The Final Stop...Anacortes, WA
Until writing the header for this post I did not entirely feel any major emotional twinges. My good friends will not be shocked, as I am not the most outwardly sentimental of persons. However, as I start writing one of my last Independence Chronicles, even I, am not beyond a moment of pause. It’s been 13,000 Nautical Miles and countless hours of amazing vistas, crazy open water hours that last forever and then are a thing of the past, ocean animals making friends, friends making memories, endless images that I will treasure for a lifetime. I truly never envisioned this time on a boat. This was all Larry. I will admit most has been a real adventure. Each day is not a repeat, unless you count the inevitable boat wash down at the end of the day. Yes, I will miss her. But, I think of our next adventure with a gleam of excitement. I feel the change and I am ready to go. I guess that’s the great thing about cruising, just like life, if you stay in one place too long the moss grows over you and it makes it hard to enjoy the new things in life. Here’s to our next adventure!
The Rock Fish Grill and Anacortes Brewery. Always time for a local brew…especially when they have been around for 30 years!
This mural of the old Skagit Saloon was created by Bill Mitchell, the director of the Anacortes Mural Project. The Skagit was originally housed in a wood building (1891) on Commercial Avenue that burned down. They continued to operate in this brick building rebuilt in 1902-1907, only to become a soda and candy shop due to prohibition. The true survivor of this story is Mr. Mitchell, who overcame a devastating car accident in his teens that left him a quadriplegic. He pivoted his life and went to art school and has created over 150 murals on the sides of Anacortes’ buildings. They are painted on three quarter inch plywood and mounted on the sides of correlating buildings. What an inspiration.
Another of Mr. Mitchell’s creations honoring the great Marine and ‘everything you didn’t know you need’ Store
This is no Fish Tale…evidently, they caught these monster halibuts of this size in 1890’s
This is Bill Mitchell’s mural of Larry Kelley, the “King of Smugglers”. He came to the Pacific Northwest and began an amazing career of opium smuggling in the 1860’s. He would transfer the opium from Victoria across the Strait of Juan de Fuca in a little fishing boat, by himself and off load it at various ports. The customs agents tried to catch him several time but he always neatly evaded them. Finally, customs agent Collector Ide heard that Kelly was was in the Upper Puget Sound area and he geared one of the custom launches into a fishing boat. He trolled the waters for many days and finally caught Kelly. He only had a 60 pounds on him but plead guilty and received two years in the State Penitentiary. Kelly got out early on good behavior but was quickly returned to the State Pen for smuggling again in 1910. (info from James McCurdy plaque)
The full mural of Larry Kelly the “King of Smugglers”
Above the Cap Sante Marina. The area was named by Anne Curtis Bowman, wife of railroad surveyor Amos Bowman. She said the hillsides reminded her of Cap Sante’ in Quebec, where she spent time as a child. They moved to the area in 1877 and Amos Boman named the town after his wife “Annie Curtis”. The town was founded in 1879 and soon after, the old growth forest was cut and the town was built. The Bowman’s started the Post Office, the Newspaper and had great hopes for the railroad making Anacortes into the ‘New York of the West Coast’. Amos Bowman passed away never realizing this dream but was content to see a booming industry of fishing and lumber.
My favorite old time clocks, this one off Commercial Avenue
The old McCracken House that is now a museum for Pacific Northwest art
So many lovely Victorian style homes that are so well cared for.
Behind the homes you find these rustic lanes where you can pull your car into your parking garage and back yard
This charming town not only has the sweet little libraries, but even better, the pooch treat hutch. This is a memorial to Clyde. He passed this January at 11 years old. He was loved by all and now is the host to biscuits for all dogs. Here’s to Clydie Bear!
Driftwood art made from the beach and displayed at the beach
Cap Sante Marina. Not a bad place to be for sale…the Independence is just two over from the big red boat on the first dock.
Photo shoot day! Jeff deploys his drone
We enjoy the views during the photo shoot
Mount Baker looks nice this evening
www.nordhavn.com
Check the link for the great shots and video from the photo shoot. Give Nordhavn a call when you’re ready to buy!