Bald eagle watching us float by
We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary last week by taking our boat to the San Juan Islands. The scenery was beautiful and the weather was glorious. We missed Lily, but it was also really great to spend some time alone for the first time in a very long time.
It's hard to believe 5 years have passed since our wonderful wedding adventure to Fiji. Without the flurry of activity we've become accustomed to while raising Lily, we had time to enjoy small special moments and focusing totally on each other. It was a confirmation of how strong our love and friendship is, and that our bond is stronger than ever!
We stayed in Roche Harbor which is a very small picturesque place. There is little on the shore there except for businesses catering to boating tourists-- restaurants and shops—and so it’s peaceful and relaxing.
The marina, however, is filled with hundreds of boats. (Or I should say yachts.) Our 26 foot open bow was the exception and was dwarfed by yachts ranging from 30 feet to so long we couldn't estimate the length. Most of the boaters were families or retirees, but some larger yachts had staff and crew and were obviously owned by wealthy vacationers.
We took a whale-watching ride one day which didn't encounter any whales, much to Pam's disapppointment. But we did see lots of other water animals and beautiful islands and enjoyed the time together.
On the way back to Anacortes on our last day we took a route recommended by the locals to try and find one of the Killer Whale pods. It included going into the Haro Strait, a large body of water between San Juan Island and Vancouver Island. The beginning of the trip was very pleasant as the water was smooth. But things changed abruptly as we experienced very strong winds and seas much heavier than we'd ever encountered. Over the next hour and a half Pamela struggled with the swells and crashing waves while John kept us on course. By the time we were able to duck in between San Juan Island and Lopez Island, we were soaked and pretty banged around. But we survived. And no, we didn't see any whales!
Grandma Ethel, Auntie Sarah, and Cousin Rachel traveled from Ohio to take care of Lily while we were gone. Lily had a wonderful time and was totally spoiled.
Launching our boat in Anacortes
Fleeting glimpses at porpoises
Harbor Seals
