The Islands

June 6, Monday: Breakfast was scones, quiche, garlic potato, bowl of fruit--Very good, TOO MUCH food! Heading to the Lummi Island today and one more great highlight to mark on our impressive map!

We decided to start highlighting where we've been 2,100 miles with no car problems. Pretty luck I'd say!

Lummi Island--Not only the home of sustainable fisheries, historic inns, organic farms, excellent restaurants and cafes, Lummi has many artists and artisans and hosts Studio Tour Open House three times a year. On this wooded, rural island you can still enjoy unspoiled natural beauty, bird and whale watching. It is graced with tranquil beaches and 18 miles of quiet, country roads ideal for walking and biking. It is home to the second highest point in the San Juan Islands, Baker Mountain, and the trail leading up to it offers a spectacular west-facing view across Rosario Strait. There are historical anomalies located on our beaches: a petroglyph dating from 1700, and a fossilized palm tree dating back 60 million years, videos of which you can see on this website. Since there are no RV parks, campsites, nor State parks, the island attracts a different kind of holiday seeker, those who want to be in touch with nature and themselves.

Lummi Island is the most northeasterly of the San Juan archipelago, and easily the most accessible. Located near Bellingham (Whatcom County), it is served by a small county ferry which makes the scenic, six minute crossing at least once an hour until mid-night. It is just two hours from Seattle, and one and a half hours from Vancouver, BC. We were on time!
We found a fantastic overview on a deception pass. (Deception Pass is a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island, in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Washington. It connects Skagit Bay, part of Puget Sound, with the Strait of Juan de Fuca--overlooking Hope Island, through Oak Park (where there is an Air Force Base) Oak harbor is contemporary and very lively new construction--traveled HWY20 through to the ferry $9.00--entering Mukiltero up to Marysville and then to Stanwood and on to the island. (Mukilteo is the home of Boeing Aircraft). We also went on to of Whidbey Camano Island stopped in a tiny little park and caught some American bald eagles. Jim got a great shot...my camera wouldn't open in time...
Heading back...we stopped in a grocery store for chicken for the grill (provided) with asparagus spears and zucchini with cheese and crackers. We needed to reorganize the suitcases cuz tomorrow we head to Seattle for our last stop.