Fortunately we picked a nearly perfect weather day for our ferry trip from Anacortes to San Juan Island. The day began cool and foggy but ended warm with blue, sunny skies. Ronnie and I made this same ferry day trip in 2016. Our San Juan Island visit today was enjoyed with our friends John and Suzanne.
Morning fog layers between the San Juan Islands
Arriving to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, we immediately boarded one of the trolleys that take tourists to different Island highlights. Our first stop was historic Roche Harbor, located on the northern tip of San Juan Island. We found here a bustling boating community rich with history, sailing and fishing.
Our lunch view from the patio of the Madrona Bar and Grill.
This photo is the Madrona Grill from the harbor side. I neglected to include a full view of the historic Hotel De Haro, located to the right of the restaurant in the photo. The Hotel's most famous guest was President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903.
What a fun and memorable day!
Located on the Roche Harbor waterfront, we discovered one of the original historic stone lime kilns left on San Juan Island. Large deposits of limestone were found right on the shoreline of the Island and with deep-water harbors prime for shipping, this area became known for producing quantities high quality lime used in construction. These stone and wood kilns were used to process the lime, most of that shipped to various ports around the Puget Sound. Info plaques indicate much of the lime processed here was also quickly shipped to San Fransisco for that city's reconstruction shortly after the 1906 earthquake.
The trolley takes us by several points of interest on the Island: Lime Kiln State Park, English Camp National Historic Park, San Juan County Park, a winery, an alpaca farm plus a couple of high end resorts. We opted to take an hour stop at the Pelindaba Lavender Farm. Sampling the smells of the lavender bushes, the lavender fields, processed dried lavender and several different lavender products we also tasted lavender-infused chocolate ice cream.
Flowers peak in July. We're a little late in the season but the pale violet mini blossoms still give off aromas.
Field irrigation is needed, note the water pipes threaded through the fields.
This sunny day brought out the bees.
Farmland views span the San Juan Island along with those thick, evergreen forests.
As the trolley traveled along West Side Road, we caught some gorgeous ocean views. This is Haro Strait, across the water is Canada's Vancouver Island.
Gotta get that photo fast, unfortunately this trolley did not stop at this impressive viewpoint.
It's very dry. Notice the dead, brown grass.
Finally arriving back to Friday Harbor, we spent a couple of hours strolling the shops and art galleries. We ended our day with a bite to eat and a relaxing ferry ride back to Anacortes.
Many fond memories made once again.
More Later.
Nice to see this post of the San Juans. Our one and only visit was back in the 1980s and I don’t think there was a trolley … at least I don’t remember one. We debated on the San Juans as a place to wait for our RV to be shipped back down from Alaska in July … ended up going to Leavenworth instead.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Erin. I recall your wonderful travel blog and your outstanding photography. Hope you are doing well.
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DeleteI just binge read your last several posts. I'm so far behind :) We have yet to visit this part of Washington state. Your pictures make it look so inviting. I am putting it on our "must do" list.
ReplyDeleteYou both look wonderful. It appears retirement is still agreeing with you :)