Orcas Island

We have reached our halfway point, 4000 miles from home, the San Juan Islands.  This feels very far away.  We are on Orcas Island, in a damp world of giant ferns and intermittent rain.  The hotel is for sale, but we know we would never survive here - too dark and wet and probably soon cold.  Having said all that, this is beauty.

We drove two hours north of Seattle today to Anacortes and took a ferry to Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands.  Orcas Islands is 57 square miles with about 5000 people.  (Amelia Island is less than 52 square miles with about 15,000 inhabitants.)


The ferry stopped first at Lopez Island, and a good many cars exited.


Fifteen minutes later we pulled into Orcas Island.  Our hotel is at the
top left of this photo, Orcas Hotel.  We brought the car, so we could
drive around the island.




Orcas Hotel, circa 1904, is for sale. It is listed for $1.7 million.
George keeps pointing out that its annual revenue is $1 million.  So if
any readers are interested in chipping in for this lovely inn and restaurant,
give us a call.


This is the view from the bed, where I was reading. 
I feel like Emily Dickinson in her garret.

After a quick nap (always a necessity) we took the drive around the island.
We saw farms and cattle and made a longer circle than we expected on the way
to East Sound, the largest town.  We stopped at Orcas Island Pottery on the way
to East Sound.



The gravel road to the pottery was lined with tall trees.



All the buildings here were lovely.



There was pottery inside and also outside on picnic tables.

I couldn't decide on any pottery.  It's hard to buy things when I am so happy not having much in my house. Also, this is such a long trip. I keep thinking I'll find the perfect souvenir further down the road.

We drove on into East Sound.  It was a fun town with a busy main street.  There were two guys selling fruit and vegetables plus a bookstore and shops for tourists with sea glass and t-shirts.
When we passed the pub, I parked George there, so I could visit four more shops by myself.  I wandered a bit and then joined him.  We looked out at the sound and thought about what it is like to be on a mooring ball.  This is a protected place with a good weather forecast.  I googled C-Dory, our
current fantasy boat.


Our view from the pub.

Now we are back in our hotel.  The sun came out at 6:30 pm.
I wonder if there will be a good sunset?