I am understandably reluctant to leave Port Townsend; a town that warrants three blog posts speaks for itself.  But I have been told there is a place even better just a short ferry ride away…Anacortes. So I am eagerly anticipating my next stop, which helps ease some of the sting of departure.

I have a bit of emotional baggage about ferry rides.  The Outer Banks Ferry to Ocracoke will forever remain in my memory, where the ferry turned around to travel backwards, and 45 mph winds yanked open my skylight causing me to fly down the deck stairs, fling open the driver’s side door, only to have it ripped from my hands by the wind, thus slamming into the guardrail.  It put a huge dent in my driver’s side door that I must see every time I open the door.   It was my first dent, and by far the most painful.   But at the end of the ride was the lovely little island of Ocracoke, one of my favorite destinations thus far.   So I trust this ferry ride will bring more of the same.

Front Row! Ferry crossing from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island

The picture on my GPS makes me laugh.

But the Port Townsend to Whidbey Island ferry is much easier than the Ocracoke ferry.  Much less crowded with a lot more room between vehicles, and it travels a lot more slowly.  And the best part?  FRONT ROW, BABY!    I love sitting at the wheel, watching the waves disappear beneath my windshield.   While most other passengers get out of their vehicles and go up to the observation deck, I spend most of my time in the Winnie, feeling like I am piloting my craft across the Sound.

Good way to check up on hew new solar panels…they are looking a little dusty already.

Piloting the Winnie across the waves..

The ferry takes me to Whidbey Island, one of the largest islands in the continental US.   But my destination is the little port town of Anacortes, which is on Fidalgo Island.  Ana was named for Anna Curtis, the wife of an early white settler on Fidalgo Island.   Anacortes is probably best known as the “Homeport to the San Juan Islands,” as it provides not only a huge yacht harbor, but frequent ferries to four of the 170 islands.

Looking toward Deception Pass State Park

But first, I must cross Deception Pass, the bridge over the narrow channel between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands.   When first settlers arrived in the 1700’s, they mistook these large islands to be the mainland, with the swift currents coming through the pass as a river.  Ergo the name “Deception Pass” given by Captain George Vancouver.

Seal moves toward kelp bed to feed…

The two-span bridge across the pass was built in 1935, partially by the CCC.    The bridge is almost 1,500 feet long, only 22 ft wide, and 180 ft from the water.   An estimated 15,000 cars pass each day, yet there is a pedestrian walkway that spans the entire length of the bridge.   It is fascinating to watch the tidal currents below as the ebb and flow in opposite directions through the narrows makes beautiful eddies and swirls in the water.   The current is so swift (approx 9mph) that smaller boats with the current astern must speed through to maintain steerage, (reminiscent of my times through “Hells Gate”  on Manhattan’s East River.)

Note what swift currents do to boat’s wake.

Ebb and flow of tide in opposite direction makes beautiful swirls in the water 180 ft beneath the bridge.

I arrive in Ana on a hot, crowded Sunday afternoon.  The first sight to greet me is two large steam stacks from the Tesoro and Shell Oil refineries.   The second sight is a past-date street sign welcoming me, letting me know I have just missed one of only a few festivals by a weekend.

Ocean liner appears to float on the fog…

View of Cap Sante Marina from overlook.

I want to dry camp at the Cap Sante Marina. I arrive to find it crowded with weekenders, hot, and dusty, filled with what appears to be empty boat trailers in a drag race around the gravel lot.  Most of the spots with a view of the marina are filled by giant diesel-pushers, completely blocking the view for us little guys.

I get parked and walk into the historic old town, hoping to find a similar vibe of Port Townsend.  But I am just not feeling it.   I walk the entire length of the historic old town, and I can’t even find anything I am inspired to photograph, outside of the marina.  And how just how many boat pictures do I really want?

Commemorative statue for all those lost at sea.

Yes, there are restaurants, and even a local Anacortes brewery.   But most of the Main Street is made up of antique shops, hair salons, and expensive restaurants ($17 for a fancy burger and a Diet Pepsi!)

To be candid, the town feels a bit dead to me.   Void of vibrancy.  I realize this is a controversial statement, as I am the exception to the rule among my fellow RVing blogger friends.    I seem to be the only person who isn’t loving all Ana has to offer.  But my analogy is, Anacortes feels like a blind date after a bad break-up.   It’s a fun date.  I am having a good time.  But I expected to fall in love…