The Day(s) We took a ferry, found some whales, went rock hunting and heard a peacock scream in the deep, dark forest

This final blog post will cover several days, because we were too tired at the end of each day from playing (rough life) to write.   

Our original plan was to head to Vancouver island in British Columbia.  When we started looking more closely at the cost and feasibility, we saw that it wouldn't be possible.  Instead we went and spent the day in Anacortes, Washington.  We went to an annual waterfront festival, estate sale, fruit stand and Washington Park state park where we chilled on the beach and took pictures of flowers.

(Janae's feet enjoying the Sun)

That evening we parked our trailer at Sara's friends the Lewis's...and although they had just returned from a 6 week, 28 state adventure, they welcomed us us with open arms and food and games...we even had chores...raspberry picking and bean prep.  (Best chores ever)

(Trailer at the Lewis home)

The next day we caught a ferry to the San Juan islands and Friday Harbor.  They are a group of islands off of Washington that are fun places to visit and enjoy.  As we walked around the streets Sara had a hankering for a whale watching tour.  Janae was not feeling up to the boat ride at that time, so she chose to enjoy the scenic town and little shops and museums while Sara headed out for a three hour tour ( which turned into 4 hours...but of course some of you will start humming and singing the theme song that has three hour tour in it)

(Friday harbor)

(Lavender growing on the island)

(Mt Baker)

The whale watching trip was incredible!!!  Sea birds that Sara hoped to find were there and a pod of 11 orcas (including a baby). Swam, breached and popped their heads out to Sara's happiness!  

(Lucky Darth Maul whale whale watching hat)

Then two humpbacks glided past!!  The Darth Maul lucky hat wins again!!

For dinner we had a lovely pizza at a China food place...cuz that's how we roll.

(Huckleberry ice cream)

The next day we headed down towards Seattle to visit Janae's Uncle Mike.  He is a very talented and creative individual.  He had a beautiful garden with garden decorations he made out of wood.

( boot planter)

(Wood stork)

That night we decided to find a campground.  We ended up on a bumpy, windy road that weaved deeper and deeper into the thickening woods that was steadily growing darker.  As we neared our destination, the haunting cry of a peacock penetrated the gloom.   As we entered the campground, we quickly realized that it was made up of more "resident" campers.  We were stared at inquisitively as we quickly backed up and headed back to town to find a hotel.

The next day we drove through Mt Rainer  National Forest.  We managed not to get a picture while driving on narrow mountain roads, but here's a picture borrowed that shows it's beauty a view seen but we didn't take advantage of.

(From goodmans journey blog)

We stopped at American river and Janae and her uncle hunted for agates and other rocks and Sara watched birds.

( part of Janae's rock hounding collection)

We decided instead of finding another camping spot halfway, we would knock it out at once!  The journey was uneventful (besides Sara being surprised by the 20 year old telling her it was against the law for her to pump her own gas) we returned safe and sound!

Thanks for following our journey!!!  Until the next adventure...go out and explore!!!

The day we explored the parks of Washington

Well actually, before leaving Canada we had to try their national food...A&W.  Okay, maybe it's not their official national food,  but considering we saw more A&Ws in every town large and small, we have officially knighted A&W Canada's official food.   

After leaving Canada we headed to Camano Island in Washington state where Janae had generous friends, the Ericksons, who lent us a patch of grass to park our rig, and Chris even parked it for us...(for though we are practically perfect, we have one small Achilles heel, reversing the trailer)

(Insert picture of trailer parked with beach in the background that Sara took a picture of with her camera instead of her phone so no picture until she gets home...😒)

Their homes were on the beach, looking out at piles of sun bleached driftwood, clear blue water, the Cascades and birds flitting about (much to Sara's delight)

(Panoramic View from the porch)

After a restful night and friendly conversation we took the advice of the Ericksons and headed out to some of the neighboring island's parks.  We arrived at Whidbey Island and started exploring the tide pools at Deception Pass. (Cool name huh?!)

(The plaque says that Captain Vancouver was deceived about the peninsula)

It was a lovely place with lots of interesting creatures in the tide pools and a few dead fish and a skull of some poor sea creature.   (We decided not to investigate further)

 Our next state park ( we bought a pass for deception and decided to try and get in as many state parks in one day that we could...it's good to have goals.) was Whidbey.  We mostly just wanted a pretty place to eat lunch.  This little park fit the bill.  Joseph Whidbey was a member of the exploration of this area along with Captain Vancouver and Peter Puget.  So he named the island after himself.  Sounds reasonable, if you map it, you can name it.    

Finally, we went to Fort Casey state park.  It is an interesting state park with a lighthouse over 100 years old and a fort built over 200 years ago to protect the area from sea vessels that might attack.

We climbed up into the lighthouse.

(Old pictures rock)

We decided to camp here for the night.  It is a nice area.  We hope to hit more islands tomorrow...but for now, we are happily tired.   

Night friends!  

The Day we defeated mud

An alternate name for our blog could be "two girls and an umbrella ".  We decided to leave Banff early because rain and fog were going continue until the weekend.  

Driving into and through British Columbia has been one of the most incredible drives we've been on.   We pass through Yoho National Park and Canada's Glacier  National Park.   Waterfalls cascade down glacial mountains.   Rivers and lakes shimmer as they run next to the freeway. Bald Eagles are perched on the tops of trees around every bend.   The water reflects all of these beauties along with reflecting the fog that clings to the trees and mountains.   

We made it about halfway to Vancouver, and Janae found a free campsite off the freeway near White Cloud Lake.   It was a  lovely area, serene and idyllic.  Only one other vehicle was there.   However, the rain had made the dirt road and camping area muddy and slick.   As we tried to unhook the trailer it slipped and the pole became lodged deep in the mud.   It took  some ingenuity by and materials support of our neighbor to help us stabilize and support our trailer.   

It rained all through the night and following morning.  We both had hopeful dreams about the charms of the lake, but awoke to fog hanging low on the lake.  

The flora, fauna, and birds of the area were quite lovely, we would have loved to stay and see what fun we could have when it dried up.  

Found this spear near our campsite...guess we should've gone fishing!  

We had to four wheel it out of the mud, and back up the hill, but we did and now we are doing laundry at flying J before heading to Vancouver!

Peace out!

The Day we Found Stuff

Today was the day we found stuff.   First we retraced our steps and Janae found her key fob and Sara her lens cap so we knew it would be a great day!!! So here is our lists of funds (this post encompasses a few days). 

Found: our way into Alberta Canada!  

Found: a very good looking Canadian border patrol guy.  We kept trying to find ways for him to interview us longer but for some reason he seemed to want us to leave...fassssst.  Hmmm...

Found:Calgary traffic can be a bear with a trailer...but we survived!  We also found that singing mariachi songs at the tops of our lungs while driving through Calgary is cathartic...to us...not them.

Found: lots and lots and lots of A&w's, subways and dairy queens in every town small and large in southern Alberta.   Hmm.

Found:  BANFF!!!!!!

Found:  we aren't so hot at the whole backing up a trailer thang...so we found a neighbor to help us and made our own pull through spot.   We set up camp and drive out to Lake Louise even though it was 8:30 at night.  The scenery is breathtaking.   Towering snow covered mountains,  multiple hues of green coming from trees, grass and the river.  A rushing sea foam green and white river is quite enchanting .    

Found:  friends.  We were able to make friends from New Jersey, Canada and Bulgaria.  We shared lots of stories and Sara got an email of a teacher that she is going to try and visit the school in Ontario.   

Found: wildlife.  Not as much as I hoped, but up close and beautiful.  Elk, black bears, dear, gray jays, bald eagles, harlequin ducks...and other birds.

Found:  rain.  Lots and lots of it.  Didn't stop us.  We visited the town of Banff,  Lake Minnewanka.  'Tis lovely.  

(Sara's phone stopped working here, so no pictures of the lake)

Found:  we could make a fire with damp wood!  And eat more roasted marshmallows than any reasonable person possibly should...oh, but so worth it!!

Found:  Moraine Lake and Lake Louise again.   This was a beautiful foggy, soggy ride.   Stunning, majestic, powerful are the words that come to mind.   It was truly an incredible place.  

Found: the love of glacier lakes and mountains!

Next stop Vancouver!!

(And here's some lilacs we found...I ❤️ lilacs)