San Juan Islands

Taking the hour long ferry ride to San Juan Island is like floating away from the busy, hectic and worrisome life.  There is a stillness in the gliding of the ferry, and somehow it seemed as though we traveled to a different time and place.  A time and place where days are longer and simpler.  No wonder we keep going back every other summer.

I wondered if the girls would get bored with the slow pace this time.  Tennie LOVED the space and time to explore and read and wonder.  Ceci was good as long as there was someone up for anything.  Adele started to get antsy.  At one point when we told her we didn't have plans for the day she said, "Don't you guys know I'm an Action Figure?"  Yes, we did.  Mostly we squeezed out another year of doing nothing, though.

This is where I found Geoff the first day

 Adele immediately claimed the only closet as her space and set out her whole backpack

We went to Roche Harbor in search of pocket knives for the girls who were interested in carving bows and arrows.  We also picked up a sling shot.

We walked through the sailboats dreaming of another bucket list adventure: a month on a sailboat (Geoff wants the Caribbean and I want the Mediterranean).  We all picked out a favorite.

Tennie is a natural explorer.  She did her own share or exploring, and then she and Geoff went out one day and found all sorts of unfamiliar creatures in a nearby tide pool.  We all went to see the finds.

The group of cabins has a little library.  Geoff and I want one someday.

 View from the library

There were two 12-year-old twin brothers in the neighboring cabin that helped keep our girls busy.  After a game of keep-away with Geoff he challenged them to jump in the Sound to cool off...for an ice cream.  The boys weren't easily bribed, but our girls heard the word ice cream and all met the requirement!

 A bit at a time...

The boys taught the girls to fish in the fish and catch pond.  Tennie and Ceci had fished before (Ceci caught a small shark on a Barbie fishing pole we found in the library four years ago off the dock) but it was Adele's first time...and as luck would have it, she is the only one to catch anything.  She was so proud.  (Their dad took the following fishing shots.)

 Geoff found this fun kelp

And Tennie found this awesome mushroom and shared her picture with me

We discovered a small beach near our cabin full of driftwood.  We invited the boys to help build a fort.

The last night we gathered with some other families we had met, and the boy's dad asked if we wanted a jump picture.  His photos are at the end.

 So long San Juans.  Until 2014.