We wanted to see the San Juan Islands, so we had planned to stay several days in Anacortes, where the ferries are based. It seemed that our plans would change as we made the five-hour drive in the rain from Portland on May 26th, and they did. Rain, rain, rain! But that's what makes the area so great for gardeners. Because of the rain, we decided that the hour and a half wait to board a ferry (with no guarantee after the wait that we could get on, since those going on to British Columbia are loaded first) and at least an hour ride to the first island wasn't worth it. Instead, we enjoyed Anacortes and Whidbey Island (accessed by a short bridge), and even extended our stay a few days.
We stayed at the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort. It is owned by the Samish Indian Nation, which participates in and hosts a night of the annual Native Nations Canoe Journeys, with canoe families (including natives and friends) paddling from locations in British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon to meet each summer. Rain kept us from photographing the Samish family canoe, but it was a beauty, and we were lucky enough to be admiring it when one of the volunteers who helps with the canoe journey arrived. There were actually two full-sized canoes, and he pointed out that one was fiberglass and one was carved from a single log. It was gorgeous! That was the canoe the Samish family would use.
Park staff told us that many reservations had been canceled because of the rain, but we were glad to see that the park was still fairly full for the Memorial Day weekend.
The RV park's beach:
Industry across the bay from the RV park:
The Tommy Thompson Trail is 3.5 miles long and extends from the industrial area on one side of the bay, through the RV park, to the marina side of the bay. It is very popular, and the nearly constant rain did not keep it from being used by many folks walking, running, and riding bikes.
A type of pea and beautiful little pink flowers along the trail:
This bridge forms part of the trail, and a large part of it was destroyed by arson in October of last year. It has since been repaired, and the re-opening ceremony was to take place while we were there. However, heavy rain caused it to be postponed.
Looks like Nessy has moved to Fidalgo Bay!
But our luck was actually better than that. We were watching an otter . . .
who was very hungry!
The mud flats at the RV park when the tide is out:
Anacortes is a nice little town, with distinctive public artwork. People depicted in painted plywood cutouts are attached to many of the buildings. A mailman, a woman admiring flowers, a man in an old car . . . . Very interesting! We splurged one evening on a fantastic dinner at the Rockfish Grill, which is a sister to the Anacortes Brewery located right next door. With Karen agreeing to do the driving back to the RV park (her first time driving the big F-350 on the road!), Bill enjoyed three of the 16 craft beers the grill had on tap and declared them to be perfection!
On May 31st, we went to Whidbey Island. This is the entrance to the Naval Air Station there.
Other sights we were able to capture during a few lulls in the rain:
Deception Pass State Park:
A Geodetic Survey benchmark embedded in the rock:
Cedar Waxwing:
Bill, with the bridge to the island in the background:
We had fun looking at all the different colors in the stony beach. See the rain spots on Bill's jacket? About 2 minutes later, his jacket was soaked!
Black-Tailed Deer, a mama and two babies (they were tiny!):
An oil tanker in Fidalgo Bay:
Maw, you'll love this one. A double rainbow over Fidalgo Bay, with a hint of the second rainbow on the left:
