Heading for Bend - Thursday March 31,2022

(Note: This blogger software is a pain. It shows most recent post first, which doesn't work well for a travelogue. So I have to "trick it" by reversing the dates. When you get to the end of a series of posts, click on "see older posts" to get the rest. Thanks for reading!)

We hadn't been on a road trip since last fall so its time! One of the things on our "bucket list" was to see the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. So we came up with a 9 day trip to include that. We'd head over to the coast, through Bend, go on up to Astoria, pick up the ferry at Anacortes and go over to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island for day. Then back to the "mainland" and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

It was a nice sunny day for the drive over to Bend. A bit cool, mostly 40s and low 50s. We took the John Day route on Rt 26, which is a bit longer than going through Burns but a lot more "scenic".

We arrived in Bend at about 4:00  (You pick up an an hour coming into the Pacific Time Zone). Staying at a Best Western (free, with points.) A nice dinner at the Olive Garden just down the street.

John Day Visitor Center

Prineville

Friday -to Yachats

We left Bend about 9:30 after a good hotel breakfast. Stopped for gas in Sisters ($4.69!).  We took US20 to Sweet Home, then Corvalis, then a "scenic route 34" to over the Coast Range to Walport. (Note to self: that's a twisty road, not suitable for people subject to car sickness!) It would have been better to stay on US20 to Newport. There's a pretty reservoir at Sweet Home called Foster Lake - the water level is very low.

We arrived at our hotel, the Fireside, in Yachats about 4:00. The weather had been sunny in the low 50s all day but now that we're at the coast it overcast with a sprinkles! The waves are crashing right outside our balcony! After unpacking the car, we hiked along the Pacific Coast Trail for about a mile, heading north, where one gets access to a wide stretch of beach.

We enjoyed an excellent dinner at our favorite place in Yachats - The Drift Inn. Complete with live music right in front of our table (very quiet!)

Tomorrow we head north for about 230 miles to Aberdeen WA.

Saturday - to Aberdeen, WA

Long day today, even though it was only 230 miles. Probably because we ate out THREE times! Its disappointing that route 101 is such a poor road. Its slow and curvy; hard to make good time. 

The Fireside is the coolest place. On my morning walk along the rocky shore, I saw a bald eagle sitting on a rock. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera; just my phone which doesn't do zoom well. Before leaving Yachats we had a nice breakfast at the Blue Whale. So we didn't get out of town until about 10:30. 

Heading north on 101, our first stop was always beautiful Seal Rock. Quick stop in Newport just to see if the seals were there - they were. That's always a good spot to see working fishing boats. As we approached Tillamook we decided to have lunch at the cheese Factory, specializing, of course, in grilled cheese sandwiches. The place was packed but we enjoyed our lunch, including tomato soup with cheese curds (of course).

Today's weather was great! Sunny in the low 50s. We finally got to our Best Western hotel in Aberdeen about 6:30. At the clerk's suggestion, we had dinner at "Billy's", just a few blocks away. Great place. An old saloon/brothel in the industrial area. We enjoyed our meal watching North Carolina beat Duke in the NCAAs! Be sure to read about the Wishkah Winker! Tomorrow we go to Port Townsend and take the ferry to Anacortes. Sounds like we're in for a couple of days of nasty weather.

Sunday - Long Way To Anacortes

Well, this day didn’t go as planned! We left the hotel around 9:30 and drove up to Port Townsend to catch the 12:30 or 2:00 ferry over Anacortes, where we had a reservation at the Marina Inn. It was not an unpleasant drive. Raining early then partly cloudy most of the way, temperature in the high 40s. The weather report for later today and tomorrow was horrible, with rain and high wind warnings. 

We arrived at Port Townsend to learn that, in fact, due to high winds all afternoon sailings had been canceled! Now what? It was only a bit after noon, so we decided to drive all the way around, down to Tacoma and back up through Seattle to Anacortes. Another 4 hours of driving added to our day. (see map).

We arrived in Anacortes about 6:00, checked into our room and headed over to the Secret Cove for a nice seafood dinner. We had eaten there 4 years ago and recalled it fondly. We have ferry reservations for tomorrow morning to go over to Friday Harbor. Sounds like there’s a good chance that crossing will be canceled. We are scheduled to be there two nights at the Tucker House. Considering a Plan B.  So we’ll see what happens……….stay tuned!

Monday - Anacortes to Friday Harbor

They say it rained a lot overnight, but when we looked, the sun was out and it was only a bit windy. But that brutal wind storm that had been forecast seems to have blown over! On the way to the ferry terminal, we stopped to check out the Army Corps of Engineers W. T. Preston Snagboat. Very interesting!

So, off we went to the ferry and got in line for the 10:30 trip. No problem! The trip over was a bit bumpy in the main channel but otherwise smooth as can be. It was too cold and windy to be out on the deck! We got to Friday Harbor on time, about noon. The weather is on and off - sun, then rain, then more sun. Temps in the mid 40s. Gusty winds but not too bad. We had a nice lunch at the Blue Fish (more clam chowda). We found our room at the Tucker House and met Susan and Glen, the Inn keepers. (Note: our room was on the second floor with a treacherous twisting staircase. Only young people should have this otherwise very nice room)

On the advice of the Innkeeper we went across the street to the San Juan Brewery to watch the NCAA final (Kansas beat N.C.), while eating pizza and Greek salad.

Stop at Lopez Island

Getting on the ferry

On display at Anacortes

 

Tuesday on San Juan Island

We spent today driving the length and breadth of San Juan Island (its only 18 miles). The weather has cleared, although still coolish and quite windy.  First stop, at the southern end, was part of the San Juan Islands National Historical Park and the Cattle Point Lighthouse. In The Pig War of 1859 the Americans dug in here to protect against British Warships off the coast. (Weird story - Google It!).

Continuing on, we headed north on the west side of the island to Lime Kiln State Park and Lighthouse. This is a great park with easy trails and views of the ocean and lighthouse. Historically, many tons of Lime were mined on this little island.

Next stop, at the north end of the island is the resort town and marina of Roche Harbor. After a nice lunch at the Lime Kiln Cafe on the pier, we hiked around the pier oggling at the incredible array of yachts. $$$. We enjoyed a welcome surprise when a retired couple we met gave us a tour of their "Rebozo". They had retired from teaching years ago and now called Roche Harbor their home. Their boat is like a big motor home; all the features of home.

Dinner tonight at Haley's Sports Bar.

Lime Kilns