Now We're Really Moving

We took the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island.  It was pretty expensive at $71 for a four-mile crossing, but it's our plan to take WA 20 through the North Cascade Mountains so we bit the bullet.

Four years ago we were right in the front of the boat so it looked like we were driving.  This time we had a row of bumper cars.

Always fun to watch the docking.  This captain didn't even bump.

Doesn't Ron look at home in the Flintstones car we found in Oak Harbor?

After an overnight stay at the Elks where we enjoyed a pork pot roast dinner, we continued north on Whidbey Island.  Deception Pass separates Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island and the view from the bridge is gorgeous.

Other direction.

The bridge consists of two sections totaling 1487 feet separated by Pass Island.

But the amazing feature of Deception Pass is the swift current during tidal change which reaches about 8 knots (9.2 mph).  It's pretty interesting to watch as the tide creates waves and eddies.  I took a short video.



When we were there with the WINs in 2011, we took a jet boat ride through Deception Pass and into a bit of Skagit Bay to the east and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the west.  Here's a link to that post.

When we arrived in Mt. Vernon, our luck ran out.  The Elks was full of RVs (most of them permanent) and the Moose had closed.  We settled for one night at the Walmart.  Not my favorite place to stay and, with all my trips into the store, it probably cost us $100.  But the reason I mention it is because I want to post this picture.

Although you can't see it, there's a third rig in that mix in front of the Winnebago.  It's nice to travel with friends but I think this is WAY too much togetherness.

(I just realized that Sightseer looks something like ours.  Be assured that it's not.)