Whidbey Island, Washington

Tues., May 29 had us leaving Portland, Oregon, passing through Seattle, and heading north to the San Juan Islands. The skies were clear, the weather was warm, and the snow covered mountain peaks in the distance were spectacular. We passed Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier and Mt Baker.

We camped at Deception Pass State Park (probably the prettiest park that we’ve ever stayed in.) The park was nestled in the woods right on the water of the Puget Sound. There were numerous hiking trails through the woods with lush undergrowth and colorful wildflowers-wild roses, “rhodies”, salmon berries, scotch broom, etc. No snakes, no bugs, and no mosquitoes. We’re ready to move here.

John was on a mission to sample the Penn Cove mussels and see if they were still the “best mussels ever”. He wasn’t disappointed. The small town of Coupeville (located on Penn Cove) grows the mussels on platforms with strings hanging down from them for easy harvest.

Deception pass is a narrow cut (75 yards) through the island. With the large bay behind the island, the water rushes through the inlet at max flood and ebb tides. Up to about 15 knots. At our first time camping here in 1984, John and Johnny took our small inflatable Avon with its 8hp motor through the pass. Going with the water flow, the boat was going by the cliff walls at up to 40 mph! Exciting.

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