San Juan Island
We got to see only a small bit of San Juan Island when we went over to do some Orca watching. So, off we go to Anacortes from our camp in North Whidbey island to hop on the ferry for a circumnavigation of San Juan Island.
You land at Friday Harbor. Around the ferry terminal you have your choice of all the typical tourist shops. But, just after a few blocks you’re in another world. No traffic. Farms. Rolling hills. Wild flowers everywhere. Cottages. Views of the Puget Sound and its islands are around every corner.
First stop was to be Cattle point at the southern tip. But, we missed the turnoff (which we seem to do on a regular basis). As fortune would have it, as we drove a little further looking for a place to turn around, Coriena spots a lone eagle in the distance. Out comes the big lens…
We eventually got turned around and made our way back to the Cattle Point turn off. The lighthouse was a real bummer, but the views where typical San Juan Island views…
Next stop…American Camp. In 1859, America and Great Britain got into a tissy over a dead pig and San Juan Island was where we nearly went to war. Brits in the north end and Americans in the south end. Today a few of the American Camp buildings still stand. Nothing much of the British Camp is left, except a couple of monuments.
Here’s the American Camp in Infrared…
Heading north along the western coast to the next lighthouse you drive past False Bay. Very appropriately named…
The Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse made up for the headless Cattle Point light…
Last stop was Rouche Harbor for a quick lunch before heading back to Friday Harbor and the ferry. A cozy little place with some interesting old buildings…
We wish we had more time to ferry over to a couple of the other islands. But, that will have to wait. We’ll be back!
