9/14/12 -- Salt water and Puget Sound

We woke up yesterday morning to the sight of smoke laying across the mountain tops.  We knew that, once again, it was time to move on.

I have no pictures from the drive down off Stevens Pass, as beautiful as it was.  The smoke would have masked the beauty that we know so well.  Another time, I'll share that journey with you all.

We drove out of the mountains to Puget Sound, a body of water connected to the sea by the Straits of Juan de Fuca.  Puget Sound is about 280 miles long.  Actually, that's what it used to be called.  Now only the southern portion bears that name.  The northern part of the Sound and the Straits of Juan de Fuca are now called The Salish Sea.  I'll adjust to the new name but for this blog, I'll continue to use the name I know best. 

Whidbey Island lays north-south in the Sound.  It connects to the mainland by a bridge at Deception Pass.  This is a passage of water, not a mountain pass.  The bridge was built in two sections with an island between.  The water through the pass swirls and the tides pull it is several directions, making it a dangerous pass to attempt in a sailboat.  Doesn't stop people from doing it, of course. 


The second span of the beautiful Deception Pass bridge

The drive down the island was lovely with many snapshot views of the Sound.  Puget Sound has a smell like no other -- salt water and seaweed and maybe something else.  For us, it is the smell of home.

We stopped in the little coastal town of Coupeville.  What a fun place!  The wharf now houses several shops, as well as services for the people who dock at the wharf (bathrooms and showers).  People dock there just like we pull into a campground.



The Coupeville Wharf

Adina found a friend and they had quite a conversation.  This cute little guy was reading in front of the old firehouse.  What a fun sculpture!  On the other end of the building sat a fire plug with a bronze black lab chained to it.  Someone had put out a bowl of water for the dog.



Adina and her bronze boy

There are virtually no roads across Puget Sound.  Originally, a conglomeration of boats known as The Mosquito Fleet provided transportation across the Sound.  Today, Washington State operates a system of ferries to take people back and forth across the Sound.

We took a ferry across the water to Port Townsend last night.  As we pulled away from Whidbey Island, I watched a sea lion surface twice, right in front of the ferry.

We got on first so had a great view all the way across.  It was windy, of course. 

At Port Townsend, we camped at the downtown marina.  It was interesting to be camping in the midst of all these beautiful yachts and sailboats.  I know better, but it felt like being among the rich and famous.



Port Townsend Marina, taken from our campsite (on land)

Adina's cousin, Jim Finkbeiner, came over that evening to say hello and we had a great visit.  We hadn't seen him for several years.  Jim and I were colleagues in the United Methodist church years ago.  I've known him longer than I have known Adina.  We were both so happy to see him.

This morning, we woke up to visions of the Sound from our trailer windows.  When I went out to sit in the warm sun, I spotted this blue heron and his sea gull buddies on the breakwater, about ten feet from shore.  They were all meditating and soaking in the beauty of the water, the wind, the islands and the blue, blue sky.



Blue Heron and his gull-friends

Today, we are at Jim and Nancy's, doing laundry and blog.  They have a beautiful home, overlooking the Sound, um, Salish Sea.  Adina is paying some bills.  We are both enjoying a chance to visit with Jim, enjoying his quick smile and the twinkle that comes often to his eye. 


Jim relaxing at home

It was great to have a relaxing day at their home.  Their amazing gardens and sweeping view of the water brought more beauty into our beings.  Tonight, we'll have dinner with Jim and Nancy.  I think somebody said something about Thai food!  Yum!


Adina, Nancy and Jim looking at a map book

Tomorrow we'll be on our way, heading for the Olympic Peninsula and the far west coast.  Every day is a new adventure!