Harps on the Ferry

Today we left the peninsula, oddly I was sorry to leave it in some ways.  Although mostly park, thus far it’s been my favorite place here.  Mountains, weird.  I’m not saying I’m changing my tune about mountains in general, however.  I have to say - we can see another snow topped mountain off in the distance and that is very cool.  But the mountains are waaay over there - and clearly they are very, very big b/c we can see them and well, there’s snow on top of them.  Some times they stick out from the top side of the clouds and THAT is very cool  - since we are on flat land, with big sky.  I like that.  It makes me wonder about Montana or such?  If only Montana or Iowa had the Atlantic ocean.

In leaving the peninsula, we took the ferry to the Whidbay Isands. The ferry was much larger than the Lake Champlain ones  and more what I know of as an auto ferry.  Though, the inside observation deck had a harp player.  That was a new one.

The ferry says it’s a 40 minute ride, but it felt quicker.  On to the island, we drove south to check it out, though our destination was north.  This is a mostly farmland area, spotted with some water tourist communities.  The water is bays and straights, thus, it does not meet my personal criteria for “ocean” / “beach”.  It was nice enough and we made a few pit stops to wander stores, look at boats and eat.  Out best stop was  a local farmer’s market.  Like home, it also had the craft fair vibe and we oddly, ate African food there for lunch.  (A curry chicken - that was some what of a cross between Indian and Thia.  I think it was authentic, but how would I know really?)

Continuing north, we drove over Deception Pass - a really narrow inlet and a tall bridge crowded with people.  I told M. that the whole thing and the nature in this part seemed insincere.  I know that’s an odd word for nature, but I’m sticking to it.  Formerly, the nature was not crowded, it was a bit wild and untamed.,  This whole area has the feel of it trying to be wild and unkempt, but it really isn’t.

I’m not liking the area at all.  All of it seems like it wants to be or is trying to be something it’s not.  We went up to Anacortes - a large town really for an island.  But it too seems …confused.  It has a little bit of industry and a little bit of art, and a little bit of city, but it’s like it’s all jumbled together in a salad that doesn’t work and it wants to be gourmet. 

We’ve now left the islands and are back on the main land.  We are staying in Mt. Vernon - named after Washington.  It too has a whole different feel from the rest of the state.  More like upstate NY than what the NW has felt like thus far.  Everything here just feels a little off.  For example, we went to dinner at an Italian Restaurant. By all appearances it would  seem it is considered one of the nicest restaurants in town.  (And it was very nice, don’t get me wrong.)  The blue cheese dressing - was fresh, made with real ingredients and high end Gorgonzola cheese.  But it was the consistency of  milk.  It tasted good.  But milk salad dressing?

Tomorrow we will go further north - the goal to go to the northern most tip outside of Canada and we’ll be in Bellingham.  We’re planning to spend the next couple of days here and then head back to SEATAC.