Summer Diaries | Tuesday, June 27
Hey, you know what's even more fun as hopping our local ferry for a day of island adventure?
Okay, well maybe not MORE fun. But definitely just as much fun is to drive down to the Seattle waterfront and hop a different ferry to another beautiful island in the twinkling waters of Puget Sound.
Off we go!
Our destination today is Bainbridge Island. Uh, that name used to describe the entire island which was home to four distinct towns. Then the biggest town, Winslow, annexed the other three so the entire island was called Winslow. But then, in very short order, Winslow changed its name to Bainbridge Island, and the whole island reverted back to being called Bainbridge Island.
However horrifically confusing that little bit of local legend may be, our marching orders are simple. Drive off the ferry, turn left, and there you will find the main shopping and eating district on the island.
Now I'll be the first to admit: Bainbridge is real fancy compared to our dear Whidbey. So rather than our usual picnic fare, we indulge in a proper lunch.
My husband and second-born scout out a fish and chips restaurant while Gracie and I score an outdoor table in the plaza at the center of town.
I am not mad about this feast. Gracie sits patiently by, lapping water from a communal bowl and people watching, until my daughter indulges her with a generous portion of that pea puree.
Then it is my husband's turn to sit with Gracie as my daughter and I do a quick turn through a handful of antique shops nearby. I buy a red vintage Dansk Kobenstyle saucepan and a ceramic owl.
What I did not buy was a miniature Lenox china tea set, resplendent in the most charming strawberries you ever did see, all smaller than a delicate silver spoon. Sadly, the asking price is two hundred smackeroonies, and I just can't quite wrap my head around that.
Ah, well. That's enough shopping. Let's go to the beach!
For my money, the best bit about visiting an island is that no matter where you are on that island, you're guaranteed to be close to a beach. We find this little pocket of rocky shores and bleached driftwood up near the top of the island, and enjoy easterly views of the city and cool breezes across the water. Gracie, who enjoyed a quick dip in the salty waves, agrees that it is pure heaven.
From Fay Bainbridge Park, it's a hop, skip, and a jump to the Agate Pass Bridge, which slips us off the island and over to the Olympic Peninsula. We drive north for a half hour, and take yet another ferry - the Edmonds/Kingston run - to flit back across the water to the mainland and another half hour home.
As I close my eyes this night, I remember the force of the massive ferry engines throttling up as our crossings began, vibrating through the deck and up my legs, into my chest. I recall the wind in my face, the seabirds dancing overhead, the chatter of tourists enjoying the thrill of the ride, and the warm summer sun against my face. I tingle all the way to my toes, and I wonder once again if I will always feel such a special thrill onboard. After thirty-seven years of riding the Washington State Ferries, I'm inclined to believe that my fascination is forever.
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My 2023 Summer Diaries:
Such a perfectly delightful day!
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