On an Incoming Tide, We Arrive in Friday Harbor, The Gateway to the San Juan Islands By MaryRose Denton
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umerous times I traveled to Friday Harbor, an eclectic town located in the middle of San Juan Island, WA, via the hour-long ferry ride from the mainland. But I had n e v e r e x p e r i e n ce d arriving by way of the San Juan Channel. Our trip began with us hitting some very dense fog as we crossed the Strait of Ju a n d e Fu c a t h a t morning. But as we entered the San Juan Channel and progressed north, the skies cleared a little. We began to see a shoreline of these rolling fjords making up this archipelago of i s l a n d s . Tr e e l i n e s became visible and we became aware of the shoal of porpoise following us, just off our port side. Exquisitely beautiful scenery surrounded us allowing me for a few moments to imagine myself in the Hebrides or cruising the waterways of Norway, another land with a very similar look. My partner Richard and I embarked on this sailing road-trip over a week prior, exploring the northern waters of the Salish Sea. Now, with the incoming tide, we cruised up the channel heading to our next
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port of call, Friday Harbor, known as the “Gateway to the San Juan Islands”.
Friday Harbor This charming, seaport town offers a wide variety of culture, activities, shopping, and food. The best part, everything is within walking distance of either the ferr y landing or the marina allowing visitors to experience the slower pace of “island time”. Coming into port, a resident seal escorted us to slip #22, which would be our home for the next few days. Fr i d a y Ha r b o r i s known for its marine life from seals to the resident J,K,and L orca whale pods who call the waters around San Juan Island home. In fact, the University of Washington keeps a field station here specializing in the
Photos (From top): Birdseye view of harbor; A look at the ferry landing; Our boat Selkie docked in slip
