We make it back to the north end of Baker Lake to check out a swinging bridge.  They give me chills to look down through and I don’t care for it when Kent bounces them but still I love to cross any suspension bridge.

On the way we met this slimy fellow and dozens of his mostly smaller cousins.

Gotta love the Pacific Northwest! It was cool and rainy when we arrived at Horseshoe Cove on Baker Lake in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.  Moss draped fir and birch tower over the shoreline and camp.  A rich fern understory holds in even more moisture.  The weather broke just long enough for an evening stroll.  They claim to have loons here.  I look forward to hearing them.

Sedro-Woolley Visitor Center

If one stays back in the forest one has to drive a bit to a visitor center. Imagine that.  I got my medallion and some trail advice so we are all set for our stay.

Back in the NF it’s dripping again and too wet for trails. We had to settle for watching loons and checking out some great campsites along the northern end of the lake.  Many are ideal for tent camping.

Another break in the rain and we walk The Shadow of the Sentinels trail that winds through towering Douglas Fir. Some are nearly as large as the magnificent redwoods.  It is evening, I hear the loons calling.

Need internet? Need Phone?  Guess what, not out here.

We don’t have reservations for camping Fourth of July weekend so we better get busy. It seems nationwide campground fill up that weekend.  The solution?  Run into the nearest town, Concrete.

We had to explore a bit. Finds included a tiny bakery with pretty fair muffins and scones.  A fun community market with some of the most colorful, eccentric venders I have ever encountered.  They would have chatted for hours.  I kept it to just 30 minutes or so and left with snow peas and a cinnamon roll.

The drive back was fun too. A good sized black bear crosses the road in front of us…  We are just 4 miles by road from camp, probably 2 miles as the crow flies…  No solo early morning walking for me.  Deer are out and about too.

American Camp

The Historical Site covers both American and British military

English Camp

encampments from a 12 year territorial dispute over the Sand Juan Islands.  The treaty establishing what is now the border between Canada and the US failed to adequately address this group of islands.  Tensions flared when a British farmer’s pig was shot eating an American’s garden.   Eventually arbitration determined the islands were part of the U.S. averting what is known as “the Pig War”.

As the ferry left the terminal toward San Juan Island we met a couple of Washington residents who frequently vacation on the islands.  They were gracious with advice on favorite highlights.  We saw them again when they came to view sunset at the county park and again on our return ferry.  Their advice on island highlights and the little ice cream stand near the ferry terminal were spot-on.

Entering Friday Harbor the ferry sounded the horn repeatedly with a great echo around the harbor.

County Park Campground

Camping site size and ferry rates led us to leave the RV on the mainland and tent camp for our time on the island. Our campsite had a glorious view of the Haro Strait for whale watching and sunsets.  We were not disappointed in our viewing for either.  The Orcas kept us waiting until late in our visit when 2 of the 3 resident pods of  Orcas cruised past.  They were feeding with lots of fin and tail slaps and some breaching.  Amazing!  Earlier in the week we had a lone transient, migrating, Orca cruise by.  These were the first sightings for the month.

Roche Harbor has developed on the site of a former Lime Kiln.  The destination resort is home to hotels, restaurants, fantastic boats/ships, a carillon and an outdoor art display.  They serve a pretty tasty lunch on the pier too!

Back onto Ferry for Lopez Island

Waiting in the ferry line provides time to ponder things. Our ferry was going to Lopez Island and Anacortes, so how do they do that?  Let me clarify.  You drive onto one end of the ferry and off the other so no one needs to back up.  So you could use the various lanes to stage vehicles to disembark at Lopez Island for example BUT anyone coming on at Lopez would be headed the wrong way at the 2^nd stop.  They handled it by making those destined for Lopez back onto the ferry last.  Some were better than others at backing about a block down the ramp and onto the boat.

We checked out the small town festival, parade and all. The local Mexican Restaurant had a large contingent on horseback showing off some pretty fancy footwork (the horses that is).  There was some slightly unusual fun food, a spicy bratwurst and butterscotch pecan pie.  Games were unique too.  The Running of the Balls – for a donation you get a colored and numbered ping pong ball.  At the appointed hour the whole lot of them is dumped out at the top of a hilly street with a hay bale funnel at the bottom.  First one through the funnel wins.  Cow patty bingo – buy a square on the grid painted on a parking lot.  They let Bessie loose to wander the lot and it she plops on your square you win.  There was frog jumping too – they even published which retention ponds in town might yield competitors.  Nothing fancy but lots of fun.

A stroll through the aisles at Pike Place Market assails all the senses. There was no fish throwing this morning but still plenty to see.

There is construction everywhere at Waterfront Park.  They even had Pier 57 so torn up the carousel was closed.  Boo!  We strolled a bit, had some seafood, and people watched.

If you have any interest in wooden boats of any size, visit The Center for Wooden Boats on South Lake Union. They restore then display and even sell to fund their tradeschool and classes on boat building.  If you go on a Sunday you might just catch a ride one one of those craft, for free!

Experience Music Project (EMP) is one attraction we missed again this pass through. I’m going to get there one day, it sounds intriguing.

Everything is SO big.

From observation decks above the production floor we got a look at the building of 747s, 777s and 787s. It’s a chance to see the evolution of processes and materials as well as aircraft designs.  The move a lot of people through the place and things could have moved a bit more slowly to allow us absorb what we saw and to ask questions but it’s a good tour.

Rattlesnake Mountain trail, this is what comes to mind when I hear Washington.  The thick green canopy filters sunlight to create an intricate mosaic on the forest floor.  Brilliant clusters of buttercups highlight the lush green carpet of ferns.  Slugs inch across the moist earth.  Stretching out from the ridge top, rows of tree covered mountains are capped by distant snow capped peaks.