A few rainy, misty hours on Orcas Island

Hello zztagalongs! Today's pictures begin with a shot of Friday Harbor yesterday afternoon when it was cold but a bit sunny. The rest of the shots are from today. We asked for a 6 o'clock wake up call so we would be able to catch the 8:30 ferry to Orcas Island. With time to spare, Barb filled the car with gas at $3.96 per gallon. Well, when trapped on an island you pay what they charge. Soon, however, we were on our way to Orcas--the sky was very overcast and it was drizzling but we saw a few patches of blue, which made us feel optimistic. For naught. The Island is a funny shaped three lobed, heavily forested, mountainous piece of terre firma. We began by heading out to Deer Harbor and the marina there. Not much else there I'm afraid, although the Post Office was open so we mailed our packed boxes we'd been carting around for a few days. Asked about the Stanley Steamer rides--postmistress didn't seem too clear about them, except to say, oh, yes, they are open cars, I think, over in East Sound. I asked about the sculptor that the Washington Tourism Dept had sent an email about--yup--toward East Sound, too, up Double Hill Rd just before the village. You'll see his stuff from the road. So, off we headed out Crow Valley Road to East Sound. Missed the turn, since things are not terribly well marked. Though I had a map, it was not to scale, didn't have all the roads on it and most of the roads had no signs on them. Not terribly visitor friendly. But we made our way back to the village, which is cramped around a very narrow street with everything tooth to jowl and no really clear indication of what anything is. A couple of B&B's, a junk shop--oops. souvenir shop-- maybe a pub and a café and I think the porch on that building had a restaurant sign. Didn't see any sign of Stanley Steamers and missed Double Hill Rd but knew we had to come back this way because every lobe is connected at East Sound. So, out we went to Olga which supposedly has a gallery and shop of innumerable local artists. There is nothing in Olga except the gallery and it said Closed. When we returned past it, the other door said Open but there was no evidence of anyone around so we didn't stop. Worked our way back through Moran State Park, bypassing the Mountain Road to the top of Constitution Mountain which was shrouded in fog and mist. I hear it has a fabulous 360 degree view of the Islands etc but not today. Around Crescent Beach and back into East Sound. Found Double Hill Road and drove up at 10mph as instructed by the sign at the bottom. There was the field with the artists beautiful stainless steel wind mobiles but a tripod metal sign in the driveway saying private drive--do not enter. So the main reason I wanted to go to Orcas was denied me. No one around to ask permission to look at the field of beautiful objects. So, back to Orcas Rd, through West Sound--on the map but for sure not on the road--and back to Orcas Village and the 12:40 ferry back to Friday Harbor. $23.50 to return --nothing to go over. Crazy. Had to wait for the ferry so bought a souvenir spoon, a wooden bookmark and a map of the islands to frame. When I commented on the tax the lady asked if I were from Oregon. What? Seems they honor the lack of sales tax in Oregon, NH and Montana--should have told her I was from NH. Though the Island was disappointing--weatherwise, lunch wise and art wise--it really is incredibly beautiful and does not bother knocking itself out for the tourist. If you are into kayaking, camping, horseback riding or staying in harbor resorts, Orcas is your place, though. And the Madrona trees are incredibly interesting and beautiful. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbutus_menziesii So after waiting in the harbor for 15 minutes to dock we are back in our room. Barb is napping, not having slept well last night for some reason. I have to plot out our way to Oregon --mileage between stops, motels at stops and the road to take after I give Barb the info. So, I'm off with my map and computer. We'll be on the road again tomorrow--headed for the Olympic Peninsula, that geographic hallmark of the Washington Coast and the Northwest Border of every grade school kid's map of the USA! Until then, hasta la vista, babies BarbZig and KatZag PS--Great chat with Betsy from the ferry between Lopez and San Juan. First time since leaving home. Good to talk with her--miss her a lot.