As you can tell from the photographs above we are enjoying some family fun at Kris Brenkenridge’s birthday party on Guemes Island. Other parts of the family are scattered around the country. Brent and Dani have moved to Maine. Todd, Jessica and Scarlet are road tripping to Florida. Craig, Nicole, Olivia,, Evan and Ella and friends are in a private house on a Florida beach this weekend. Mark, Kelly, Rumi and Teo are camping in the Olympic National Forest. So, the family is scattered about but we all stay connected via communications throughout the pandemic. Although we are traveling we are trying to be safe by keeping our distance and by wearing face mask protection.

Monday of this week Brian and I drive to Tacoma to return Fisher to his mother. Here is the plan: I leave Guemes on the 2:45pm ferry. Arrive Brain’s by 3:15pm. We leave Anacortes by 3:30pm arrive Tacoma by 5:30pm. Return to Anacortes in time to meet the 8pm. “final” ferry back to Guemes.

Here is what actually happened: I arrive the ferry line at 1:45pm to get on the 2pm ferry. The line is long. I miss the ferry and wait for the 2:45pm ferry as was my original plan. The 2:45pm ferry comes over with an emergency vehicle. It heads to its destination, picks up a person in need and then returns to the ferry boat for a trip back to Anacortes. In the meantime the ferry line does not move. Two hours later at 3:45pm I drive on to the ferry, reaching Brian and Fisher for departure at 4pm. By the time we return to Anacortes I have missed the final ferry therefore, I spend the night at Brian and Emily’s new house. Oh well, I enjoyed many fantastic conversation’s with Brian. I am learning so much about how to draw down our carbon footprint, Climate Change, organic farming, Donut Economics, Black Lives Matter, and more

Here we find Sienna, Amaya and Sebastian creating their very own personalized stepping stones. The cement is still wet at this point. But, when it dries these stones will eventually be placed as a pathway through a vegetable garden on the farm.

Each night this past week we catch Kris, (Master Captain) as he makes his final run through the San Juan Islands and heads home from his work day. Its kind of fun for him and for us as we wave from our cabin deck and he sounds the fog horn from the sea.

From the 15^th floor of our home on Skinker Blvd. in Saint Louis we overlook JFK Forest of Forest Park. We can see a golf course to the north, the Chase Park Plaza, the Cathedral ,the Wheel, and the St. Louis Arch due east. The park is full of walkers, runners, bikers, skaters, golfers, Zoo attendees, History Museum buffs, Boat House guests and more. The noise of the city is evident by police and ambulance sirens, rap music blasting from passing traffic, loud motorcycles nightly and occasional screeching of brakes just prior to another car accident at the intersection.

From our Guemes Island cabin we hear nothing. Occasionally, we can hear a motor boat sound in the distance. We hear birds singing often but that pleasant sound goes on without much notice. We see sail boats, tug boats, huge oil tanker rigs, fisher men in boats of all sizes but most are two-man vessels.  We see a few people as they walk the beach. We see their dogs. We see the deer, porpoise and seals. But we hear quiet. Quiet has no sound. Silence is silence.

So, tell me again, why do I want to go home?

Our life is pretty much dictated by when we get off this island and when we get back on it.

This week Brian and I drove down south of Seattle to Tacoma where we picked up our grandson, Fisher, who lives in Portland, Oregon. His mother brings Fisher northbound on Highway 5 as we head southbound. The mid-point is Tacoma. It will be cool to hang out with Fisher, Amaya, Rumi, Teo, Sienna and Sebastian this week.

BTW. Fisher is sixteen. As you can see, he has grown quite a bit!

I got a surprise call from my friend and former colleague at Nine Network, Emily Height. She and her husband, Scott and their two boys are vacationing on Orca Island. They came  over on the Anacortes Ferry at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. So, Sandy and I provided ice cream for six  which we all shared at the Anacortes Marina. Then, we sent Colson and Teddy home with a bag full of Jelly Beans. Emily is pregnant with a baby. girl due this fall. Congrats Scott and Emily!

For the fourth day this week we spend a few hours at the local skateboard park. It is not up to Portland, Oregon standards but it works in a pinch. Fisher is really good. It took him 40 plus tries to land a complicated landing but with tremendous persistence, effort and angst he finally landed it! Pretty awesome.  

Amaya has no interest in skateboarding but she loves her animals, plants, creative drawings and her friends especially Nut Brown and Bella Beautiful. And, she is quite the creative artist. Below we are designing oiur very own drinking cup.

For my friends Terry and Jo, living in Las Vegas and all of our friends and family living in St. Louis while you are enjoying temperatures exceeding 100 degrees we are turning on the heat for morning coffee and we need a sweatshirt and a fire for the evening on the beach.

From the cabin on Guemes Island this is our view of Cypress Island that welcomes us as we have morning coffee. This morning its overcast, low clouds, temp. in the 50’s.  Just west of Cypress is Blakely Island and Orcas Island. To our north is Sinclair Island and Lummi Island. Southwest of us is Lopez Island and San Juan Island. And, then further southwest is the Canadian borderline and Victoria of Vancouver Island. These are all islands worthy of exploring by boat and hikes. And, we have been fortunate to have visited most of these islands multiple times since we first start coming out this way because our children moved out here. With Brian, Kelly and Kerry all living here permanently with spouses and children (our grandkids) we will be traveling here for as long as we are in good health.

Monday, Emily had successful foot surgery in Seattle. We had Amaya for two days including a sleep over on Guemes. We had a great time until bedtime when Amaya missed her own bed and her mom and dad. So, she got comfortable only after crawling into bed between grandma and grandpa. It’s been a long time since I have had to sleep with a six-year old. They may kick you where it hurts. So. sleep facing away from the kicker.  

We leave the Island every day to help Emily. We pick up Amaya and visit Kerry and her kids or Kelly and her kids. This weekend we may hangout with all of the families for a meal or two.

Every evening we try to get back on the 4pm or 5pm ferry. So, we have time to sit on the porch enjoying the view as Sandy prepares another great meal. We have fresh garden salads almost every night because the garden salads come directly from one of the kids back yards. Each of the three have ample supply. The deer in this area usually drop by every evening around our dinner time so we have this special wildlife sight on the grounds as we search the sea for seal or porpoise. We have seen Orca whales in these parts in years past but nothing so exciting this time. Occasionally, we see an eagle or sea gulls but this year the wildlife viewing has been slim.

I have three  projects this week. The weed-whacking around the cabin was fun. The wall paper removal, not so much.  UGH. And, Kerry’s grass needs to be cut again. So, back on the tractor ;awn mower. We are about to enjoy a beautiful Sunday on Guemes. Hope you are having a great day too.