In the News
Empress of North
The Empress of the North, owned by American West Steamboat Co., is the only overnight sternwheeler cruising in Alaska and one of two elegant overnight sternwheelers on the Columbia River. Built on South Whidbey Island, she has been designed to achieve a balance of modern refinement and faithful historical charm. The most modern passenger conveniences […]
New Wilson reopens
Word on the street is that it wouldn’t have “penciled” as a strictly private venture, but a private-public partnership resulted in the renovation and reopening Thursday, September 21 of the New Wilson Hotel on Commercial Avenue in downtown Anacortes. A crowd of more than 100 gathered to hear details about the partnership that ultimately leaves […]
Blacksmith
Blacksmith Wayne Lewis of Coupeville was one of the exhibitors at last weekend’s Antique Steam Engine show in downtown Anacortes. Lewis owns Keystone Ironworks and Blacksmith Supply, marketing “anvils, coal, new and seasoned tools.” Reminded me of a childhood visit to Williamsburg, Virginia.
Seasonal delight
The Anacortes Farmers Market is a Saturday tradition in Anacortes. Each year, the market opens on the date of the Anacortes Waterfront Festival and ends on the second Saturday of October. It is open from 9 am to 2 pm, rain or shine. Locals and visitors alike can shop for Skagit County
Antique engines
Blue skies emerged and crowds gathered quickly Saturday for the 11th Annual Anacortes Antique Engine & Machinery Show. Pictured here is David Milholland, perennial crowd favorite; a 1919 Allis-Chalmers restored by Gordon Wicklund; the vessel SL Rose of Bellingham; a 1905 3hp Waterman marine engine.
Shipwreck bargains
Once again this year, the Chamber of Commerce Shipwreck Day drew a crowd to downtown Anacortes for the largest garage sale this side of the Swinomish Channel. No Fidalgo Island garag sale would be complete without fishing gear, but there were plenty of items for the women, too, including racks of clothing. Among many Chamber […]
Low tide
Low tide and an oyster planting project gave me the opportunity Tuesday to venture beneath the old railroad trestle linking Weaverling Spit and March’s Point. Colors, textures and “aromas” are all part of the environment of what we affectionately call “the mud flats.” I managed to stay relatively dry, despite the fact that I took […]
Mark takes a hike
Son Mark spent several days hiking Mt. Adams recently, sending evidence of his adventure via email. Pictured here are Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood, plus a beautiful image of landscape and reflection on a lake. We look forward to seeing all of his photos when he returns from his YD Adventures mission work in the […]
Aquatic farming
Betsy Peabody (right, top photo) arrived with volunteer teams Monday and Tuesday to plant oysters in the bay area beneath the east side of the old Burlington Northern Railroad trestle on Fidalgo Bay. Peabody, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, presided over the transport and planting of thousands of seed-bearing oyster shells (see […]
San Juans below
Islands in the San Juans archipelago number in the hundreds – a reality you really can’t appreciate until seeing the area from an airplane. I took these photos on a magnificent May morning flight over North Whidbey, Fidalgo and the San Juans. The first shot is of Friday Harbor, Mt. Baker on the horizon to […]
Fathers and sons
Niece Megan was married last weekend, an event that drew a full contingent of family together for the first time in several years. In the first photo, Megan’s father Ed Corley is pictured with sons Michael (left) and Steve. Little guys are Steve and Shannon’s sons, Reese (left) and Ryan. Mike and Steve, both Anacortes […]