10/04/08 – 10/05/08

Not quite ready to leave the water, we hopped the Washington State Ferry from Sidney BC to San Juan Island.  Boy was I glad to be on a ferry with an organized and expedient loading procedure!  Not to mention constant access to your vehicle….sometimes it’s just nice to be home among your comforts….  

We booked a room at the Elements Hotel in Friday Harbor.  An updated chic “motor inn”, the Elements Hotel room was both modest and stylish.  We had called the night before to reserve our space at the yearly gala for a local preservation club, the San Juan Nature Institute.  Although we had no idea what to expect, the dinner sounded good and reasonably priced, and several guest speakers seemed interesting.   In fact we were delighted with our evening.  The annual event was titled ‘Savory Farms and Healthy Habitats’ and we were treated to a taste of the farms and an abundance of information on sustainable fishing and farming.  The guest speakers were fascinating and provided a perspective on the future of agri- and aqua-culture that included the needs of animals, the land and (gasp!) humans.  The multi-course culinary extravaganza, overseen by Farhad Ghatan, was delectable and offered excellent tastes of salmon, halibut, lamb and seasonal vegetables. 

Also on this island is the San Juan National Historical Park, a currently peaceful site characterized by environmental activities including the eradication of nuisance and exotic species and native prairie restoration. However, it was historically the site of a territorial dispute which nearly turned violent over the issue of a dead pig.  Referred to as the Pig War, this story was told to us in both the visitor’s centers and referenced among the locals at the Nature Institute event. 

The next day we took the ferry toward Anacortes and the mainland.  Since there are no tolls collected for eastbound travelers, you can make as many stops as you wish free of charge.  We took advantage of this by touring the gorgeous rolling hills of Orcas Island and having a beer at Vern’s Bayside Restaurant in Eastsound and lunch at Mamie’s Restaurant at Orcas Landing. 

At the end of the day we arrived back in Bellevue nearly 10 weeks from our departure date.  Although we have chronicled the highlights of our journey, we cannot possibly describe all the amazing scenery, people and adventures we encountered.  Our parting words about this northern part of our trip have to be….don’t be afraid to get out there and experience it for yourself!!