Friday Harbor

On Sunday, my sister Kristie and her husband Roy took us for a boat ride from Bellingham to Friday Harbor. We were hoping to get some relief from the heat and smoke that has permeated the entire Northwest for the last several days. As we motored across the water, we were hindered by a heavy fog. This is not unusual for Puget Sound mornings, but with the smoke, it seemed somewhat heavier than usual. Fortunately, the fog lifted as we entered the channel and we were able to continue on.

Entering the harbor

This tree greets all visitors to Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island, is only accessible by boat or plane. Most people arrive by Washington State Ferry. The ferry stops here on its way from Anacortes to Victoria, British Columbia. The system also makes stops at three other of the San Juan Islands. The ferry system in Washington is officially part of the highway system, a fact that somewhat stabilizes funding for this essential travel service.

This would be our second visit to this charming town filled with shops, restaurants, and a Whale Museum. Our first trip was via the Victoria Clipper. The Clipper is a hydrofoil making fast trips from Seattle to Victoria with a short stop in Friday Harbor. We spent one night in town on that trip before continuing on to Victoria. While in town we visited the Whale Museum and took a three-hour whale-watching trip.

Street scenes

The Salish Sea is home to several pods of killer whales. The museum describes their lives and the problems they face in the Sea. Distinctive markings make it possible to name each of the whales so researchers are able to keep track of each individual’s actions. Several options are possible for whale viewing. We took one of the larger boats that held about 50 passengers. One can also ride in a Zodiac or even try a kayak.

A popular way to sightsee

Seal watching is also popular

On this day we were only going to wander through the town for a while and then have lunch before returning to Bellingham. In our wanders we passed several shops including one where my sister purchased an new rain jacket. I spent some time talking to the owner of a bicycle/kayak rental agency. Many arrivals rent bicycles if they have not brought their own to ride around this bicycle-friendly island. Many also rent kayaks to paddle around the island.

We chose this restaurant. I has seats with a view.

For lunch we found a nice fish and chip place, to order take-away and then headed back towards the harbor where we found a table and enjoyed some excellent fare. Linda had shrimp, I had scallops, while Kris and Roy had fish. All were lightly breaded and perfectly cooked. After that enjoyable lunch we headed back to the boat and found calmer seas and no fog for our ride back to Bellingham.