Orcas Island

So we caught our ferry to the next island, Orcas Island. We already knew we would not be able to bike this island. We had read that the roads were hard to bike and there was very little shoulder making it almost dangerous. When we arrived we discovered however that the public transit system was closed for the season. We asked the ferry director there on the island how if there was a taxi service. He simply put up this thumb and told us that hitch hiking was the norm here. He said it was safe and that we should have no problem. So we chained up our bikes there at the ferry office, and headed down the road in the direction we wanted to go with our thumb in the air = ) We walked a couple of miles and were finally picked up by a very nice older woman named Elaine and her dog spot. She took us as far as East Sound village. There we explored the town, met the visionary of the local yoga studio, and went to the Sunflower Café for coffee and the best vegetarian chili we have ever eaten (or we were just really hungry = ). We then used the piece of wax paper from our meal to make a sign saying we were going to Doe Bay Resort. I attached it to the back of my pack and we started waking again. The wind began to pick up and it started to rain a bit, but lucky for us it wasn’t long before a nice man (who’s name I have forgotten) picked us up in his Subaru. He took us to where the road forked and let us out. This was only four miles from Doe Bay Resort. Only moments later, Victor, a quiet man, let us in the back of his truck and dropped us off right at the entrance to the resort. Now when I say resort, mind you I mean a hippie resort. Cabins, tenting, organic food/coffee, and outdoor hot tubs with an amazing view. We were able to get an amazing tenting site right on the edge of a bluff. It was so beautiful!!! That evening as the sun went down and the next morning as it came up we saw sea otters playing in the water below. Once we set up camp we immediately went to the hot tubs where we soaked for a good long bit and where we met Marta and Sage. They had both just finished their degrees and were taking some time to relax. After the hot tubs we went into the bar there for yet another open mic night. Marta and Sage soon joined and we all talked and got to know each other as much as we could over the loud music. Sage has traveled to many of the areas we want to see and gave us advice and information on our future travels. She also invited us to stay with her and her mother on Bainbridge Island, on our way to Olympic National Park. Both of these women were simply beautiful and just a pleasure to spend time with. Hope to see them both in a couple of days. After that we went to our tent and went to bed.
So today we woke up to the sound of the water crashing on the rocks below, and even though we had some rain during the night we were fairly warm and completely dry. We did a quick load of laundry, ate breakfast, soaked in the tubs a bit longer and got showered. It was at this last soak in the tubs that we first briefly met Ken. After checking out we were making a sign so that we could start hitching our way back to the ferries. We saw Ken getting into his car and I ran up to his window and asked where he was heading. He let us hope in for a ride. Along the way we discovered that Ken had served in the US Army, that he was from Texas and there visiting his daughter, and that he is just a fantastic human being! He told us, even though he wasn’t going there, that he would take us all the way to the ferries. He told us about the vice-presidential debate which we had missed, and the majority of the trip was spent discussing the current status of the country, and various political topics! I was a bit worried when he first told us he was from Texas, but turns out we agreed on just about everything. *Ken THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness. You went out of your way and we appreciate it!* So we made it back to the ferry. We had a bit to eat and coffee at the Orcas Island Café as we waited for the ferry. We made it back to Anacortes and to Lenny. We drove into town to pick up Sandy’s beautiful finished coffee mug. She researched on the internet our next destinations as I reorganized Lenny for the next leg of our journey. We have now made it to the outskirts of Seattle where I am writing this…yes in another Wal-mart parking lot= )
PERSONAL NOTE: I really enjoyed this last part of the trip: Being on foot/bike. It makes you have to really think about what you need, because a pack gets heavy fast. It makes you take into consideration when night will fall. You have to pay attention to the stars and the sky to know what the weather will be like so you can plan ahead. You move much slower past things, and notice more. I tried to be much more aware of what all my senses were experiencing. I felt that I was able to be more patient, more appreciative…ok well its late and I think that if I continue I might just sound a bit crazy = ) I just want to say that this trip is breeding growth within me, and I am so thankful for it. I love and miss all of my loved ones very much, but carry you all very close to me, ALWAYS!!! Goodnight!
p.s. I know many will say that is was unwise for us to hitch hike, but I promise on this island it was not unsafe, and we will not make a habit of it = )

P.S. The photo of the eggs and toast was one i actually took of breakfast i cooked when we stayed at Tensleep. It's just a neat photograph. I set it up to have all the various colors... Anyways, it's the backdrop on our computer now and just thought i would share it with you all = )