Our Two-Day Trip to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island: PART 2

We woke up on Monday morning in time to keep our 8:15 breakfast date in the B&B's dining room. We were the only guests, which was kind of nice. No awkward small talk. :)

A fruit and yogurt trifle to start.

Fresh-made blueberry muffins. Hot coffee and tea.

A paper-thin crustless quiche, sausages, and oranges. Absolutely delicious!

After a good nigh's sleep and an awesome breakfast, we were ready for a day
of exploring San Juan Island!

We packed up our car, checked out of the Argyle House, and spent the rest of the day driving around the island, which takes about 20 minutes to drive end-to-end and includes at least one (maybe more than one?) national park. First we ended up at Roche Harbor, where we walked the marina, ate hot donuts, played bocce ball, and shopped a bit.

The Marina at Roche Harbor.

Roche Harbor. There was also a sea plane dock. Very cool.

My handsome hubby.

Merrit spied a jellyfish.

For Sale! It could be yours for the low, low price
of six million dollars!

Ollie explores one of two very old lime kilns.

We all played bocce ball for about an hour by the
lime kilns. Merrit skunked everyone!

Delores and I suspected Mike was sort of making up the rules as he went along.

The historic Hotel De Haro overlooks gorgeous gardens to the marina beyond.

The hotel's gardens.

After a low-key couple of hours in Roche Harbor, we hopped back in the car and headed to the other side of the island. We ended up at the English Camp, a spot where British soldiers were encamped in the mid 1800s; on the opposite side of the island is the American Camp (we didn't make it there), where the U.S. soldiers maintained a presence.

In 1859 the United States and Great Britain nearly went to war over possession of the island, the crisis ignited by the death of a British-owned pig in what is now called the Pig War. Twelve years later (ah, diplomacy at work!) the British troops left the island after the Treaty of Washington was signed, designating the island as a U.S. territory.

Today, the English camp is maintained as an historical site. We had fun traipsing around the old outbuildings, through the English garden, and along the beach.

Merrit discovered that he could hide among the horsetail.

And Ollie quickly followed suit.

One of the restored buildings at the old English Camp.

Inside, the boys had fun climbing the ladder.

The old barracks, now a Ranger Station and museum.

Peaceful.

A butterfly in the English garden.

Delores with blue delphiniums.

Peonies, lavender, and delphiniums were all in bloom in the garden.

Mike, the boys, and I hiked to the top of the hill to get a bird's eye view of the
entire camp and small, quiet harbor.

A really gorgeous, quiet spot.

Aw, we love those Brits!

Fun and games with dad.

He's a trusting sort.

We ran into this super friendly kid from Minnesota
who told us all about how to catch crabs at the beach.
Here Mike and Ollie flip over rocks.

The crab hunter!

A bit mucky, but still fun.

Mike's a big kid at heart. In the background,
our friendly guide from Minnesota!!

Not intentionally, but perhaps fittingly, we ended up eating out that night at a proper English pub! In all the time Mike and I have been back in the U.S. since having left England, we haven't really found a restaurant that promised to serve English food that could deliver. This place was SPOT ON, right down to the mushy peas and HP Sauce!

Mike, Clyde, and Merrit all ordered fish and chips. Delores had shepherd's
pie, and I ordered baked oysters. With Guinness, of course.

Between oysters, mussels, and fried cod, we have eaten some fantastic
local seafood while at Friday Harbor.

The good stuff!

Thanks for a great weekend in the San Juans, honey!!

I told Mike that if the ceilings in this pub were about eight feet lower, it would 
have definitely felt like we were back in England!

In the queue for 2:45 ferry to Anacortes. What a lovely two days we've had!