ANACORTES OUTINGS

The place we are staying is about at the "O" in Fedalgo Island.

We have been enjoying our stay in Anacortes.  On Thursday we made a trip to Camping World to pick up a few things and then had lunch with very good and long time friends Tom and Lynn at their home in Sedro Woolley.

On Friday we walked on the San Juan Island ferry to Friday Harbor for a nostalgic ride.  We have taken this ferry ride many, many times over the years.  More recently we have been one of those sailboats that folks on the ferry wave to.  We have seen the ferry as both a pleasant ride and something to avoid - as in big time avoid.  Nothing like crossing the ferry lanes in the fog hoping not to encounter one.  In later years when we could afford radar it was much easier to stay out of the way even in fog.  The day was about as perfect as we could ask for.  The ferry was crowded as expected.

Last evening we carted our camping chairs down to the beach.  The first picture below was the main view.  Talk about a contrast!

Today, Sunday, is our last day here before heading to Seattle.  Promises to be another very nice day including a trip to Oak Harbor.

The contrast of the Tesoro Refinery with Mount  Baker.

Waiting for the ferry.  Mount Baker in the background again.

This used to be us......

This lady keeps popping up in my photos.

Busy day for ferry traffic.  This is the north end of Lopez Island.

Friday Harbor

Waiting to reboard for return trip to Anacortes.

Good Friends Tom and Lynn.

ANACORTES ARRIVAL

Looking out towards Guemes Island, part of the San Juans

A short and easy drive from Ferndale to Anacortes today.  We even had to kill some time in a rest stop so we did not get here too early.  And what more could we ask for but a nice view out the windshield and a sailboat race too!

DINNER OUT AT LAKE WHATCOM

On Thursday we had the opportunity to visit with my "first cousin once removed", Norm and his wife Karen at their home near Bellingham.  We had a delightful dinner on the balcony followed by a boat ride on Lake Whatcom in their vintage motor boat then dessert by a blazing campfire.  Had a great time and loved the boat ride even if I did have to take out my hearing aids at one point to keep them dry.

These cell phone photos don't really to the evening justice, especially in the lower evening light, but you can see the tree house nature of where Norm and Karen live not to mention the lake access.

The house. Note location of the hot tub.

Norm and the boat house in the background - where the motorboat lives.

More of the boat house and diving platforms.

The docks with vintage motorboat on the left plus other water toys.  Don't know the lady in the foreground.

Ready to ride.

Too bad you can't hear the rumble of the engine warming up.

Sunset as we approach the boat house on return to shore.

TRACTOR AND MACHINERY SHOW

Today we went to the 45th annual Tractor and Machinery Show in Lynden, WA.  Not that either of knows much of anything about tractors - especially steam operated steam tractors that are much older than we are!  There were tractors from modern day units to units from the early 1900's.  Many of the older units had been restored and were working while on display.  Sadly, these still photos do not give you the flavor of the putting and hissing sounds most of these older units were emitting.  I did get video footage but the best one is much too big to upload here using our WIFI internet.  Still, an enjoyable little outing and another nice day to appreciate more small town america.

This unit actually had steam pressure up and was running.

The "and machinery" part of the show included a number of very old washing machines.  I have video of the one on the right actually running.

Two Maytag washers.  One electric and one operated by a gas engine (on the right)