At Sequim Bay, for instance, the trail encounters Jimmycomelately Creek, part of a rehabilitated wetland that owes its current health to collective efforts, similar to (and overlapping with) the work behind the ODT. The wetland, historically an area of importance to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, had been logged, filled, dredged and developed into a log yard in the 19th century; the original creek was straightened and channeled, and its fish and wildlife habitat degraded.

Beginning in the late 1990s, the Tribe worked with numerous government agencies and partner organizations to “un-develop” the now highly flood-prone area. Workers removed fill and roads from the area, reestablished native plants and realigned the creek to more natural contours. Today, little evidence suggests that, where water and salmon now quietly run, cars and trucks once chugged along roads in a developed community.

Further west, toward Port Angeles, riders encounter two gorgeous, uninterrupted miles of windswept Juan de Fuca Strait shoreline. Here, the sand and gravel beaches afford cyclists access to the cold waters of the Salish Sea. Unfortunately, global warming presents a future threat to vulnerable waterfront portions of the trail: “We have eight miles of trail that are right along the shore of the straits,” said Preble. “We’re already having annual washouts on the more exposed beaches.” Large volunteer teams conduct regular work parties for repairs, he explained, but the endangered trail sections will eventually have to be moved.

While the current sections of the ODT are long enough for good single-day and two-day rides, the trail’s eventual completion will allow cyclists of all stripes to cross the entire northern peninsula without having to suck in clouds of truck exhaust, dodge wobbly RVs or fight for space on car-choked roads. Preble estimates that the trail will be substantially complete in 10 years, with side trails to regional points of interest finished in about 20 years. “I’ll be 97 if we make this schedule!” he added cheerfully.

The Peninsula Trails Coalition is happy to share its experiences with other trail projects. Such groups can contact either Chuck Preble (360-683-4549) or Rich James at Clallam County Public Works (360-417-2513) for advice and information