Day 5 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Wednesday, November 2, after a 7:30am buffet breakfast the Road Scholars departed on the bus for a San Juan Island excursion. Today we explored the south side of the island: Lavender Farm (there are over 40 species and hundreds of varieties of lavender), San Juan Island National Historic Park (American Camp) with its rare coastal prairie, marine views, and unique history, and Cattle Point/South Beach, the longest stretch of beach in the Islands. On a clear day you can see the Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

We had buffet lunch at the motel Conference Room. We visited the San Juan Historical Museum (the James King Farmhouse was built in 1894 after his log cabin burned down; the Scribner log cabin was built in 1891 and moved to the museum grounds in 1988). We had a group photo on the front lawn. Marianne Hanson sent me a copy taken by her camera.

We next visited the Whale Museum, the nation's first museum dedicated to whales living in the wild. I watched an interesting film on Orcas (Orcinus orca). The islands are famous for their resident pods of Orcas. There are three resident pods that eat salmon but also some transicent orcas that come to take Harbor seals.

Afterwards we had open time to explore Friday Harbor. We had a buffet dinner at 5:30pm. At 6:45 Guest Artist Lee Brooks showed and talked about her artwork.

Day 4 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Tuesday, November 1, after an early 7:00 buffet breakfast, the Road Scholars boarded the inter-island ferry at 8:30 for the scenic cruise to Orcas Island. We visited the Lambiel Museum. Leo Lambiel is a private art collector of the works of well over a hundred artists created in San Juan County. The private residence included a faux Grecian ruins and whimsical underground grotto.

We had a picnic lunch of sandwiches, chips, cookies and bottled water at the Village Green in Eastsound, the largest town in Orcas and the second largest in San Juan County. Catherine got a great tasting Starbucks coffee at Teezer's. I got a cup of hot chocolate.

About 12:30pm we departed for Mt. Constitution (elevation 2409 feet - 734 meters), the highest point in the San Juan Islands. The mountain is part of Moran State Park, the largest public recreation area in the San Juan Islands. Several of us climbed the 52-foot stone lookout tower (1936) at the summit but the spectacular views of surrounding sea and islands was hidden by low clouds. On a clear day you can see the white peaks of Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier. I found three Benchmarks - the tower and two brass discs.

We left about 1:30 for Glenwood Springs Salmon Restoration Hatchery managed by the private non-profit organization called "Long Live the Kings" at an historic farmstead. This facility is seen as a benchmark for natural rearing methods in the Northwest. We cruised through the Islands aboard the inter-island ferry in the late afternoon and returned to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island in time for a buffet dinner. We had a free evening to relax.

Day 3 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Monday, October 31 the Road Scholars had a buffet breakfast at 7:30am in the Motel's conference room. Our caterer was Angie Raab. Our Group Leader was John Pachuta, a travel guide, educator, actor and kayak guide; he has won the Island Quest (a locally held Adventure Race) the past two years.

At 8:30am we had a presentation on the Salish Sea ecosystem: "Intro to the Salish Sea" by Shann Weston. At 10:15 we heard a talk about Coast Salish Native history: "Coast Salish Law" by Russel L. Barsh. He has published a recent paper on the Coast Salish "woolly-dog" with Joan Megan Jones and the late Wayne Suttles. We had lunch at noon.

At 1:00pm we departed by bus for an excursion of the northern areas of San Juan Island. We visited Lime Kiln Lighthouse/Park, San Juan National Park (British/English Camp), the IMA Sculpture Park, and Roche Harbor with its Historic Hotel de Haro. Lime Kiln Lighthouse (activated 1919), located on the west shore of San Juan Island and situated on Haro Strait, is now an Orca whale observation station. We saw Mona the Camel on the drive back.

We had buffet dinner at 5:30. Afterwards we had a presentation "View from the Islands" by Greg Hertel. Greg lives with his wife, two old cats and numerous motorcycles in a house that he built in 1987. His talk offered an insider's look at contemporary life in the islands, and explored issues affecting Island life.

Day 2 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Sunday, October 30th, Catherine and I had a delicious breakfast at the Rocky Bay Cafe at 225 Spring Street in Friday Harbor. The cafe offers good hearty food. We had to wait a bit for a table but it was worth it. I was served skim milk for my oatmeal. I requested 2% but never got it. We explored the east coast of San Juan Island from Friday Harbor to Cattle Point by car.

Catherine saw a deer in a far field. We saw a Red Fox alongside the road. It seemed quite tame. We found nine Geocaches and a Benchmark: Cattle Point Light. Cattle Point Lighthouse (activated 1888/1935) is located on the southern tip of the island.

We returned to Friday Harbor in time for Road Scholar program orientation in the conference room at the Earthbox Motel at 5:00pm. A buffet dinner followed at 5:30. All of the meals were delicious! We had introductions which were quite interesting. Instead of introducing ourselves we paired off and introduced our partner.

Day 1 - Trip to the San Juan Islands

On Saturday, October 29, 2011, my youngest daughter, Catherine, and I traveled by car from Vancouver to Anacortes. We stopped in Lacey for a light breakfast. We arrived about 1:45pm for the 2:40 ferry. We were the first car in Lane 10 at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal and the last of a dozen or so cars allowed to board.

Anacortes is the Gateway to the San Juan Islands. Equally distanced between Seattle to the south and Vancouver, B.C. to the north (approximately 85 miles from each), Anacortes rests on the waters of the Salish Sea on beautiful Fidalgo Island. The San Juan Islands are northwest of Anacortes and northeast of Victoria, Canada. There are approximately 172 islands depending on whether it is low tide or high tide. We visited three of the largest: San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands in our car and with the Road Scholar (formerly known as Elderhostel) group in a bus and vans.

We arrived in Friday Harbor at 3:45. We checked into the Earthbox Motel at 410 Spring Street where we were given the end room on the second floor with a great view of the autumn trees.

We had dinner at the Cask and Schooner on Front Street near the harbor. While the atmosphere was good, sitting by the fireplace, the food was not very good and the conversation at the next table left something to be desired. I photographed a brightly lit Washington State Ferry docked at the harbor. We had a good night's sleep.

I AM THE 2%

NW Dance Project's NEW NOW WOW! Performance, October 15, 2011

Last night my son, Christopher, and I attended the All-World-Premiere program NEW NOW WOW! at the Lincoln Performance Hall in Portland. Christopher is a piano accompanist for NW Dance Project. The program featured three talented international choreographers creating for NW Dance Project for the first time: Didy Veldman (Netherlands) - one of the hottest names in European dance; Noam Gagnon (Canada) - co-founder of the world-renowned The Holy Body Tattoo; and Pedro Dias (Portugal) - 2011 Pretty Creatives choreographic residency winner. While many local and national companies have reduced or even eliminated new creations for their upcoming seasons, NW Dance Project remains dedicated to fostering and maintaining an environment where visionary dance makers can work with complete artistic freedom and with exceptionally talented dancers to bring their ideas to fruition to the stage. A WOW! beginning for NW Dance Project's eight season!