February 3 - Leaving San Juan Island

We had a good time on San Juan Island, and Marty said that the workshops were well worth her effort.  She and the farmers all learned something from each other.  We finally left for the ferry line, catching the 11:30 boat from Friday Harbor to Anacortes.

University of Washington's Friday Harbor Lab

As we boarded the Tillikum as it began to snow lightly.  Our 1 hour and 5 minute trip was without any problems, and I enjoyed hearing the passengers repeatedly state: “I’ve never seen it snow on this route before!”

The weather to the north was somewhat better

But, the cool day didn’t seem to faze the local sports fishermen

or some of the passengers

Thank goodness, the US Coast Guard was on duty!

USCG Cutter Adelie - 87-footer stationed at Port Angeles

As we went along, we passed the ferry landing for Lopez Island.  This ferry doesn’t stop there.

So many islands, so little time . . .

We also passed the Yakima, outbound from Anacortes

We disembarked at Anacortes and took Marine Drive along the west shore, across the Deception Pass Bridge onto Whidbey Island, and on to the Keystone Ferry, the Kennewick.  It was cold enough that I birded from inside; some of the passengers didn’t mind the weather.

This gull rode across Admiralty Inlet on the Ferry - didn't pay the fee, either . . .

It was snowing pretty heavily at Coupeville and all across Admiralty Inlet to Port Townsend.

Those aren't flying saucers over P.T. - just lights reflected in the ferry window

We headed out of town on Highway 20 to Highway 101 and down Hood Canal.  There was at least one obvious snow-related spin-out wreck, that at Mt. Walker.  The snow continued all the way home to Olympia, although the road was bare of snow or ice from Hoodsport to the south.  We got home around 6 p.m., ate a supper of leftover curry, and I packed for tomorrow’s 2:30 a.m. pick-up by Capital Aeroporter.

Anacortes Ferry eBird Checklist is Here

Keystone Ferry eBird Checklist is Here