After about 2.5 hours of ferry boat riding through the beautiful Orcas Islands we have finally arrived in Friday Harbor.  The boats line the bay and just up the hill is this very unique and interesting town.

Friday Harbor Drug Co… Circa 1920 – This painting portrays the interior of the original Friday Harbor Drug Store.  The store was started in 1900 and moved to the this location in 1912.  Dr George S. Wainright (left was one of the original owners of the store. eventually selling half interest to his cousin Leon G. Little (3rd from left) in 1916.  Albert Nash (right) purchased half interest in 1920 and then in 1935 purchased the remaining half.  In 1957 Albert Nash Jr purchased the store from his father.  I could not read the rest of the banner as it was covered up by a metal plate.

The view from the top of the hill looking out over the island is just breathtaking.  There is real beauty in this place.  Of course, places of beauty would not be normal if there was no construction going on.

At the top of the hill we found the arts theater and this statue was called the “Dancing Fool” created by Micajah Bienvenu and donated by CATS.  Here Richard did his best to imitate the pose.

Surrounding the Arts Theater were beautiful gardens and benches and just such a pretty variety of color.

Beautiful blossoms lined the streets as we walked around the island.

It looked like I was not going to see whales and this was probably the closest I was going to get to seals.

Richard and I got separated as he wondered off to do his own thing. I meandered down to the boats again, thinking this could certainly be the life.

Eventually I found a seat and just rested for a while, thinking that the rest of them would meander around soon for lunch.  The view of the ferry boat moorings was what captured my attention here.

It was great to watch the ferry boat come into dock at the moorings.  These boats are pretty big.  First off the boat are the passengers, and then the vehicles.  Of course, the island is small and all these vehicles cause some congestion, and then you have to line your vehicle up an hour before the ferry docks to get back on it.  The only down side of not taking a vehicle was we did not get to the far side of the island.  Had we had more time on the island I am sure we would have tried.

From what I have read the Coast Salish people were residents in this area for over 5000 years before and contact was made with Europeans.   It appears that the area was rich with food and various materials required by the Coast Salish people.  Above ad below are two beautiful pieces of artwork to celebrate the Coast Salish people.

While walking along this area my walk intersected with Richard off on his own adventure.

Richard loves to climb to places that I dare not go.  He is so sure footed, and I am so clumsy, that I will trip over a pebble.   He climbed down to the waters edge to take his photographs.

While I walked along the bridge to take photos of Richard taking photo’s.  The island is well maintained and very pretty.

I love old bridges and I especially love the texture and colors of the base of this particular bridge.

Since I was on the bridge I decided to head down to the Marina.

Love is in the air – even if it is just the pigeons

Richard joined me and we wandered around looking at the boats.  Such is the life of island people.  I could get quiet used to that.

We arrived at the edge of the marina and I spent some time taking various photos. I loved that I got a real smile from Richard, which I will add is really hard to do.

Of course. I prefer to be on the other side of the camera but I allowed Richard to take this photo to prove that I had actually gone on this vacation.

Richard making friends with the local wildlife.

Heading back into the village  I could not resist this abundance of life growing on the rocks .

We finally caught up with Barry and Enid.  It’s late afternoon and we are waiting for the ferry. Hot chocolate seemed like a good idea. Barry and Enid are dressed up warm and ready for the trip back to the mainland.

This had been a wonderful day out on the ferry and walking on the island. The sun is slowly starting to set on our day. Next up will be the ferry ride back to the mainland and the beautiful setting sun.