Welcome to Whidbey

It's always fun to see where your friends come from—the place, the people.

Kina is from Whidbey Island, so we took a day to see the place and meet a few of her peoples.

Whidbey Island is the largest of nine islands that make up Island County, WA. The island is 30 miles north of Seattle, and lies 

between the Olympic Peninsula and the I-5 corridor of Western Washington. It forms the northern boundary of the Puget Sound. 

Ed and Cindy joined us for this leg of our OR/CA/WA trip. Us girls took the van and the boys took the 

fabulous Ford Focus. Kina's uncle lives on the island. Time to return the van we borrowed!

Ed saw a seal or a sea lion in the water.

Loved being on the ferry, any boat really!

Cindy was trying to see her phone in the bright light. Aaron was being…Aaron.

Whidbey Island is only 169 square miles, just a little smaller than Guam at 210 square miles.

It's a beautiful rugged little island—its terrain spans beaches, hills and farmland.

It reminded me, very much, of a condensed version of where I grew up on the Oregon Coast.

We visited a winery, set on an old farm.

You can see the Olympic Mountains on the horizon.

Kina took us on a driving tour of some of her favorite spots. We landed on this lovely beach for refreshments.

After-which we went to meet Kina's Italian mom. Sadly, she wasn't there, but we did enjoy her gardens.

We stopped off at Deception Pass, named by Captain George Vancouver on June 10, 1792. Feeling that he had been "deceived" as to the nature of the inner waterway, Port Gardner (New Saratoga Passage), he wrote on his chart DECEPTION PASS. He honored Master Joseph Whidbey, who found the passage while commanding a small-boat crew of explorers, by naming the island WHIDBEY. It's true. I read it on a plaque.

Ed and Cindy ignoring us.

Kina and I ignoring Aaron.

Kina "my best good friend"

(Forrest Gump)

My honey, my Cindy and my Kina—sandwiched between three of my best good friends.

We walked across the bridge.

    

Cold, clear water. Stunning.

We stopped in La Conner to meet one of Kina's best good friends, Kara.

(husband Jon, daughter Presley and one on the way)

Golden Hour

We said "goodbye" to the sun as we left La Conner and headed back to Bellevue, WA.

The day before, on the way up to Bellevue, we stopped near Olympia where we met Kina's 

best good friends, Heather. We enjoyed a lovely meal with her family—her husband Joe and children

Hunter, Gracie, Brooklyn and Wyatt (left to right). The kids love their Auntie Kina!

I finally have faces to go with the names of Kina's peoples!