Anacortes part 2

 

Mount Baker as seen from Deception Pass

Roger here...  A few more days, a few more memories.  We are starting this post from what is billed as the Largest Art Fair in the Northwest.

Timing is everything (even when not intended).  We happened to arrive in Anacortes during the annual Art Fair.  The excellent docent in the visitors' center encouraged us to attend.  So we did.  

The fair closed the main street of town for ten blocks with two rows of displays.  Dianne bought a dish towel with hand-screened dragonflies as well as some homemade jams (blackberry-lime and cherry pie jam -- yum -- D.)  

We were soon hungry so we stopped for...

... some wood-fired pizza.  We are eating well here.

BTW,  we wore our face masks in the crowds, even though we were outside.  Sigh!  

ANACORTES FARMERS' MARKET...

Speaking of food, the next morning we stopped by the Saturday Farmers' Market.  

We purchased two apple - marionberry pies that looked so good, we had them for lunch.  We also bought the healthy stuff --- fruit, vegetables, bread, etc.  We are likely to make this a weekly visit.

CAP SANTE PARK...

After scarfing down pie for lunch, we drove around the corner and up a hill to Cap Sante Park.  The views of the local harbor below and Anacortes are legendary.

We enjoyed some quiet time watching the vessels enter and leave the harbor.

However, the day was not yet over.

ERIE MOUNTAIN PARK...

Our friends, Greg and Barb, told us not to miss the views from the top of Mount Erie.  Greg graduated from Anacortes High School, so he should know.

Yes, the panoramic views were amazing.

We drove to the park.  Hiking was an option, but not one we had the energy to tackle.  One has to psych up for that kind of effort. :-)

The photo below of an island on an island was intriguing.

Greg told us not to miss this view.

GUEMES ISLAND...

We had been here a while without taking a ferry.  A quick and easy trip to Guemes Island was recommended.

The five-minute ride across a strait only cost $3 for walk-on seniors.  

I had to take this photo of our departure quickly so that I could go to the front of the ferry to take the arrival photo.

During the quick trip, I talked with a young couple who brought their bicycles so that they could ride around the island.  They were from Bellingham.  They provided great incentive for a quick 13-mile drive to Bellingham.   I see that happening in the near future.

Since we did not have a car or a bike, there was not much for us to do other than having lunch at the general store and watching the boat traffic on the water --- not a bad way to spend the time before the return trip.  BTW, Poquita handled the new experience well.  Bandido was not a fan :-).

ANACORTES MARINA...

On the way back to the RV, we (I) decided to find an ice cream shop.  We found one, but it was closed!  Our alternative activity was walking along the Cap Sante Marina --- a better choice.

So many vessels, most of them yachts and sailboats. 

 

I like this blue yacht.

Dianne liked this trim sailboat.

We walked past all five docks.  When we sauntered down Dock A, we watched a large vessel enter the harbor, and...

... it turned out to be the boat we would be taking on a whale watching excursion later in the week.  What fun!  Looks nice!

DECEPTION PASS STATE PARK...

We spent a full day at Deception Pass State Park (and will likely return).  The state park flanks both sides of the iconic Deception Pass Bridge that connects Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands.  We crossed the bridge and made our way to the hiking trails near North Beach.

North Beach was an excellent site for viewing all the interesting aspects of the rocky beach as well as the two spans of the bridge.

Dianne and I often found ourselves looking down as we walked with the dogs along the beach.  There were so many interesting rocks.

More rocks for our patio at home in Texas.

This was such an interesting beach to explore.  

A very unique cairn.

An ebony black cliff-side infused with bright white rock (quartz?).

The beach was covered with driftwood.....

  and wildflowers.

The water in the tidal pool was crystal clear.

After our beach time, we found a picnic table to enjoy the lunch that Dianne packed.  

The afternoon was dedicated to a hike along the pass.

Elevation changes made the hike somewhat challenging, but well within our limits.  We walked under the Deception Pass Bridge and followed the trail along the water.

  

At one point, snow-covered Mount Baker appeared in the distance.  Mount Baker is one of several coastal volcanoes in the northwest.  

As we retraced our steps we discovered an elevated view of North Beach where we'd had so much fun.

Our next post will take you on a whale watching excursion through the channels of the San Juan Islands.

PET PICTURES OF THE DAY...

Bandido had some serious surgery on one of his back legs in January.  In human terms he blew the dog equivalent of an ACL while chasing a ball.  After a long recuperation he seems to have fully recovered.  It is nice to see him perform the antics that Dianne and I have always loved.

Hopping on the picnic table to survey his realm

Squeezing onto the lower shelf of the canvas table.  In his mind if Poquita does it, so can he!