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Seattle . Fortunately , I am on it for less than 30 miles and in just over 3 hours I am pointed due North on the 101 towards Olympic National Park .
I ’ m in no rush since my entire route around the Olympic Peninsula is less than 300 miles . I enjoy hiking through the rain forest and walking down to several beaches , even safely passing through the vampire laden Forks , Washington . I finally arrive at the Makah Indian Reservation . Navigating from a good old-fashioned paper map , it seems I can truly ride no further northwest . I park the bike and after a short 30-minute walk on a trail impeccably maintained by the reservation , I arrive at the Cape Flattery Light House overlook . As I look across the Straight of Juan De Fuca , the international boundary between the US and the “ The Great White North ” I wonder if there is any possibility of accessing the 20-acre Tatoosh Island . At ½ mile off the US coastline it is officially the northwestern most lighthouse on the west coast of the contiguous United States . The islands “ westof-me ” location taunts me as I watch speedboats wiz between the mainland and the namesake of Chief Tatooche . However , because it is not contiguous I feel I can accept my position at approximately W124 ° 42 ’ 52 longitude as close enough to the furthest point west in the contiguous U . S . I smile take one more photo of the lighthouse and return to my bike .
Perhaps the knowledge of being conceived at the furthestincorporated point southeast in the contiguous United States has been has driven me all the years to seek out the northwestern most point . Perhaps I am subconsciously trying to erase the image of my semi-clad , long since divorced parents joining giblets . Then again , it is probably just an excuse for yet another epic ride . Regardless , I am always up for being wrong and heading back out on the road !
Epilogue :
Well shoot ! Since my visit west , I have made a new discovery . Apparently , a short 1-hour ride to the south of Cape Flattery is Cape Alva , Washington . Located at 124 ° 44 ′ 11.8 ″ W , it is approximately 5 seconds of longitude , or about 360-feet further west during high tide than Cape Flattery . Yes , Flattery is further from Key West . And yes , what ’ s five seconds among friends ? Insert your own conception joke there . In the interest of science it looks like I have no choice but to return to the West Coast in 2016 ! I apologize in advance to my wife and kids . Darn my miscalculations !
November 2015 Thunder Roads Magazine ® Colorado 11