Day 440: Ferries and Islands – the San Juans

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Ben

This morning, we left Burlington before sunrise and drove to Anacortes, dropped off the RV in a parking lot, and got in line to board the 9:30am ferry to San Juan Island:

The ferry can hold about 150 vehicles:

Apparently this is not the busy season:

Watching the world go by:

While onboard, the fire crew went through their monthly drill:

Another ferry going the other way:

People leave jigsaw puzzles on the ferry for passengers to work on as they travel:

After about an hour, we arrived in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island:

After driving off the ferry, we drove to the South side of the island to visit the American Camp unit of the San Juan Island National Historical Park, site of the Pig War that culminated in decisive US ownership of the San Juan Islands. The Americans built a military outpost here to protect US citizens from expulsion from the island by British Forces while ownership of the island was in question. Unfortunately, the visitor center is only opened from Wednesday to Saturday, so we weren’t able to get Junior Ranger badges here:

The laundry building:

The two buildings above are on the left side of the period photograph below:

An artillery redoubt built to overlook the shore:

We hiked the southern shore of the island:

Slug on a mushroom:

We drove South to view the Castle Point Lighthouse:

Next we drove North to visit a Lavender farm:

Continuing North, we visited the British Camp on the island:

The British had a formal garden here:

Next we visited a sculpture garden that includes a horizontal tree trunk with an engraver next to it. Visitors are encouraged to carve on the log. Trish carved this fish:

B left her mark as well:

Lots of interesting, ridiculously overpriced art here:

This mirror-on-an-easel piece was pretty neat:

We briefly walked around Friday Harbor’s quaint downtown:

Back on the ferry:

So long, San Juan Island:

Coming to the island, the trip was direct from Anacortes to San Juan Island. On this return trip, we had an intermediate stop at Lopez Island:

Leaving Lopez Island:

Since we happened to be on the same ferry on the way back, the kids tried to find the jigsaw puzzle they worked on this morning. Unfortunately, someone must have finished it and put it away while we were on the island, so we had to start over. It was very nearly finished by the time we returned to Anacortes:

It was a long day, but traveling by ferry and touring the island was great fun!

After departing from the ferry, we hitched up the RV and returned to Big 5 Sporting Goods in Burlington to overnight. See the trip map for route details.

Update:The kids have recorded a podcast for today’s trip. Play it below:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Day 439: Big Planes Made in the World’s Largest Building

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Ben

This morning we said goodbye to Kesser Israel, the synagogue where we’ve been staying on and off over the last three weeks. It was great to see all of our old friends, and to meet families that have moved to the community since our last visit.

Heading North, we just made it to the last tour of the day of the Boeing Everett Factory, led by docents from the Future of Flight Aviation Center. The building in which the planes are built is the largest building in the world, covering over 98 acres and enclosing over 472 million cubic feet of volume.

The first assembly line we visited was building 747-8s. Photography in the building is not allowed, but this is what it looked like:

Images Courtesy: Boeing

Looking over the massive floor space was amazing!

Next we boarded a bus to take us to the other end of the building, where the 777 is built. The planes are assembled on rolling platforms that move the planes along as they’re built at a rate of a few inches an hour:

Image Courtesy: Boeing

Across the balcony we saw the 787 being built. Unlike the other planes we saw being built here, sections of the 787 are built in factories around the world and are flown here by the massive 747 dreamlifter for final aircraft assembly. Incredibly, ten 787s per month are assembled here:

Image Courtesy: Boeing

We accessed the various assembly areas using a tunnel in the basement. Standing at one end, the door at the other end, nearly a mile away, wasn’t even visible:

Back at the visitor center, we could see the assembly building in the distance. The two buildings on the right are where the planes are painted. To get there, the planes are towed across a Boeing-owned overpass that crosses a freeway:

The visitor center has an extensive exhibit space as well:

A 747 cargo plane was parked next to the viewing area on the roof:

Looking out over the field where the planes are stored before being delivered to customers:

After the tour, we continued North to overnight at the Big 5 Sporting Goods in Burlington, Washington. See the trip map for driving details.

Day 438: Biking and Laser-Tagging

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Ben

This morning, Trish and the kids went off to do laundry, and I went out for a ride:

The highlight of the route was summiting Chehalem Mountain:

After finishing up the ride, I took M and two of his Portland friends to a laser tag facility. The four of us played a game, and then the three kids played against three other patrons. Fun was had by all:

We plan to leave first thing tomorrow and head North into Washington.

Day 434: Farewell to Jason and Carrie

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Ben

This morning we said goodbye to Jason and Carrie and their kids and returned to Portland for Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah. We’ve all had such a wonderful time being neighbors off and on over the last month. It has been really great to reconnect, and our kids really enjoy each other’s company. Trish and I were inspired by their rural homeschooling lifestyle. Jason and Carrie also introduced us to some great family games. The adults would play Dominion almost every night we were in Banks. Hopefully we will meet up again on our travels!

Trish baked the challas she made yesterday:

The only downside to our great parking spot here at the synagogue in Portland is our proximity to the outdoor seating area at the bar next door. Thankfully, the drunks usually go home by 3am. Sleeping with earplugs makes in bearable: