Day 45 - Friday Harbor, San Juan Island WA - Thursday, August 12, 2010

Jake is away at the 'cattery' (Sunnyhill Kennel and Cattery) for another day, so we take advantage of the opportunity to visit Friday Harbor of San Juan Island.  Unencumbered by dog and car, we go foot passenger on the Elwha Ferry from Anacortes and enjoy an early morning coffee in the comfort of the spacious top deck of the boat.  

Passenger traffic can be seen walking on board through the walkway onto the upper deck.  

Herb checks his GPS to make sure the ferry boat is on course.

In the whale museum we see more information than we can absorb about whales, and are most interested that they are grouped with 'our' dolphins and porpoises, being the only marine mammals that are fully aquatic and cannot live on land.  Other marine mammals, such as the seal, can come and go from water to land.  

In the map pictured, the whales are shown to the west of the San Juan Islands and to the east of Vancouver Island BC.


As we walk around exploring the town, we are amused to see the sign for Herb's Tavern, and decide it is a must-do to have Happy Hour there today.

One interesting thing we learn is that in the 1800s there was a dispute between the United States and Britain over the ownership of the San Juan Islands, and we had hoped to learn more about it in the Historical Museum.  However, it is near the end of the day and by the time we walk up the hill a few blocks to the museum, we find that we are too tired to enjoy anything but a beer at Herb's Tavern.  

1943 was a good year!

We never tire of looking at boats and water, and have plenty of time to do that while waiting for the ferry ride back to Fidalgo Island.

Willie of Walldog, Willie and Jake