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-   -   Summer 2013 Travel (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=102007)

tommylewis 08-15-2013 10:52 AM

Sights from Orcas Island
 
We are really enjoying the cool temperatures here on Orcas Island. We have a rent house on the west shore with beach access. This is the view from our deck.



We hiked to Obstruction Pass State Park one day and this was the view through Madrona trees of East Sound.



Last night we went on a whale watch boat. The J Pod of Orca Whales was 37 miles west when we found them. It was just amazing to watch. There were at least 20 Orcas to watch.



One of the view scrolled in so is a little grainy.


Sunset from the boat.


Having a great time.

EdH 08-15-2013 05:24 PM

Guessing you might have sailed past the beach of our rental...

That was indeed a spectacular sunset, I didn't think we would get one last night after the late afternoon weather, but it delivered right at the end of the day.



We're back in Friday Harbor today, hopefully off to Oregon tomorrow for a couple of days.

Jaypratt 08-17-2013 10:12 PM

Tom and Bonny
 
Tom and Bonny,

You two are my shining stars, And inspiration. Please keep posting and reminding why I am working. !!! To follow in your wing wake. And wondering path.

Thank You

TroyBranch 08-21-2013 09:14 AM

Saw your planes on the ground at Orcas Island on Monday evening when we flew over. I now understand why you love it out there. It is a beautiful place.

We were not so lucky with the whale watching tour. Ended up just off the shore of Victoria in Canadian waters before we caught with them. Only had a few minutes of actual time with them, it more lake 5 hours of wave watching:rolleyes:

tommylewis 08-24-2013 07:06 PM

End of visit
 
Yes Ed I do believe we were watching the same sunset. Nice view.

Troy, we have found that the aluminum whale watching boats are better because they are faster and therefore can get out to the whales when they are far out. There is one on Orcas Island at the harbor north of the East Sound airport.

The first week our son and family were with us and Dave and Wendy with Wendy's sister joined us for the second week.

Just another sunset picture.


Another VAF hat sighting on the ferry to Friday Harbor.


Seaplanes at Friday Harbor when we left.


Another picture from Obstruction Pass north up East Sound today on our hike.


A group picture of this last weeks crew on our last night.


So we have had 2 great weeks of cool weather, three Chamber Music Festival concerts, hiking, whale watch boat rides, kayak boat rides, and wonderful sunsets and views from our rent house. We do really enjoy this part of the NW in August.

Tomorrow, Sunday, we fly south to Oregon for 8 days.

tommylewis 08-30-2013 01:05 AM

Next leg
 
Last Sunday three RVs flew south. This is a picture of the islands as we left.



The Olympia Penesala mountains as we flew south.



A look at Mount Rainier.



Three RVs parked waiting for our return.



Martin and Claudia at a Sunday evening dinner at the Helvetia Tavern they first visited on a Van's Homecoming in the early 90s. They introduced us to this pub a few years later.



We are on the Oregon coast enjoying the cool temps and great hiking.

Martin Sutter 08-30-2013 09:45 AM

We were initroduced to the Helvetia by the locals during our first visit to the Van's homecoming in 1991. Back then the the homecoming was held at Sunset Airpark where Van lives near Hillsboro. Helvetia Tavern is a neat pub just north of town in the beautiful Oregon country side known for it's delicious monster hamburgers and good local beers. It got it's name from the locale it is situated in. Helvetia is the latin name for Switzerland and was given to this area by the many Swiss that settled there. We have returned to the tavern almost every year since then during our annual visits to the north west and have spent many fun hours with RV people from all over there.

Martin Sutter
Building and flying RV's since 1988
EAA Technical Councelor

NavyIBNFE 09-01-2013 01:37 AM

Awesome!
 
Great pictures and stories-

I especially love the ones from WA. I am a born and raised Washingtonian and love the NW. Lived in FL for the last 5 years and finally got orders to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island last spring. I fly on P-3s just South of Orcas Islands and see a bunch of RV traffic on sunny days.

If you're ever up North in Canada check out Comox- amazing scenery.

Looking forward to the next installation of pictures and stories!

tommylewis 09-01-2013 09:32 AM

Week on Oregon coast
 
We have had a nice week on the Oregon coast in a rent house in Pacific City. We had a rainy day on Thursday so we drove to McMinville to the Evergreen Museum. This is a picture of Tom & Bonnie in the pilot seats of the Spruce Goose.



This is a picture of the Oregon coast.


On Monday the three RVs are splitting up and going our separate ways. It has been a great time traveling together.

panhandler1956 09-02-2013 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkatc (Post 789092)
Johnson Creek is on my Bucket List!!

Me too! Every time I see pictures of this place or watch one of the great videos of it, I just can't wait to get out there!


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