Island Hopping

Crossing the Deception Pass Bridge

And...a short hop it is from Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island to Anacortes on Fidalgo Island; maybe 25 miles.  We cross over the Deception Pass Bridge, the same one we sailed under last week on our crabbing adventure.. 

Our view at the Cap Sante Marina

And once again we migrate to a marina.  Our view looks out at a maze of masts, flags and fishermen, campers sporting a lot of crabbing equipment; nets and huge propane-fueled pots for boiling.  I call this theme-parking, as in our last month and 3 locations have been in similar venues.   We are staying at the Cap Sante Marina in downtown Anacortes, with no hookups, at a nightly rate of $18, with space for several RVs in a large grassy parking lot shared with boat trailers.  A short, easy walk takes us to Safeway, the Wednesday and Saturday Farmers' Markets and all the perks the historic downtown has to offer.  A paved walking path meanders for about 5 miles one way and we have given it a good work-out.  

Anacortes Ferry Terminal

Anacortes is homeport to the San Juan Islands and conveniently situated half-way between Seattle and Vancouver, BC.  The Washington State Ferries are at our beck and call for those day trips to the San Juan Islands and Victoria, on Vancouver Island, BC.

Beautiful view from the foredeck

So on a beautiful, warm, sunny day over Labor Day weekend, we set out for the ferry terminal, about 5 miles away, and boarded the 9 a.m. ship for San Juan Island, a little over an hour's sail through some spectacular scenery. 

Most folks "walk-on" and spend their day meandering around Friday Harbor, the main attraction, where the ferry disembarks.  We opted to take the jeep, $45 round-trip, so we could tour the entire island.

At Cattle Point

From the ferry we drove to the southern tip of the Island and Cattle Point, so named in 1853 when the Hudson Bay Company established a ranch and populated it with sheep and cattle.  

At American Camp Nat'l Historic Park

At this time the territory was managed jointly by the English and Americans.  Then the Pig War broke out in 1859, supposedly triggered by the shooting of a pig, and bringing the boundary issue of the 49th Parallel once again to the forefront.  The dispute ended with no human casualties  and was resolved with international arbitration in favor of US ownership in 1872.

At the Pelindaba Lavender Farm

As we circumnavigated 45 miles of island roads, we made many stops for short walks and  photos.  Here at the Pelindaba Lavender Farm...

Lighthouse at Lime Kiln Nat'l Historic Park

Here at Lime Kiln State Park, a popular whale-watching spot, one must purchase a Discovery Pass for $10 per day, or $30 per season.  There was nary an Orca in sight, but the views more than made up for it.  Howard grumbles as I write...  In the near distance you can see Vancouver Island.

Colorful kayakers

This colorful little cove at San Juan County Park is a popular kayaking destination.  On this busy weekend, probably the last of the season, the day was perfect for these adventurers!

Roche Harbor Village

By now we are hungry and hurried on to magnificent Roche Harbor Village at the northern tip of San Juan Island.  Sitting outside by the marina on a beautiful, bustling tourist day, we enjoyed a great lunch before heading back for our 3:45 p.m. departure.

We now bid farewell to the Pacific Northwest and a fabulous month, as we head out on a new leg of 2012's adventure!  We hope you follow along with us...

Anacortes, a bird's eye view and some reminiscing...

A quick drive through Whidbey Island~~

Our ferry dropped us off at Coupeville on Whidbey Island. We are a two-motorhome caravan with Stephanie and Gary following behind.  This was a quick drive-through with no stops for sightseeing, just the beautiful pastoral scenery and endless views of the Sound, the city of Oak Harbor, and finally the Deception Pass bridge; all providing a moving picture out our big IMAX windows. We parked on the east side of Anacortes at the Swinomish Casino RV Park giving us easy access to I-5; nice facilities and fuel for the next day's drive to Vancouver.  We have a schedule! 

Arriving Whidbey Island

Anacortes, a destination~~

Anacortes and Whidbey Island have always been major summer destinations for us so these mere drive-bys were hard to bear.  We just had to at least take the few hours we had to give the family a bird's eye view of some of the scenic beauty we have so enjoyed around Anacortes on Fidalgo Island.

Cap Sante Marina overlook

Cap Sante Marina, Ferry Terminal, Washington Park~~

From the Cap Sante Overlook we drove over to the Ferry Terminal, a major arrival/departure point for ships to Vancouver Island and the San Juans.  Next a drive through Washington Park, first the beach then to the top for the views.  By this time all had agreed we had to come back for an extended stay! 

From here to many San Juan and Vancouver Island locations...

Howard, daughter Stephanie, hubby Gary

Howard

Gary

Now for the reminiscing~~

On Whidbey Island we stay at the Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor with its miles of walking paths along the waterfront.  Our friend Rusty has his trawler docked nearby and we go Dungeness crabbing out through Deception Pass:

A walk along the waterfront

With marinas...

Deception Pass

Out for a day of Dungeness crabbing

The guys pull in the crab pots

For another good haul...all have to be measured first!

Later in the evening!

Awesome Anacortes~~

From our dry-camping site at the Cap Sante Marina, now $20 a night, we have a marina view and easy walking into the lovely downtown.  The marina hosts summer concerts by the docks with wonderful fresh seafood and food stands.  There is the annual art festival in August and easy access to so many points of interest, like Island Hopping to San Juan Island for a day.

Downtown on a quiet day

Howard poses with the mermaids by the marina...

I love these Nordic Tugs, but they burn a ton of diesel & are very expensive!

Reflections...

A mass of masts...

An Overview...

Marina madness; Anacortes, WA

Leaving Port Townsend we took the ferry via Whidhey Island to Anacortes, WA on Fidalgo Island, part of the San Juan Islands group.

Approaching Whidbey Island through very dirty wind shield

Some visual aid

Once again we are drawn to another boating facility,  Cap Sante Marina, centrally located for easy walks to town and great walking trails. Once again, as in Port Townsend, we did no major sight-seeing as in year's past.  No ferry to San Juan Island and Friday Harbor though you can read of past visits HERE.  We just lived normally with our usual schedule, a few projects here and there, walks/runs, Farmers Markets, eating good both in local restaurants and at our little casa mobile, and visiting with friends who migrate to this part of the country during late Summer to early Fall. I should mention that although there are devastating fires burning in WA, OR, and CA we are smoke free with temps in the mid 70s to 80.  I think we had one day of light rain in both Port Townsend and Anacortes.

Though the parking facilities contain no hookups for the approx. 20 sites and are nothing fancy just grass with dividers , it's the view and town that keeps us coming back.  Here is our view at the marina.

And from an overlook above~~

Cap Sante Marina from above overlook

Oil tankers waiting to load/unload

At Washington Park

Around the town:

Murals tell the town's history

Old paddle wheeler now a museum

Psychedelic espresso

Couldn't resist this sign

You Betcha

Big ship building town

Howard enjoying an old car show

More murals

Chess play for real!

We are now behind and playing catch-up!  We currently are heading into Canada's Shuswap area to visit friends, Dan and Heather, we met last winter in Anza Borrego.  But first there was a stop in Bellingham to catch-up with our old friend, and amiga we met in Mexico many years ago.

While spending our week in Canada we won't have internet unless we're fortunate to have wifi like we have now, at the Brookside RV Park, in Cache Creek, BC.