San Juan Island National Historical Park is, of course, the reason Tom and I are on San Juan Island. The National Park owns 2,500 acres which makes it the biggest landowner on San Juan Island. The park has a very interesting story to tell about the making of the United States. Have you ever heard …
From May 2017
Vics Drive-In, Friday Harbor San Juan Island
Something really unique about San Juan Island is the lack of chain restaurants or hotels. I’m sure this was a conscious decision on the part of the island council and it is a good one. The lack of chains means locally owned businesses can survive and thrive on their own merits. It also means owners …
San Juan Island Off the Coast of Washington State
Tom and I arrived at San Juan Island a little over a week ago. Since our arrival, we have been in training or working every day, but we have made time to explore a little bit also. The island is absolutely beautiful with a new scenic vista around every corner. You cannot drive to San …
My First Love (Not Tom)
On Tuesday, Tom and I will be married 36 years. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we stuck with each other through them. I am thankful and blessed (and sometimes vexed) to be married to this wonderful man. But Tom is not my first love. I was reminded of this at church this morning. …
Washington State Ferry Ride
Tom and I are spending this summer on an island, just like we spent the winter on an island. Both islands are the same size, although San Juan Island has half the number of permanent residents. Although they are both islands, you can drive to St. Simons Island on a causeway. You have to take …
Wall Drug: Serving Free Ice Water Since 1931
Driving across South Dakota can be brutal. The state is almost 400 miles from east to west and there is a whole lot of nothing along those 400 miles. Just about the only thing to entertain you are the billboards advertising Wall Drug. In fact, there are 200 billboards for Wall Drug between the border …
Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church
We arrived in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island last Friday (ferry ride post in a couple of days). One of the first things I did after we got settled was look for a church to attend. There are two mainline Protestant churches on the island: Episcopalian and Presbyterian. We decided to try Friday Harbor …
South Dakota Grand Canyon: Badlands National Park
The Grand Canyon of South Dakota is Badlands National Park. Tom and I spent a day hiking in the Badlands during our recent drive across the country. It was not our first visit to the Badlands. We saw the Badlands in 1990 and in 2006. We started our visit to the Grand Canyon of South …
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
On our drive across the United States, we took a break in South Dakota to check out a couple of National Park sites. Last Saturday, we parked the RV at a nearby campground and walked to the Visitors Center at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Minuteman Missile is a newish park: only 18 years …
Sea to Shining Sea: Driving Across the United States
Tom and I left St. Simons Island on April 24. We drove the 800 miles to Ohio, spent two weeks there, and then headed west and north to San Juan Island. Tomorrow we will take the ferry to our destination for the next four months. 2,500 miles from Ohio. From Atlantic to Pacific in less …