ADVENTURING IN PORT TOWNSEND

Fort Worden is a decommissioned military base that is now a state park. Part of the park has a campground.

On Friday I had to rush in a ride at 8:00 and make it one of the shorter ones as I needed to get changed and help finish packing the RV for departure soon after. My ride was slightly wet with soft rain most of the way but I was fine with that. I am getting quite used to riding in the rain and rather enjoying it. 

We got to Edmonds for the ferry and the sun was shining in blue sky ;’-). That is what we had for the remainder of the day. Once at Port Townsend we stopped by for a quick hello to friends we have not seen in years, then on to lunch at ‘Taps at the Guardhouse’ pub/cafe at Fort Worden. 

Built in 1904, the Guardhouse provided “transient” accommodations for soldiers who breached military discipline, usually as a result of unauthorized activities in the rough and tumble taverns on Port Townsend’s notorious Water Street. 

“Transient Accommodations...

They would play taps at 10:00 each night to call lights out.

Got set up in our camp spot and walked around the area in sunshine. Then walked to the bunkers 

I find it very sobering whenever I am on a military base. Sobering and sad as I think of the men and their families who lived the life here, and how cruel war is.

While on our bunker walk we could hear what sounded like bag pipes. Sure enough.

We strolled to and around the lighthouse making it a long walk today. 

Coming back to camp at about 5:00 it was still daylight. Hard to believe. Daylight hours are finally extending.

THEN (at dark at 6:30)) we walked the mile back up to Taps for their open Mic Storytelling. That was not a hightligt for me as with my hearing impairment I could not hear much of the stories. But, according to Susan, they were not very good stories any way.

On Saturday morning we unloaded our bikes for a biking day. Jenny and Laurent had given us this wonderful Christmas present. — a cover for our bikes while traveling.

This was promising to be a good day as we had a nice size ‘sucker hole’.

We biked up to breakfast at Reveille at the ‘Commons’ building.

After what we thought was a delightful, bountiful breakfast, we continued our ride into town to meet up at our ride start for a ride on the Larry Scott Trail Memorial. 

Laura, our leader, gathered the other seven of us together for an overview of the ride and we soon were on our way. A very short distance from our start we came to the beginning of the Larry Scott Memorial Trail. Unpaved, but very hard packed, the trail gave us a delightful ride today. We encountered several horse riders, who safely held their horses in control at the side of the trail as we passed; rolled through some open fields and pastures; ducked under a few trees through the forest; glided around a gentle path winding through more trees; and, what seemed all too soon, we were at the terminus of the trail. Time to head back.

We started up at the top right corner and were now at the turn around point at the bottom of the map.

The happy cyclists — minus Terry who took the photo...

The eight of us went in different directions for the rest of the afternoon, then met up for Thai dinner in downtown Port Townsend before saying our good nights and goodbyes. 

On Sunday, though it had rained in the night, I got out for my solo ride in dry and partial sun. More in-depth riding around the military grounds afforded me a few photos to share.

This falcon (I think it is a falcon — correct me if I am wrong) was watching over all who ambled past on foot or bike ;’-)

One of the storytellers had told some tale involving Alexander’s Castle that we had not heard of. I chanced upon it on this morning’s ride.

I did not wander far on my ride and in fact, did a few loops twice to get a few more miles. I wanted to find the cemetery we had passed the day before. And I did.

And this cute free library...

I stopped for some history lesson.

It seems that many decommissioned military bases end up offering diagnostic and treatment centers for a period of time. Until it went out of vogue to help those who need it (my own opinion).. 

 

The Fort Worden State Park campground is very nice, clean and roomy. Kind of wide open and not nestled in trees seems right for here. I would come back here any time. And we might just do that when we feel an itch to get away from home and get nestled into our RV.