Dueck's Roost

Shortly after our Orcas Island sprint we visited Ocean Shores, WA for the first time. I had heard quite a lot about the place. Not like a bunch of oohing and ahhing and, "you just have to visit," but just a lot of mentions of people we like to go there or grew up going there. So, I decided we should check it out with my mom and my sister's family for a little weekend getaway. I grew up going to the Oregon coast. The beaches were not white and sparkly and the water was completely freezing, but all the same, we laid out in the sun (when it was showing itself), jumped around in the waves, and somehow didn't seem to mind the cold a bit. So, when I determined to venture out to the Washington coast, I didn't have fairytale allusions of what things should be like. However, what I discovered is that the Washington coast (a couple of hours north, at least) is sooo different from the Oregon coast ... either that, or my memory is so completely altered by time and pregnanc...

Ever since I heard of the San Juan Islands I have always wanted to visit! Life is busy, though, so even after having been in the Seattle area (on and off) for the past 12+ years, we had never made the trip. Until this summer that is. Of course, like everything else in our life, we felt the need to make the excursion in Dueck fashion ... That is, the crazy whirlwind escapade where we plan nothing, know zero about ferry times and prices, and intend to fit 48hours worth of fun in half a day. Regardless, though, of the extremely long and crazy day, that ended in part where 9 of us (in two separate cars) went rushing like mad from a cute little Mexican restaurant, sped around most of Orcas Island (fingers and toes crossed the entire way), and managed to make it on the second-to-the-last ferry of the night (which would allow us to get home around midnight instead of 2:00am) just as the gate was coming down, the amazing views and adventurous time together as a family were well worth the rush!...