coleslaw, brown rice and a glass of Merlot. Who could ask for anything more?
September 17-19 It became a night-time ritual to pull
out maps, and brochures that we collected along the way. We would pour over them as we planned our next day’s adventures. On studying the maps of Orcas Island, we realized there was a lot to explore … plus there were many geocaches waiting to be found! We also discovered that a Robert Moran once owned over 2,000 acres of land on the island and later donated most of it to the state. We ended up staying at our site for a total
of four nights. On our first full day on Orcas Island, we headed to the west side of the island to climb Turtleback Mountain. Although it had poured the night before, the sun came out as we trekked up the mountain. It was a nice, easy climb up to the top… it looked to be an old logging road, which made it easy for me to participate. Once we got to the top of Turtleback
Mountain, we had an impressive view of Deer Harbour and the surrounding islands. You guessed it… there was a geocache waiting to be found at the summit of the mountain! We then drove to Deer Harbour and Westsound area - both small villages with a few shops. Te following day we went into Eastsound
to visit the Farmers’ Market that they have every Saturday. We were both very disappointed as there was no fresh seafood and very few local artists. Te vegetables were very pricey. We bought a small bunch of carrots and a medium cucumber for $4.50. We wandered around the town aſterwards. Although there were quaint shops, they were also expensive. Our dogs needed an aſternoon hike, so
we decided to explore Obstruction State Pass Park. Te trails are short, less than a kilometre, leading to a small beach. We opted for the more difficult trail, but there is one that is easier. We had a great view of the strait looking south. Tere was very little beach access though. In the evening, there was another night of torrential rainfall, but we were nice and cozy in our RV. Once again, my husband beat me in a game of Trivial Pursuit! Our last full day on Orcas Island was
spent exploring Mount Constitution. Aſter a fabulous breakfast of eggs, sausages, bacon and toast, we drove up to Mount Constitution. Visibility was so poor that we decided to return later in the day. We are sure glad that we did, as we climbed to the top of the Watchtower to glimpse panoramic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. I could see
18 RVT 142 • JULY/AUGUST 2011
Vancouver Island in the distance. Te ocean was dotted with emerald islands sparking in the autumn sunshine. Tere is a small giſt shop at the park
with some trendy souvenirs. For those who would not be able to climb the steps of the Watchtower, there is a gradual slope that leads to the base of the tower and affords a spectacular view of the area. We were very happy that we finally visited
one of the many San Juan Islands, as we were relatively pleased with our camping spot. We had a fantastic view of the lake, there were trails nearby for our dogs and we were able to explore the island thoroughly. We knew we would most likely not get another opportunity to do so. For $21 a night, the park offered drinking
water and a sani-dump. Tere are no hook ups sites anywhere in the five campgrounds. Te washrooms are well maintained and accommodate those with mobility issues. We were disappointed in the lack of camping spots for RVers over 20 feet, the expense of food, etc, and the lack of public beach accesses.
September 20 By noon, we were on board the ferry
heading towards the mainland. Again we were lucky with the weather, as the sun came out while we bounded towards Anacortes. Once arriving there, we continued on Highway 20 towards Deception State Pass Park for an overnight. We opted for no hook ups at $21 a night. Tere are sites that offer water and electricity for $27 a night. We had been to this campground before and were once again awed by its beauty. Although I found the campsite dark, there are trails leading right to the beach and Cranberry Lake. I was impressed with the paved,
interpretive trail that borders the ocean for easy accessibility for those who use a wheelchair. Te paved trail led to a wooden, boardwalk platform that goes right onto the beach so one can get closer to the ocean to take in the fresh sea air while listening to the pounding waves on the shore. George and I took a sunset stroll with our appreciative dogs. One of those “this is it” moments as we watched the sun sink into the ocean and listened to the gulls squawking above.
September 21 We headed for Oak Harbour continuing on
Highway 20. Our goal was to board the ferry leaving Keystone to go to Port Townsend. It is recommended that you make reservations to board the ferry, as we had a one and a half hour wait at the terminal. It was a balmy day and it gave us a great chance to walk around
Camp Casey, which is very close to the ferry terminal. Tere is also a campsite available adjacent to the ferry dock. One would have to boon-dock here at $21 a night, but it is right on the ocean. If you miss the last ferry of the day, you could always stay here for the night and catch the first ferry the following day. George, Brodie, Chance and I all enjoyed
the stroll along the beach while waiting for our ferry to arrive. Once aboard, it is only a 30 minute ride, as it goes along at a pretty, brisk clip!! Te historic buildings of Port Townsend are very visible from the ferry – a place that piqued our interest. Perhaps a future RV trip? We continued on Highway 20 towards Sequim and were immediately impressed with the surrounding splendor. We discovered that the Sequim Valley is the lavender capital of North America. With over 40 farms, you could easily visualize the hills covered in a fragrant, purple mist during their Lavender Festival in July. Aſter stopping at the tourist information
centre, we decided to head towards Dungeness Recreation Site to spend the night. Once we had set up camp, we took a leisurely walk along the bluffs overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Te trail winds along the bluffs overlooking the ocean, it is an easy path with no steep inclines, but it is not paved. We could see the Dungeness Spit – the longest sand hook in North America. George wanted to take a trek up to the spit, but decided against it when we discovered that no dogs were allowed!
September 22-23 We loved this area so much, we decided to
stay two more nights here. Tere is no hook up available but there is drinking water, a dump and countless trails to take our dogs on. All for $18 a night! Washrooms are clean but not wheelchair accessible. On our first full day in the area, we spent
the day exploring Sequim. Sequim has the most sunshine in the Olympic Peninsula area, as it is under a “rain shadow”. Te Olympic Mountains affords protection from the excessive rainfall typically experienced in the nearby Olympic Rainforest. We noticed there were many great places to take our dogs. Our first stop was at Corrie Blake Park, as
it had a dog park. Aſter having to be on leash most times, our dogs enjoyed a romp through the fenced park. While here, we also visited the Railway Bridge Park. Tis was absolutely amazing, as it had a boardwalk that spanned over 760 feet over the Dungeness River that incorporated the old rail line route. Te river contains seven species of salmon, but I could
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