Yesterday: eagles. Today: mountains and orcas. Remember that, because you’ll need it at the end.

We’ve shifted our home base from the Mount Vernon area to Port Townsend, to spend more time with our older son and his girlfriend.

I managed to avoid a total freak-out over maneuvering our BFT/RV combo onto the ferry, but then all kinds of lost my shit when I heard the captain say, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve spotted a pod of killer whales ahead. You should be able to see them from the bow in just a couple of minutes.”

And we did!

In the boarding queue, feeling confident that if that guy can roll his big self onboard, so can we. He makes us look petite!

Just gotta fit through that thing when the boat pulls up.

All aboard! It wasn’t nearly as scary after watching the truly big rigs drive onboard before we did. If they fit, we fit!

Packed in tight, with 18-wheelers in front, behind, and on our left.

Yesterday: bald eagles Today: Holy shit, there's a pot of orcas off the bow of the ferry! 2015 has been very, very good to us.

Thar she blows!
2015 has been very, very good to us.

Off we go, into Port Townsend.

And look who was waiting for us at the campground when we pulled in: our big boy!

After so many dismal days of soggy grayness, we reveled in the sunshine and clear skies, even though it was cold enough to… well… freeze the door mats. But other than that? Hey, look! The mountains are out!

These are our door mats. Knowing we were in for a stretch of rain-free days, I draped the sodden bastards over a picnic bench to dry out.
Failed to take into account the overnight freeze warning.
Oops.

Deception Pass, between Fidalgo Island and Whidbey Island

That faded blue hump in the center may or may not be Mount Rainier. I'm not sure which direction I was facing -- which is pretty much a constant state of existence for me.

That faded blue hump in the center may or may not be Mount Rainier.
I’m not sure which direction I was facing — which is pretty much my constant state of existence.

Olympic Mountains, from the Coupevdlle - Port Townsend Ferry

Olympic Mountains, from the Coupeville – Port Townsend Ferry

Mount Rainier, from the Coupeville - Port Townsend Ferry

Mount Rainier (for sure this time), from the ferry

Deer on the parade grounds at Fort Worden. Cascade Mountains across the water.

And speaking of Fort Worden, I leave you with this bit of movie nostalgia:

Name that movie. It was filmed at Fort Worden, where we spent 45 minutes not getting a camping space. Don't ask.

“An Officer and A Gentleman” was filmed at Fort Worden, where we spent 45 minutes not getting a camp site. Don’t ask. Just keep humming love lift us up where we belong. Because that’ll take you up where the eagles fly, on the mountains high, and then we’ve come full circle.

Happy 2016, y’all!

As the Buddha would say, “Jesus, Emily. Look up.”

We’ve been here nearly two weeks, spending tons of time making memories with family, and taking advantage of rare non-rainy days to walk along the bay.

On this morning’s sojourn, I chanced to look up.

It’s a rule of Western Washington that I often forget: Every now and then, pull your eyes from the placid waters, the intense greenery, the snow-capped Olympics and Cascades, and the hipsters with their coffees, and gaze skyward, to the very tops of the cedars.

Because that’s where the bald eagles are, dummy.

Today, I saw four. Actually, I think Eagle 1 and Eagle 4 were a case of same-bird-different-tree, so maybe I saw only three.

See them?
Center tree, up top.

Still there. Same tree. But better shot of the truck, yes?

My apologies for poor photo quality. This was one of the rare occasions on which I wished I still had a real camera, as the iPhone just doesn’t do very well at capturing things that are way the hell up there.

Tranquility, serenity, peace

From our current home overlooking Puget Sound’s Padilla Bay, we wish you calm waters in 2016.

Honey, we need to do a Christmas card. Do you have a shortie robe, snow boots, and a hat with ear flaps?

No?

Never mind, then.

Pretty sure I got this.

How’d I do?

I’m sure my journalism textbooks said something about always getting photos of the road kill. Maybe.

Walkies were a little different this morning.

– 39 degrees outside

– Raining (No really. Again! And I’m not losing my shit over it at all!)

– No Lola, for she is lame

– No sun, for it has forsaken me

But we were that desperate to get outside and get moving, and along the way, we saw a penny farthing mailbox, a dead bird, a potato rock, cows of the forest, and a wet cemetery. It’s kind of like the 12 days of Christmas, but through the eyes of David Lynch.

Tim: Why on earth do you need a picture of a dead bird?
Me: I don’t think you understand how photojournalism works.
Tim: Well, are you going to report the cause of death?
Me: IT DIED OF RAIN!