As the weather is getting nicer here, my husband and I have been talking about things we would like to do together over the summer. On our list is a trip to the San Juan Islands. We have never visited Roche Harbor yet in the San Juans. We have been told that it is a beautiful place! While talking about a future trip to the Islands, memories of a trip a couple of years ago to another Island in the San Juans...Friday Harbor...came to mind. Today, I would like to share some of the photos of the trip. My step-daughter, Ashley, and grand-daughter, Brenna, were visiting from Florida.
In the photo above...(left to right) Me, Brenna, Ashley and my younger son, Elliott, right before the trip to Friday Harbor. We live close enough to the San Juan Islands to go by motorboat for a day trip. We drove to nearby Port Townsend and then took a whale watching boat service called the "Puget Sound Express" over to the Islands. The name of the boat was Glacier Spirit.
The boat at Port Townsend, Wa...
We had never been to the San Juan Islands before, and were excited to visit. Puget Sound Express will take you over to Friday Harbor. You can choose to either come back that same day as a day trip...or you can spend the night and catch the boat back the next afternoon. The boat makes one trip every day and arrives around 2 p.m. or so. We had found a bed and breakfast that would allow us to bring our Maltese, Sadie Mae, so we decided to spend the night. Here is a photo of Sadie and I on the Glacier Spirit. That Sadie gets around! :)
On this sail, the captain of the boat looks for whales along the way. If one is spotted, the boat stops and views the pod so that people can take photos. We were ready with our video camera just in case...
We had to leave Port Townsend very early, but they have plenty of coffee and a delicious blueberry buckle that they serve along the way. They have nice tables set up inside the cabin, so no worry if the weather is cool or drizzly...
Here is a photo of my son, Elliott, and I at the table together as we began our cruise to the Islands. As mentioned, it was very early and you can tell that Elliott is a little sleepy...
So, he and Sadie Mae decided to take a little snooze... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Here is Miss Brenna at our table as we left Port Townsend...
We had a little early morning fog on the way at first. But, soon it cleared, and the day was gorgeous! After some coffee, we decided to venture outside onto the deck of the boat to take in the view...
Me outside the cabin on the Glacier Spirit...
The fog was just lifting... Here is Ashley taking in the view from right outside the cabin on the back of the boat. Even though it is still a bit hazy at this point, we could tell it was going to be a beautiful trip over to the San Juans...
After a little while, the fog totally lifted... Yea!
Many people sail over to the San Juan Islands.... it is a beautiful trip!
You spot many boats along the way... We even saw the ferry pass by...
At this point, Sadie and Elliott were awake and came out to join us...refreshed from their nap...
Brenna was enjoying her time on the boat...
And so were the rest of us...
It didn't seem to take very long...and, suddenly, we were nearing Friday Harbor...
We were now seeing LOTS of boats as we neared the marina of Friday Harbor...
It had turned out to be a beautiful day!
Not sure, but this looked like a tiny car ferry to Roche Harbor and neighboring Islands...or could be some type of small barge for delivering things...
Woo hoo! We are here! We are excited to explore Friday Harbor...
We are on foot with our small suitcases....hmmmm.....which way do we go?
Wow! It is so pretty here....and so many boats!
Brenna stops to play along the way...
As we walk towards our bed and breakfast...you can see the ferry has arrived in the background.
We pass by a couple of apple trees as we walk toward the B & B...
Nice looking apples!
Soon we notice the sign for our Bed and Breakfast..
After getting settled, we decided to explore and go for a walk...and support the local merchants, too...
We thought this sunflower was cute...
As they say...."It's five o'clock somewhere..." As we had gotton up very early, we were ready for some early dinner....
We were close to the marina, so we decided to walk around and explore this area after our meal...
Wow, look at all the crab!
My husband and I enjoyed seeing the many boats...
As did Sadie Mae...
Maybe my husband and I should stay here sometime....
What do you think?
After a little walking, Sadie got thirsty...
Yes! A water fountain just for little doggies! Miss Sadie is really getting used to this life here.... ha ha...and the pampering...
The rest of us stop for a little break, too, and to take time to enjoy all the beauty of the area around us...
And to take time to enjoy each other's company....and say, "I love you!"....
and clown around a bit...
We spotted what looked like kelp in the water...
We enjoyed the rest of the afternoon and early evening. After walking back to our Bed and Breakfast, we relaxed for the night. The next day, we walked back into town and went into some of the local shops.
We also went to a whale museum...
Where Sadie met a little friend..
We set up our timer on our small little camera and made a group photo.... I think we had the camera a little too low... ha ha! Not the greatest shot of us together...but a good memory!
After lunch and a little more exploring, we walked over to the area where The Glacier Spirit would pick us up. We spotted the boat coming in...
We arrived at the dock a little early, so made some pictures to remember our boat...
We said goodbye to Friday Harbor as we boarded the Glacier Spirit...
And.....we were off!
Another beautiful day...Friday Harbor was so pretty as we left the Harbor...We saw some seaplanes....and lots and lots of boats...
Ashley and I enjoying the deck together...
Brenna, Sadie Mae, and I...
Wait a minute....is that a shark????
"No, Mimi, it is just Papa and I clowning around." :)
On this happy note....I think I will say "goodbye from Friday Harbor" today... I have several more photos that were taken on the trip back and will post them tomorrow! Hope you join us for the fun ride back to Port Townsend.... We will look for some whales along the way and go up front to the captains spot. Then, I have some nice photos of Port Townsend as we motor in. I hope you have enjoyed part one of our trip to Friday Harbor! See you tomorrow.... Until then, have a beautiful day today! xoxo Kim
Loved the visit to Friday Harbor!! The pics were great........such beautiful country!
Posted by: lori | Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 03:14 PM
Kim,
I love mermaids. We just went to San Diego yesterday and there was this outpost shop that we went to. One section of the store had the most unique and wonderful mermaids. I have collected a few mermaids through the years, and I want to do a post about them someday. Was that a restaurant or a store?
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley
Posted by: Sheri, Jess, and Nel | Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 03:37 PM
I LOVE this post! I am finally making the rounds from Wednesday...thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I LOVE your blog and I am a NEW follower! Hope you will follow me back!
Posted by: Mrs. Zwieg | Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 05:40 PM
Hi and welcome new follower! So sweet of you! I love all my readers and appreciate and read every comment. The Wordless Wednesday event you mentioned was a lot of fun. I am off to visit your blog right now... Have a fabulous rest of the day! xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 06:02 PM
Hi Sheri, Jess and Nel,
Thank you for your visit and nice comment today. The shop you asked about in my posting today was a nautical shop. They had a little variety of things... I just loved the mermaids on the signs! You should definitely do a posting on your mermaids. It would be very interesting to see your collection! Hope you have a beautiful rest of the day! xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 06:33 PM
Hi my dear Lori!
I am always so happy to see you visit me! I am so glad you enjoyed the trip to San Juan Islands. I hear that Roche Harbor is the best place to visit...we didn't get to go there on this trip. But, hope to over the summer! I hope you are doing well! Miss you very much! xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Thursday, June 09, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Kim! Thanks for the tour! Looking forward to part II. Head on over to Orcas Island one day. My sister-in-laws parents live there and she goes every year. I have yet to visit, but I here it's a great place! Also, Victoria British Columbia is supposed to be quite the place to visit! Have a great weekend!
~Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | Friday, June 10, 2011 at 05:31 AM
That was a wonderful trip!!! Everything was so beautiful, it was impossible to take a bad picture. Between your camera and mine, Bren had her own personal paparazzi!!
Posted by: Ashley | Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Hi Ashley,
Did you get a surprise when you clicked on the Puget Sound Express website link at the bottom of my posting on "Part Two?" That was so nice of them to feature my blog posting on their website! I was surprised to see the photo of all of us on the site! What great memories we had there. I am looking forward to having you and Brenna join us for another trip to the San Juans sometime! ((((hugs)))) to both you and Brenna! Love you! xoxo Kim
Posted by: Bluebirds and Butterflies | Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Hi Kim, it looks like you had a perfect day out. It brings back memories of my Mum one of her favourite things in the world to do was to catch the Manly ferry over to Manly then take a stroll along the esplanade inspecting every shop along the way. Then she would grab some fresh fish and chips head down to the beach and just sit on Manly beach eat lunch and relax then back onto the ferry for the trip home. I did it with her many times she just loved it. My quilt is coming along very slowly I'm onto the second embroidery but I am having fun doing it all the ladies are doing well and way past me with the quilt I'm gathering it will take me 2 years at this pace to finish it lol. It's Monday and a public holiday for the Queens birthday here so I think I will sit for awhile this afternoon and do a bit. Have a great day Kim. xox Trish ;)
Posted by: Trish Rowley | Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 07:38 PM
Hi Trish,
So happy to see you! I hope you have had an enjoyable day! Sounds like your Mother had some wonderful times taking the ferry over to Manly. These are nice memories for you. I love recalling things that my Mother used to do. So nice God gives us the abilty to remember.... We had a great time at Friday Harbor. Looking forward to going back this summer. I am sure that your quilt is looking beautiful! Sounds like you are taking your time and doing a great job on it. That is the best way, I think. You will have an heirloom when you are finished...something to be passed on and treasured! Have a beautiful day! Happy Birthday to the Queen! ((((hugs)))) Kim
Posted by: Bluebirdsandbutterflies | Monday, June 13, 2011 at 12:30 AM