Orcas Island is fun. The kind of fun you get from close encounter with wild life; getting dirty, smelly, and soaking up the sun; being a lazy bum, dozing off a warm summer afternoon; or spoiling your taste buds with hardy grubs, healthy snacks, or fine dinning of your choices.
I attended Tab and Jon’s beautiful wedding and had a great time doing all that during my 3-day visit at the Island.
Most wedding guests stayed at Outlook Inn. Outlook Inn faces the island’s calm east bay water. Not far from shore is a tiny island that can only get to at low tide. Shellfish hidden under the sand squirted us with salt water as we were exploring the area. These shellfish we believe to be geoducks. Narisa and Paul were trying to dig one out to see what they look like. Later a nearby kid and I help out as well. As soon as geoduck sensed our present, it dug deeper under the sand in an incredible speed. So fast we didn’t stand a chance. One time I tried to grab its neck with my hand. I got everybody squirted on the face and the geoduck escaped.
Just the other side of the island, hundreds of bright color starfish scattered on the beach and in the shallow water. And of course, more geoducks!
An afternoon whale watching trip with Orcas Island Eclipse Charters. Being at the present of these playful and gentle giants was an unique and humble experience.
This photo was taken about 3 hours before low tide. The main street of Eastsound was still asleep. I seated myself comfortably in this scenic spot surrounded by flower, sipping coffee and munching on maple sugar cookies i bought at a local organic grocery store. What a relaxing way to enjoy a peaceful morning.
Leaving Orcas Island, we were pleasantly surprised to find this family of seagull nesting on the pole within reach from the top level of docked ferry.
Living in the Seattle area, Smelly is a user experience designer by day, a running, cycling, gardening type of girl when she wasn't wearing the designer hat.
