spring break

Years ago I read a "top 100 places to visit" list.

San Juan Islands was one of them.

It is beautiful and unique.

However, a bit cool today. Coats for spring break.

Last year we stayed at Roche Harbor, loved it and stayed again .

I was solo momma last year. Randy was teaching.
We were so glad to have him with us this time.

It also helped a ton to have daddy muscles around to carry Makenzy,
she weighs a lot more than last year.

The plaque below this tree identifies it as being over 300 years old. Old growth for sure. In fact, it has seen a lot it almost looks like it is growing eyes. Check out the knot, it forms an eye that faces out to sea over some chapped, puckered lips.

I love this guy!

We visited English Camp.

Lime Kiln State Park is also known as "whale watching park" because the whales migrate through this incredibly deep pass of water. Also, the cold currents kick up nutrients in the strait that many sea mammals feed on. We didn't see any whales because they actually come through Haro Strait from May to September.

However, Randy spotted this sea lion basking and resting on the rocks. We probably could have gotten close, but we thought it best for the sea lion and us to keep at least 20 feet back. It was just so amazing to be so close to something we usually only see in aquarium tanks.

Now a picturesque lighthouse on the rocky shore, it once was one of the last working lighthouses until its automation in the '70s.

Madalyn found this amazing Pacific starfish.

It is a common species on the western coast. It actually comes in orange, yellow, purple, and red. I guess it was an orange day, because the kids found about 5 more within feet of this one. She placed it back near a clump of small sponges.

Earlier in the week, we found a purple Pacific starfish at Alki Beach a foot from shore, it felt like rough stone and cemented itself to the rocks.



See Randy.

See Randy White.

See Randy White Point.

Last year we both had shorter hair.

A year later, a little longer.


We picked out Our boat!

It seats 7, plus some.

Tennis is Randy's game.
He loves it and so do the kids.
However, Western Washington isn't known for its amazing tennis weather.
But, this trip we had dry courts, time, and an beautiful court overlooking the marina.


The little red building perched above the slate water is a fixed welcome
and adieu to the incessant ferries. A landmark point of arrival and departure at Friday Harbor.

Cayden snapped this final pic from the ferry before we headed back home.