The town of Friday Harbor is the first place you visit when you get off the ferry on San Juan Island. You have to drive, walk, or bike through the town before you can get anyplace else. The town of Friday Harbor is the only incorporated town on the island. It is also the County …
By Karen
Exploring the Island with Sandy and Eric
Tom and I had some friends visit this last week. We spent every minute we could with them: after work and all our time off. Eric and Sandy have shared our adventures before and there isn’t a lot of sitting still when Tom and Sandy get together. We hiked, we ate, we laughed, we enjoyed …
Long Week of Training and Working
Our first week on San Juan Island, Tom and I had a long week of training and working. We expected training to start on a Sunday, based on the date given. So we arrived on a Friday and went grocery shopping and got the lay of the land on Saturday. We also found out that …
He Gives What He Promises
Thanks to those of you who checked on me after noticing the five days without a post. We have been working a lot and we had some visitors, so it was a busy few days. You will be hearing more about all that! But Tom and I are hoping to get into a regular routine …
Pig War: San Juan Island National Historical Park
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 …
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 …