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Olympic Peninsula - Quinalt Lake bike loop

July 4, 2020 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Bike

Weather: 60s, nice

Comments:
Slept in at the TH, then drove a half-mile down the road to AM hike to the "world's largest sitka spruce". After that, we hopped on the bikes.

The map showed a long loop around the lake/river - but some of it was gravel - but we gave it a push, anyway, riding counterclockwise from the south shore, up river then across and back down the north side.

The road was nice as it wound through some rural neighborhoods, then back on the river. Then it hit gravel...but it was remarkably smooth and no problems riding. What helped was the road was 100% flat.

At the bridge, the sun finally came out, providing glimpses of snow-capped mountains to the interior of the National Park, proper.

Crossing to the north side, the road stayed paved for a mile, then turned back to gravel: rolling gravel! It was harrowing at times, but OK...til CA - on her "gravel bike" - flatted!

Thankfully it retained some air and she was able to finish, but we were a good 8+ miles out! And the road also went to paved shortly thereafter, which helped.

30 mile ride all the way back out to 101 and around again. Solid effort.

Rest of the day:
* lake bath, then brunch, at the day-use "beach" - same as last night
* packed up the van and drove to Forks to get supplies to try to repair her tube
* found an awesome dispersed campsite in the Oly NP, immediately adjacent the NP/Sol Duc River area

Pretty good day, although tedious at times. I felt better than yesterday, but still grump/histamine'd, for some reason...(maybe the dairy from yesterday?)