I have recently uprooted back to the United States after living in New Zealand for a year and a half and decided I wasn’t ready to give up that beautiful scenery. I discovered the San Juan Islands after an impromptu trip with my best friend and decided not only is it incredibly similar to my life down under, but it was a place I needed to be!  Therefore, I packed up my Red Band gumboots in my favorite Osprey backpack and moved out here at the very beginning of May. Being a hard...

Coffee, coffee, coffee...we might flee to the island to get some peace and quiet, but this is one thing we definitely don't want to escape from! Fortunately, San Juan Island is home to a few nice little places to get some good coffee and find some good company, and you'll notice we have a very enjoyable absense of any chain out here. No golden arches, no green Starbucks logos, no Safeways or Fred Meyers. You need to look local to find your caffeine fix, but don't worry, I've got you...

The reports of Orcas are starting to roll in, but they are still too far West for us to get to them. Our Gray Whale friend, whom I have dubbed Clyde the glide, was possibly still in the waters near the naval air station, but our stalwart group clamored for something out of the ordinary. So South we headed, but for Hein Bank instead of Whidbey Island.

Our own parrot owning Capt. Craig toured us through breathtakingly calm waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca where there were...