September 5, 2016 - Mount Vernon, WA, Bellingham, WA & Anacortes, WA

After our quick breakfast we left Anacortes, WA to go pick Sheila up in Mount Vernon, WA.  Sheila wanted to go with us for sightseeing in Chuckanut area and Bellingham, WA for the day.

First stop was to visit Mount Vernon downtown.  Sheila informed Edith that there are metal sculptures at the riverwalk, so we went there, took a brief walk along the walkway.

From Mount Vernon we went north to get on WA 11 (Chuckanut Scenic route). Along the way we made several stops for photoshooting, sightseeing, exploring, etc..  We took time out to visit one lovely gallery/garden, Chuckanut Bay Gallery & Sculpture Garden.  The place was fantastic and the garden was beautifully laid out with different sculptures, decors and flowers.  While we were there we asked the sales lady about waterfall in Bellingham, WA.  Sheila said she had heard about it from a friend, but did not know where to find it.  The lady pulled out a map, showed us the route to get to Whatcom Falls Park. "Not too far from here", the lady said.

On way to Whatcom Falls Park we spotted a deer grazing along the side.  There were several maintained walkways and we took one that led us to see the waterfall from the bridge.  From there we took Lower Gorge trail (1/3 of a mile from the main railway).  It was a very lovely, leisurely walk.  

On way back to Anacortes we three were hungry and Sheila suggested that we stop at Haggen Market Street Cafe to get late lunch.

We dropped Sheila off at Cathy's place, followed Bob and Niko to Cornet Bay to pick up crab pots.  It was the last day of crabbing season.

We were disappointed that there were only two legal crabs to keep.  Bob called Cathy ahead to let her know that there were not enough crabs for everyone and for her to prepare another meal.

Because there were only two crabs Bob and Edith were the only ones eating them. 

Cathy and Bob's son, Niko, was having fun with his tent out in the forest.  He had already cut out holes for "windows", he used ropes to hang tarp over. He even invited all of us to sit inside the tent with him for a short while.

Erwin presented Tim a birthday/graduation/etc gift with a psaltery instrument that Erwin no longer can hear because of his declining hearing loss.  Knowing that Tim has love for music Erwin wanted Tim to have it. Of course, Tim did not expect it and was very surprised.

September 4, 2016 - Anacortes, WA

We had a lazy morning, but we really needed the rest.  It was very foggy early in the morning, but dissipated by the time the sun finally peeked through the clouds.

We spent a while chatting with Cathy and Bob, discussed plans.  We told them we wanted to go to downtown Anacortes for the afternoon. On our way to downtown a herd of mule deer were crossing the country road, not too far from Cathy's.

Erwin spotted apple trees not too far from the Welcome Sign area, took a plastic bag along, picked apples.  They were surpisingly good.

We had lunch at Dad’s Diner on Commercial Ave.  It is ranked #2 out of 58 .  The dining room is not big, but was packed. They do have two or three tables outside.  We chose to sit at the L shaped bar. The chalkboard menu is on the wall.  Edith went with Tarpon Spring Greek Salad and Erwin chose Pulled BBQ Sandwich with steak fries.  The service was very slow, but we have to say the foods were fabulous.  There were people waiting in line for a vacant table when we left.

We strolled up and down the street, checking out some stores that were open.  Quite a lot of stores were closed because today was Sunday or because of Labor Day weekend. There are like over 150 murals throughout the town.  

We went to an area not too far from the Washington Ferry to check out one roadside attraction: Overgrown Ship Hulk. It was once a four masted wooden schooner that was built in 1917.  After being idle for so many years it was brought in to become a breakwater for the harbor.

Houseboat

Bob prepared burritos for supper and asked us over to eat with him and Cathy. Niko was still busy in the forest.   We chatted a long while before we went back to our Lil' Home.  

September 3, 2016 - Anacortes, WA

The morning was good, perfect for our "move" from Swinomish Casino RV Park to the lot near Erwin's niece's residence. 

Cathy told us that she and Bob were going to bring their boat to the shop where Bob works at and to work on the boat they just picked up.  We were passing it by when we were on our way to settle our Lil' Home and saw that Cathy, Bob and Niko were working on the boat.

After settling our Lil' Home we went by the shop. While there Bob showed us how the painting process is done.  

Bob's boss was building a very cute trailer (all handmade).  It has portholes for windows!

 

Edith was very curious about Bob's job and asked him to show how the painting on vehicles is done.  There is a big enclosed painting room and Bob showed us how colors are picked and combined to match the existing color on a vehicle.

Color swatch

Canned paints

This computer does the job of picking out colors

We went to Ace Hardware in Anacortes to get a package of tarp for Niko's early birthday present. He loves spending time outdoors, built a tent out of Bob's tarp (supposedly used to cover a boat, but Niko  took it).  

Niko was thrilled with the tarp we gave him, quickly went outside and off he went in the forest.  We and Cathy waited a bit before we went in to see what Niko was up to.  He had already set up the tarp, had it over a rope that was tied to two trees. We were happy to see a big smile on his face.  We were invited to join him inside the tent.  It was cool!

Bob suggested that we go boating at Cornet Bay to check on crab pots. He was hoping the pot was filled up to the rim with Dungness crabs.  We, along with Niko, went to the boat ramp.  Bob had two crab pots soaked in the bay for about two days.  

Alas! The pot was not filled to the rim :-(  Only few of them... Bob could keep only three legal ones (good enough for Bob and I to eat).  Erwin does not care for crabs.  Crabbing brought back good memories for Edith because when she was a little girl she would go with her parents and brothers crabbing at Trout River in Jacksonville, FL.  She also remembered sitting on the kitchen floor covered with newspapers and cracking/eating crabs. 

These crabs are BIGGER than blue crabs found on the East Coast
Erwin and Edith holding the crabs!

Cathy also prepared a pot of spaghetti since crabs were not plentiful.