We started out by driving several hours, then we rode for awhile, before we drove some more.
Those of you familiar with Northwestern Washington will immediately know what I'm talking about.
For the rest of you, you'll just have to figure it out by watching the following slideshow.
OUR NONTYPICAL TRAVEL DAY
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By 8:30AM we were on the road and bidding Cresent Lake farewell.
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Houston, we have a problem! WA-20 seems to have fallen off into the Port Townsend Bay.
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We are not the only ones with the same problem.
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The solution has arrived, the Washington State Ferry.
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This is not the first, nor will it be the last time we drive ROVER and THE POD onto a ferry.
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We easily fit under the 16' tall ceiling...
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..., but side to side was a different story.
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We were relieved that we didn't have to drive the 6-miles across the Admiralty Inlet.
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It was a smooth ride with wonderful views.
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According to our GPS the Captain was "just a little bit" off course.
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Arriving on Whidbey Island we saw some agriculture in addition to the large Naval Air Station.
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I have still been unable to identify the huge snow capped mountain in this photo. I later determined that this is indeed Mount Baker.
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We arrived way before the 2:30PM check-in time, but it didn't seem to be a problem.
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We've got 3-nights here in the Quarry Pond Campground of Deception Pass State Park.
When we arrived in the town of Discovery Bay this morning we had a decision to make. In order to arrive at our destination, we either could choose to drive 42-miles, including a $101 6-mile ride on the Washington State Ferry, or drive 187-miles the long way around through the Tacoma and Seattle traffic.
For me it was a "no brainer". Driving the long way around would have cost us about $80 more in gas and a minimum of an extra 3-hours of driving in big city traffic. So please, sell me a ticket for the ferry!
TUESDAY - Today we're headed out for lunch and a visit to the Price Sculpture Forest.
The Sculpture Forest opened in October of 2020 when the Price Family decided not to build their home on the 15-acre parcel they purchased. They thought about selling the property, but couldn't find anyone who would leave the forested property pretty much as is.
So they did the next best thing, they donated the property to the U.S. Navy as a Conservation Easement, meaning it can never be cleared for residential use and can only be used as a public space with minimal infrastructure.
Today there is a FREE .6-mile "Figure 8" trail that has dozens of art installations to be viewed.
PRICE SCULPTURE FOREST
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Even the sign out front could be considered a work of art.
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The same could be said about the arch that leads you into the forest.
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Since this is an outdoor gallery the pieces must be able to withstand Washington winters.
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For that reason most of them are made out of metal or wood.
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There is little chance of getting lost along the trail.
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This T-Rex was probably my fvorite. It's hidden behind the foilage around a curve.
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From this angle it appears to include an old tree stump.
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This guy was hidden up high and you had to search for him.
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This carved salmon bench was hidden in plain sight on the trail.
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Tricia found this piece very clever and included both sides of the trail.
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Even the donation box was a piece of art. We left them a $10 bill for their efforts.
After strolling through the forest we headed back to camp, but we stopped along the road at a Lion's Club kiosk where they were selling fresh picked Washington Cherries.
We also stopped at a more traditional farm stand along the road, but only ended up walking away with two scoops each of ice cream.
This farm stand was right in the flight path of the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, so we got to see jets flying directly overhead practicing maneuvers while we enjoyed our ice cream.
Not all the planes landing at the base today were fighter jets.
WEDNESDAY - Today we're headed out to explore this state park that we're visiting.
Our campground is across the street from the main entrance of the park where there is another, much larger campground, plus beaches, kayak rentals, picnic areas and an amphitheater where they hold their Ranger programs each day.
We prefer it over here across the street at the Quarry Pond Campground, because it's quiet and no day use facilities.
The park also includes another campround, tidepooling and hiking trails on the north side of Deception Pass on Fidalgo Island.
DECEPTION PASS STATE PARK
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We weren't even out of the Quarry Pond Campground before we started seeing wildlife.
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This young deer was just munching away at the vegetation and paying no attention to the cars.
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We are now over on Fidalgo Island at Rosario Beach where the tidepooling is.
The wooden carving tells the story of Ko-kwal-alwoot, a member of the Samish people.
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Down there among the rocks is where the tidepooling takes place at low tide.
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The tidepooling here among the islands doesn't compare to the coastal areas we've seen.
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Still you never know what you just might find.
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There is quite a large tidal change here in Northwestern Washington, between 10-13 feet.
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This is the Deception Pass Bridge as seen from Pass Island in the middle of the pass.
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From beneath the roadway you can see the supports holding up the bridge.
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Here's a boat going full speed against the incoming tide under the bridge.
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The swift moving currents on the east side of the bridge.
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The swirling whirlpools on the west side as seen from the center of the bridge.
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There are pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge.
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By 8:30AM we were on the road and bidding Cresent Lake farewell.
Houston, we have a problem! WA-20 seems to have fallen off into the Port Townsend Bay.
We are not the only ones with the same problem.
The solution has arrived, the Washington State Ferry.
This is not the first, nor will it be the last time we drive ROVER and THE POD onto a ferry.
We easily fit under the 16' tall ceiling...
..., but side to side was a different story.
We were relieved that we didn't have to drive the 6-miles across the Admiralty Inlet.
It was a smooth ride with wonderful views.
According to our GPS the Captain was "just a little bit" off course.
Arriving on Whidbey Island we saw some agriculture in addition to the large Naval Air Station.
I have still been unable to identify the huge snow capped mountain in this photo.
We arrived way before the 2:30PM check-in time, but it didn't seem to be a problem.
We've got 3-nights here in the Quarry Pond Campground of Deception Pass State Park.
Even the sign out front could be considered a work of art.
The same could be said about the arch that leads you into the forest.
Since this is an outdoor gallery the pieces must be able to withstand Washington winters.
For that reason most of them are made out of metal or wood.
There is little chance of getting lost along the trail.
This T-Rex was probably my fvorite. It's hidden behind the foilage around a curve.
From this angle it appears to include an old tree stump.
This guy was hidden up high and you had to search for him.
This carved salmon bench was hidden in plain sight on the trail.
Tricia found this piece very clever and included both sides of the trail.
Even the donation box was a piece of art. We left them a $10 bill for their efforts.
We weren't even out of the Quarry Pond Campground before we started seeing wildlife.
We are now over on Fidalgo Island at Rosario Beach where the tidepooling is.
The wooden carving tells the story of Ko-kwal-alwoot, a member of the Samish people.
Down there among the rocks is where the tidepooling takes place at low tide.
The tidepooling here among the islands doesn't compare to the coastal areas we've seen.
Still you never know what you just might find.
There is quite a large tidal change here in Northwestern Washington, between 10-13 feet.
This is the Deception Pass Bridge as seen from Pass Island in the middle of the pass.
From beneath the roadway you can see the supports holding up the bridge.
There are pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge.
