We do like to make the rounds of the various farmers markets to see what unique veggies they might have. Being a beet lover, I was surprised to see this lighter colored beet.

back to index

This seems to be the year of the barn for me. This wonderful one sits along the Skagit River.

back to index

If we are here during the Anacortes Art Festival, we never miss it. Not only do we get to see the beautiful work of many artisans, but we also get to sample lots of ethnic foods. This lady had just bought this handmade lap harp and was getting her first lesson on how to play it.

back to index

Our friends Debra and Larry from North Carolina have never been to this area so we put on our tour guide hats and set out to show them some of our favorite places. We took a ride up to Cap Sante to give them a view of the Anacortes marina, the San Juans and Mount Baker.

back to index

Our next stop was Deception Pass Bridge. As the sun was beginning to set, it cast a beautiful golden color on what is probably one of my favorite bridges.

back to index

We stood on the bridge and watched a spectacular sunset in Deception Pass.

back to index

In addition to its natural scenery at the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend is also known for the many Victorian buildings remaining from its late 19th-century heyday, numerous annual cultural events, and as a maritime center for independent boat builders and related industries and crafts. This spectacular view of this Victorian town was taken from the ferry.

back to index

Admiralty Head Light was built in 1861 and rebuilt in 1903. The lighthouse guided tall ships toward the Whidbey Island shore where they could fill their sails with wind. It was the last brick lighthouse designed by renowned German architect Carl Leick - its walls were 18 inches thick to withstand the earthquakes that shake western Washington. Admiralty Head's Fresnel lens was extinguished in 1922.

back to index

We love to go to county fairs and decided to check out the Skagit County Fair today. It was fun watching the kids show their 4H animals - like these pigs!

back to index

A trip to the La Conner isn't complete without seeing the Rainbow Bridge and the Swinomish Channel.

back to index

The Skagit Valley is famous for it's tulip bulb production. The Roozengaarde gardens are surrounded by hundreds of acres of tulip, daffodil and iris fields that burst into color each spring. In the summer we get to see beautiful dahlias gracing the grounds.

back to index

Coming back to camp we saw a sign that said that tonight was the opening ceremonies for the Swinomish Days Powwow and that it was open to the public so off we went. It was so much fun watching the natives enter the tent in full regalia to the beat of the drummers.

back to index

Al went up and talked to the drummers after they had completed their competition.

back to index

We went back to the powwow today to find out what the stick game was all about since according to the program there was a $10,000 prize for the winning team. After asking several people, we found that this was really just a guessing game with lots of chanting, drumming and other noise makers. We watched for a while but then decided that the noise was more then we could take!

back to index

The next event we decided to check out were the canoe races being held in the Swinomish Channel. We first watched them from the side of the channel and then...

back to index

...from Rainbow Bridge before...

back to index

...enjoying a sunset at the end of a wonderful day.

back to index

Paula, Bob, Debra and Larry are heading south before us so we decided to have one last campfire and blackberry cobbler as a sendoff.

back to index

Our neighbor has been successfully crabbing and decided to share his bounty with Al. He was in heaven with each bite he took.

back to index

Me and my sunsets!

back to index

Al went off to uke class at the senior center leaving me home to sew.

back to index

Our boat trip with our friends from Whidbey Island was postponed because of weather conditions so we went to a movie with them and then back to their house for dinner. Since they live right on the bluff, standing on their deck we were able to see the cruise ships from Seattle sail by on their way to Alaska.

back to index

We were so surprised to see how much the Anacortes Saturday Market has expanded since we were last here. Lots of beautiful produce on display like this medley of berries and...

back to index

...these colorful potatos.

back to index