I packed up the camping gear on Friday while Chris and the kids finished work and summer day camp, then we headed out very early one Saturday in mid July to the ferry terminal an hour north of Seattle.
The half hour ferry ride was easy and pretty, if not a little foggy. It is always foggy in the mornings on the cool water. The weather was breaking just as we landed and we went straight to the opposite end of the island to tour around and get a feel for the place.
We hiked along the rocky shoreline in a state park.
Surveyed the waters. Tide was going out.
Found lots of seals! The pups were new and many were still nursing or very near mom. The were across an inlet from us, so this is as close as my camera would get. They were 200 yards off or more and there were a couple dozen of them. I kept looking for orca whales since it was near her we saw them from shore last year, but didn't see any this time.
Last rocky shoreline before going back to the town area and exploring over there.
Weather is beginning to break!! Yay!
The kids noticed that the tide was leaving all sorts of anemones stranded above the waterline.
They quickly dug holes around each one and filled it with water to keep them from cooking in the sun.
Then we headed off to the campsite to check in and set up.
After a tour of the campsite we picked a hiking trail that went down to a large spit. We had a a walk around and saw these things:
Looking across the center of the spit toward other islands. Then while the other 3 got lost and did a big walk around the spit, I hunkered down and watched people and wildlife.
This was a random guy, out catching his dinner. Small private crabbing boats were scattered around, but this guy neede no net or boat. He just walked through knee-deep water and reached down and grabbed one out from under a rock. His wife and 2 small daughters were waiting onshore with a big kettle. He caught 2 Dungeoness crabs this size in 5 minutes and they headed home for a feast.
This guy was catching dinner too. Very patiently.
Success!
Another view across the spit.
This is a dunlin. They flock in huge clouds over the shallows and run like sandpipers back and forth ahead of the waves.
Then is was off to the west side of the island to watch the sunset. But first a lesson in skipping stones.
Skipping stones into the sunset.
What else do you do with a sunset like this? Watch it, enjoy it, photograph it, of course!!
Then we headed back to camp and had dinner and relaxed by the campfire until the stars came out.
The next morning we returned to the spit and tried some sea kayaking for the first time ever. It was very fun!!
Then we packed up camp and headed for the ferry because it was time to go home!!
The view of Mt. Baker from Lopez Island ferry dock.
Mt Baker from Anacortes, where the ferry drops off to the mainland.
Anacortes is the gateway to the islands, but it is industrail too. A very neat place where wilderness brushes up against oil tankers. It is just over an hour drive from home.
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