Return to Guemes Island

I try to get away from home for my birthday. Over the decade I've been in L.A., Mexico, Sri Lanka, New Zealand; the last two years I was in New York, and I loved New York in January so much (sidewalks are empty, theater tickets are easy to get) that it was set to be my new birthday trip for the foreseeable future. Well, no one could have foreseen this future in which even if I felt like getting on a plane (I don't), there would be no point in going to New York City, where theaters are dark, and the idea of eating in the few restaurants that are open seems like a gamble not worth taking. Doesn't matter though because I discovered Guemes Island in November; I can get here easily from my home, and yet it feels like a world away. 

I drove to Anacortes late this morning, got on the ferry, and took a scenic drive to where I'm staying, stopping along the way at Kelly's Point to take a walk on the beach on a beautiful, sunny day.

Have I mentioned that I'm obsessed with tiny houses? I stayed at one here on Guemes in November and I'm staying at a different tiny house this time. This one is almost waterfront - I can see the water from where I'm currently positioned in the bed-loft, and I took another beach walk after I unpacked. 

Guemes Mountain

 "Mountain" is a bit of an exaggeration, but it was great to be outside and on a trail; the hike takes you to the highest point on the island - a whopping 688 feet. 

Guemes Island

I usually go somewhere for the Thanksgiving holiday - Canada, Mexico, one year Iceland, but these are unusual times and adjustments had to be made. So this year, instead of leaving the state (not advised) or leaving the country (not possible), I searched the map and found Guemes Island, one of the lesser known of the San Juans. This morning I drove to Anacortes and got on a small barge-ferry for the 5-minute crossing to this lovely, rural island which is home to about 600 people. I drove around for about an hour; half the people in cars and all the people on the road walking or biking waved to me. There are Black Lives Matter signs everywhere and practically every other property had a Biden-Harris sign out, which I did not expect and was delighted to see. 

The tiny ferry dock in Anacortes.

My home for the next two days.

This exact sign was all over the island. Usually next to this one:

I only saw one of these. 

Kubota Garden

Continuing with my local jaunts -- Kubota Garden is a public park in Seattle that was started as a private garden in 1927 by a Japanese immigrant. It's a great place to see the fall colors and go for a walk on a sunny autumn day.

Camano Island

Clear view of Mt. Baker

Camano Island is an 'island' that warrants air-quotes as it's disconnected from the mainland by just a tiny strip of water that you can easily drive across on a highway-bridge. It's only about an hour from my house yet I'd never been there in all my years in Seattle. There is no real draw... it's very close to town and the highway that crosses the bridge to Camano is barely off I-5 so it doesn't feel like a true getaway; there isn't a quaint village area that I observed, just plenty of chain fast-food joints and way too many Trump/Pence 2020 signs; but with nothing better to do yesterday and no place [else] to go, I hopped in my car and drove north to a coastal trailhead I spotted on the map. 

Anacortes

Another weekend excursion in the Pacific Northwest. 

If you live in Seattle and your overseas travel plans are indefinitely on hold, you can always just get in the car and drive, so I got in the car on a sunny Saturday morning and drove north, then west toward Anacortes. I didn't actually get to the town, just the outskirts, which included a stop for lunch and the viewpoint at Mt. Erie Park. 

 

Sometimes all you need on a Saturday is a spot for lunch called the Shrimp Shack.