Good time on Guemes

Started the day by walking two blocks to the local farm market for fresh pastries, a breakfast burrito and coffee for Norm. Next thing I know we are in the old train station listening to a talk on saving energy in food purchasing (buy local and in season or grow your own), food storage (freeze, can, dry whatever is in season for the winter), food preparing (use a pressure cooker) and then we snuck out. Interesting presentation by Martha Hunt who we actually met on our bike ride into town. She stopped us (we were all on bikes), welcomed us to Anacortes, asked if we had a place to stay and was all-round friendly. Turns out she was giving the talk on saving energy. Martha spend less than $20 a month on electricity and even less on gas. And when we walked into the talk she recognized us as the couple on bikes from Victoria. I was impressed!
We had other adventures to do today so we got our bikes and headed towards Guemes Island. On the way we had to take pictures of the Causland Park here in Anacortes. It is one of the ugliest parks I have ever seen. And what is worse it was designed by a Canadian, John Baptiste Lepage! It was built between 1919 and 1921 as a tribute to Anacortes veterans of the First World and later vets of other wars.






While we were taking pictures a group was setting up for a wedding in the park.



The stone work, done by volunteers, is so unique and unusual, three different colors of stone in strange wavy patterns, vaguely art nouveau. But the day was sunny and the gardens around are beautiful so probably a good place to get married.



On we biked a short distance to the ferry terminal for Guemes Island. Not that we needed more biking but this island is only eight minutes away and seemed like a fun place to spend an afternoon. We started with lunch at the general store (only restaurant on the island), sharing a toasted bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with fries. Then Norm led the way around the island. Empty country road but since it is an island, it had its share of hills. We walked a few of them but it was great coming down the other side. On the north side was a lovely beach where you can see Mt. Baker in the distance, a gorgeous day! It looks tiny in the photo here, but it really loomed across the water.



Around the whole island and back to the ferry terminal for ice cream took us about two hours. Well worth the effort.



Sat on the beach waiting for the ferry and bike home.



Check the totem pole coming out of Norm's head, very creative.




Finished off our stay in Anacortes with a nice dinner at Adrift, a seafood restaurant. Tomorrow we're back on the bikes for our last stop, Orcas Island.

Location:Anacortes