Visit to Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands (Part Two)

Happy Friday and welcome back for part two of my posting on Friday Harbor.  I am so glad you are here for the ride back on the boat with us.  (If you missed yesterday's posting, please visit Part One---scroll down or go to the category "Field Trips from the Nest" on the right of the blog.)

Here are Sadie and I on the "Glacier Spirit" taking in the last view of Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands.   Beautiful, sunny day!  Sadie was enjoying the sunshine...as was I!

In fact, I had to put on my sunglasses at one point...

As we left Friday Harbor and headed back, the Captain announced that he would stop the boat if he spotted any whales along the way.   While we were up on the deck watching for signs of any whales, we passed this small lighthouse...

After a little while, the Captain had spotted the sign of whale in the distance..

He stopped the boat and announced that we would wait a few minutes to see if this whale would come closer...

We watched and waited for a while to see what would happen...  We know that there are whales spotted all the time in these waters...   Ashley pointed out where to look to Brenna...

Unfortunately, the whale never came close, and this was the only one spotted this particular day.  We were a little dissappointed as my husband, son, and I  had just returned from a great whale watching trip in Alaska.  We wanted Ashley and Brenna to experience a whale....  The whales were quiet this day...but we plan to go back again with Ashley and Brenna on a future trip.   Whale spotting is common in the San Juans, so I am sure they will get to see one!  Until then, this was the only other fin we saw...   :)

"Silly Papa!"  xoxo

Even though the whale didn't come close to the boat, Brenna still got a treat...

We were invited to sit up in the front of the Glacier Spirit near the Captain.  Very nice of him!  Here is Brenna watching everything that the Captain is doing.   She enjoyed being "Co-Captain" for a while.... :)

Puget Sound Express is a family owned business.... I'll post a link at the end.  We enjoyed our trip and they were super nice!  

Let's see what is going on on the deck..   Passing a lighthouse...

We are nearing the marina in Port Townsend.   We stood on the deck to enjoy the view as we motored towards the marina...

We enjoyed the nice breeze and the beautiful day!  As we motored along, we started to see several sailboats...

Miss Brenna was enjoying looking at the seagulls and sailboats through the binoculars as we made our way into Port Townsend...

Coming into the marina area of Port Townsend...

You can see the many boats moored at the marina.   The building in the background with the green umbrellas outside is a restaurant.

My husband and I visit Port Townsend frequently.  On a nice day, sometimes, my husband and I will put the top down on his convertible and take a leisure drive to the town.  There are a lot of victorian-style  historic homes in Port Townsend.  There is also a nice area of shops near the marina.  We enjoy visiting the shops and browsing through the antique stores and then having a nice lunch.  There is also a yearly Wooden Boat Festival that is quite popular in this area.  My husband and I attended this event last year and had a wonderful time. There were many wooden boats that participated in the event at the marina.  Several of them would let you climb aboard for a tour.  It was a lot of fun and well attended by the public.

We also love to visit a place called "The Upstage" in downtown Port Townsend.  A friend of ours, who loves great blues music, introduced us to "The Upstage."  You can enjoy a good dinner and hear some wonderful live music while you dine.   Great place and a lot of fun!  Thank you, Pam, for introducing us and for the fun times we have had together there! xoxo

If you visit Port Townsend, you can also visit Fort Worden.  If you do, you might see some familiar surroundings.  Fort Worden was the location of several of the scenes in the movie--"An Officer and a Gentleman"--starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger and Louis Gossett, Jr.   You can view a posting I did on it by going to the category "Fluttering About (Places I love nearby)" and viewing the "Fort Worden" post.  I have several photos of Fort Worden on that post.

If you enjoy staying in bed and breakfasts, Port Townsend has several nice places to choose from. There are also some older historic hotels in the area.  My husband and I love to stay at a place called the Manresa Castle when we visit. 

We are almost at our dock and ready to disembark the "Glacier Spirit."  I hope you have enjoyed seeing the photos as we have made our way back from Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands to Port Townsend.

I hope you enjoyed hearing a little about Port Townsend as we have motored along, too.   Perhaps you will visit Port Townsend and take the Puget Sound Express over to the San Juan Islands yourself someday!   The San Juan Islands have been named on several lists that feature beautiful places to see.  They have amazing sunsets in the San Juans.  Well, our boat has arrived at it's final destination at the dock.

They retrieve our suitcases for us, and it is time to say goodbye.  

We thank the Captain and crew of the "Glacier Spirit" for the nice cruise to and from Friday Harbor....also for their nice hospitality.   Our family had such a wonderful weekend together on our first trip to the San Juan Islands.  What great memories...  

I hope you enjoyed coming along with us to the San Juans and enjoyed the many photos from our trip.  These photos were taken before I purchased my current camera.   I look forward to taking this camera along with me when my husband and I visit Roche Harbor this summer.  I look forward to exploring a new place in the San Juans and sharing my memories and photos with you.   As always, I am wishing you "Bluebirds and Butterflies" and a beautiful day!  (As promised, scroll down for more info. on The Puget Sound Express and also on The Upstage...just click on the links)  xoxo Kim

Click on the link to Puget Sound Express: Puget Sound Express info 

If you live near Port Townsend and would like to check the schedule for  entertainment at The Upstage, please click on this link:  The Upstage

From Sadie Mae and I.... have a wonderful weekend!  xoxo Kim

Additional comment:  Thank you, Puget Sound Express, for featuring Bluebirds and Butterflies on your website!   It was a nice surprise, when I visited your website today!  xoxo

 

Comments

[Julie Harward]

You are such a cute lady! I sure enjoy these trips of yours...wish I could come along..I just love it! Thanks for sharing it all. :D

[Bluebirdsandbutterflies]

Awww----thank you Julie! You are cute lady, too! I have loved seeing your photos of your adorable grandchildren. Your family is rich in love!!!! Those little ones are so sweet. xoxo Kim

[bj]

Hi, Kim...sure thank you for stopping over and having coffee and a little french donut with me today. :))
So glad to meet you.
I really enjoyed all these lovely photos..reminds me of last summer when we went on an Alaskan cruise. We enjoyed the whale watching so much. Lots of fun.
I am signing up to follow..and hope you come back to see me when you can.
Oh, and wanted you to know my daughter's name is
BRYNNA ASHLEIGH. :))
XO bj

[Bluebirdsandbutterflies]

Hi BJ!
Thank you for your visit to Bluebirds and Butterflies and for your nice comments. I have been thinking about those beignets ever since I went to your site! I may have to go out and look for a Cafe Du Monde mix and make some! Thank you for bringing back the memories of New Orleans to me! I am so glad you enjoyed my photos of Port Townsend and Friday Harbor. It was a fun trip for our family! I know you enjoyed your trip to Alaska. My husband and I went on a whale watching excursion while on a cruise in Juneau. It was an amazing experience. I am going to do a post on our Alaskan trip in the very near future. Maybe it will bring back some good memories for you! Thanks for sharing your grand-daughter's name....what a coincidence! I love her name! I am sure she is a beautiful little girl... Have a beautiful day today! xoxo Kim

[Sheri, Jess, and Nel]

Oh Kim,
You brought tears to my eyes, and joy to my heart. I haven't heard that song in such a very long time, and it brings back the memory of my little ones at a time when my only thoughts in the world was to protect and love. I am definately going to use that on my music bar, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for that wonderful surprise. I will now call my children and let them listen to it too.
~Love, Sheri at Red Rose Alley

[Bluebirds and Butterflies]

Hi Sheri,
So happy you liked the song. You had me thinking about "You Are My Sunshine" since I read your posting on things that were special to you. I used to sing that song all the time...still do sometimes...and thought, "I should have that on my playlist." I like the version I found and am so glad you do, too. I know it is a song full of memories for you and thought you might like to capture it for your blog. Hope the girls love it. Have a beautiful day. xoxox (((((hugs))))) Kim