the windshield. I doubled up both blankets and wore a bike skull cap and the heater on high I still slept chilly. This AM I watched a air carrier land a single engine passenger plane into a slight side wind, no, the angle was slight, the wind speed was gusting into prolly the 30s. Exciting. Later I watched a smaller single engine attempt while being wing to wing bounced around, he decided he really had no business on Orcas. Just too windy and cold for my comfort. Today I wore long underwear, top and bottom. I added my Pisgah wool jersey and the heavier Patagonia wool sweater. For wind protection I wore a Patagonia puffball jacket, and my ski wool hat, and gloves while walking along a beach. I was so cold.

Today I visited Ian @ his hostel where the cast from last night’s show stayed for an invited shower. He was a partner in the show. He said when we met he felt a kindred energy flow and he chose to share. Cool.

B4 the show I visited the local brew pub to sample what is up. A guy stood beside me and asked me who was following whom. Huh? He told me we met this summer on Angel’s Staircase. Naw, I didn’t ride it this summer. As he talked my memory spooled up and I remembered the encounter. He puts on 100 mile foot races and he was cleaning the trail. He is putting on a 200 miler on the Tahoo rim next fall. We met in August of 2011 as verified by my log book.

MT Baker from Anacortes, thanks for tip.

It fit but won’t enlarge.

Back in the 80s I climbed Baker 4 times, skiing off the summit 3X and a death defying technical ice climb on the NW ridge. An ice fall preceeded our start then another after we climbed by. Our escape was the summit. We made itto the top then downclimbed the ski route. We made our bivy site just b4 dark, packed up, then wiggled our way over the crevaced glacier almost in the dark. More to it than that. Another exciting adventure w/ Jeff Johnson. (I wonder if he is still alive?) Skinny skies and leather boots, telemark.

Wednesday evening I arrived on Orcas island in the San Juans, deposited by WA state ferry system, $76. fare. All roads here ultimately end back on the ocean.

Tues. I packed up my van and headed west. Tuesday night I spent in the snow park. I saved driving over the pass for daylight on Wed. I saw 6 degrees on my van thermometer as I climbed the pass.  It’s just cold.

Snow and cold continued going west almost to the ocean.

I drove highway US 2 from Spokane to Everett then turned north on I-5 to Anacortes and highway US 20 out to the ferry dock. peaceful sailing into the sunset. I drove of the ferry and headed to Moran state park in the dark. Previous wind damage littered the road w/ broken tree parts. I found the south end open XG that I had all to myself. Very cold. My heater just does not stay ahead of the teen temps outside.

Thurs i drove back to East Sound to learn about things. I found the local bike shop and chatted w/ Dan, the owner, for awhile. I asked for recommendations on free places to park over night. He sent me to a hostel. I met Dave, the owner, and among other things we had a free ranging conversation. He commented on Jingoism. He wanted $2 less per night than the state campgrounds but I would be a bit closer to town and have access to the inside. He suggested another hostel and I drove off to find it. Ian, the owner was another character. He is working on converting a large school bus into a festival rig. He told me about tonight’s performance of the burlesque nutcracker play and the cast is staying in his hostel. He wanted a few $ less and did offer free access to his shower. Both places were in residential areas but not in the woods. I still chose the state park @ $22. night.

yesterday I checked my bank account and saw 2 charges for fuel back in Ohio. I called my credit union to report the false charges. I was told that my card had been compromised back in Nov and that they mailed me a notice and a new card and pin. All of which were still in my mail forwarding service. On Thurs they closed my card. Fortunately it was working for me on Wed to buy diesel, groceries, and ferry fee. I went on line to the mail forwarding and selected what I hope are the entire bank correspondence and ordered them mailed to me here on Orcas. I am managing my small stash of cash till card arrival on either Mon or Tues. Back in Spokane someone broke into 2 grocery store chains where I shop. My guess is my card info was picked up there. Compliments to fraud detection @ BECU to shut off unusual transactions.

Another cold night, 17 degrees and the wind picked up overnight. I checked the NOAA weather report that listed an ice build up data.  Temps are still well below freezing.

Last night I camped in another SP XG that is higher up MT Constitution. The elevation allowed XM reception that the previous XG didn’t get.

Today i did my wash and drove into East Sound. I found a store selling tickets for tonight’s Nutcracker that allowed me to pay by check.

Moran SP has multiuse trails, bikes are prohibited on some of them during high season to facilitate user conflict.

Again I chose to stay in the warmth of a heated building here @ the library. The wind is to gradually abate this weekend but remain cold. I am wearing wool long underwear, thank you merino wool sheep.

So I will remain here until my card arrives at least. Sun shine, cold temps, and high winds. Interacting w/ locals as I can.

My big camera uses more pixels than this web site will allow to be posted. Bummer. Great view of snow covered MT Baker from the ferry terminal.