Back on Lopez Island
Trip Start
May 08, 2006
1
59
Trip End
Oct 2006
Lopez Island, Washington
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Lopez Island.
Washington
Yes, we're back on Lopez. Ahhhh............................................................... Our first day, Saturday of the Columbus Day Weekend (Thanksgiving Weekend for Canada), dawned clear, but with a cool, almost cold, northwest wind. There were a few other campers but the park was really scarcely populated. It had become a "tradition" that when Holly B's Bakery was open in the Village (Wednesday through Sundays in the tourist season), Jeff would ride his bike to town to arrive at the 7:30 opening time to buy some pastries for breakfast. Well, we upheld the tradition, and even found some still blooming lupines for the table.
With the summer solstice four months past, rather than one month away as it had been in May, things were a bit different. The 5 AM light we experienced in May did not appear until about 7:00. Everything, even with sunshine, is a bit cooler, but Lopez still has it charms. On that first ride, the wind disappeared as soon as Jeff left the park, and the ride was beautiful with blue skies, a bit of morning fog in the valleys and the Olympics (sans snow this time of year) in view over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The day was easy going, just hanging out at the park, playing ball with Rubi, and getting camp in order (everything from cleaning to airing out linens, getting kayaks and bikes in order, and yadda yadda yadda). We took a trip to town for our first internet connection in a week at the Library, and for groceries, then settled back in for an early dinner.
The clouds were increasing in the evening so we battened down the hatches and prepared for rain, which fell overnight.
Sunday dawned drizzly and damp, but not too much to keep Jeff from riding into town for the Holly B's booty. The damp day continued and though we spent some time outside sitting and walking, most of it was spent in the cocoon of the trailer. Just as the sun broke through mid-afternoon we headed back into town for a bite to eat and some espresso at Isabel's then grabbed showers at the marina. We came back to have dinner outside while watching the seals swim and the eagles hunt.
Monday was another lazy day. Why not? We'll be back and busy soon enough. Through the day we walked with Rubi through the old growth and the channel shore in Odlin Park, sat and read the Sunday Seattle Times/PI and our books. Jeff took a short paddle around Upright Head for a view of Mt. Baker and the ferry terminal. There were Great Blue Herons fishing (successfully), seals swimming, and some pretty good swells as the tide turned into Upright Channel (surfin' in the kayak!). Jeff took a bike ride into town in the afternoon. The day was completed with a wood gathering walk in the woods, cribbage and a barbeque dinner on the beach.
