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Day Seven: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island to Roche Harbour, San Juan Island |
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Feeling refreshed from our evening out on the town it was time to provision and head out of Friday Harbor. Today would be a fairly short day of sailing around the Northern coast of San Juan Island and into Roche Harbour - a resort on the Northwest coast of the island. It would be the first and only time on our trip that we did not island jump.
I felt today would be a blessed one after encountering monks in transit between ferry trips while still in Friday Harbor. ( I got a kick out of the baddass monk on the left sporting the cool shades.) |
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Roche Resort is a resort marina in the mode of Mackinac Island. Founded by a limestone barron in the 1880s it was the largest limeworks West of the Mississippi in it's day. The villiage of Roche Harbor's Hotel de Haro (built in 1886) is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The villiage/harbor is a major crossroads in the San Juans: within walking distance you have the ability to travel via Ferry, private boat, float plane, or make arrangements to use their airstrip.
People gather at sunset for the lowering of the colors (both Canadian and United States.) Which is what was ocurring in this photo.
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While exploring the general vacinity of Roche, we ran across this amazing sculpture park. This may have been the coolest thing we saw while on land during the entire trip. Click here to catch a glimpse for yourself. |
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Another interesting feature was the mausoleum erected in honor of John S. McMillin, the limestone barron who founded the Roche Harbor Lime and Cement Company that became the resort of Roche Harbor. A devout Methodist, Republican, and Mason, there is much symbolism built into the Afterglow Mausoleum, as it is known to locals.
Sitting back about a half-mile into second-growth forest, the mausoleum consists of a massive limestone dias with a limestone table and limestone chairs representing family members.
There are many legends concerning the symbolism of Afterglow. Here is just a sample of what information is available. |
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The resort had some really nice flower gardens. The climate in the Pacific Northwest rmakes for some fantastic floral and plant displays. The one thing you never forget is just how green everything is on the Western side of the Cascades. Here is just a small sample of the photos I shot while walking the gardens. |
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This day ended like most others. Sitting on the Gata Luna, sipping a beverage and reflecting on a great day of sailing and exploring. This was the last night "at sea" for me. Tomorrow we would sail on to Victoria, BC in what would prove to be a long day of sailing and fighting currents. It was the perfect ending to a great experience. Tomorrow we would be back in civilization and Karen, Scott's wife, would be joining us for the remainder of my time on this journey. |
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Next: Day Eight Roche Harbor to Victoria, BC |
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Return to Main San Juan Page |
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Return to Main Ford Page |
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