Sports in the San Juan Islands

An important component to life in the San Juan Islands is taking the time to appreciate all the beauty and camaraderie of friends and opportunities offered. The San Juan Islands are known for scenic coastal vistas and hospitality providing an array of travel and vacation opportunities for visitors, not the least of which are inspiring sporting options for many enthusiasts!

San Juan Marathon

Today, the annual Marathon (which is USATF certified), begins and ends at Friday Harbor Country Fairgrounds and features a full and half marathon. Runners come from across the country to participate in what promises to be a great day! The marathon offers one very scenic out and back along the west side of San Juan Island, offering views of both Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Both the Full and the Half offers classic rolling hills and views of farmlands that make up the interior of the island. Being that the island is hilly, both courses are challenging, but very rewarding. If you missed out, check out their website for next year! 

San Juan Golf

That being said, there are many other options to take advantage of the great outdoors in Friday Harbor and the surrounding Islands. Sailing, kayaking, golf and diving are popular pastimes- keeping you close to wildlife and fantastic views during your stay! The local golf course in Friday Harbor is open to the public and is played twice to make up the 18 holes. Some water and strategically-placed bunkers are in play.Semi-Private, 9 holes, Par 36 

Scuba Diving

If diving is your fancy, Deep Sea Charters of Anacortes offers dive charter serving the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound. Washington state diving is known around the world as a top diving destination- always ranked in the top ten of world dive spots! Visibility can be great, currents can be minimal and you can expect to find spotsblanketed with life!

I've covered the fantastic kayaking in an earlier blog and you cannot miss with a sailing charter while you're here! Yesterday we spent all day watching J Pod cavort on the west side of the island- traveling up and down the banks very close to shore for the better part of the day.  Last heard they were headed North- so stay tuned...the summer has not even begun!

LOOKING FOR GIFTS TO COMMEMORATE YOUR STAY?  HERE ARE JUST A FEW SPORTS THEMED ITEMS AVAILABLE FROM ZAZZLE FEATURING LIFE IN THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS!

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J Pod in The San Juan Islands!

Southern Resident Community Update!

Today we spent the entire day watching J pod cavort on the west side of San Juan Island. Sometimes far from shore and sometimes so near you could touch them- here's a shot from Lime Kiln lighthouse (a perfect example of having the wrong zoom lens on during a close pass to shore)!!!

The pass began approximately 9:00am with the whales headed close to shore from Pile Point towards Hannah Heights. Once they approached the Heights, we were able to see that the leaders were Slick and her family! That being said --within minutes they turned and headed south!!! Later in the day, we were able to watch them pass Lime Kiln, frolicking and providing us with alot of shore based whale watching opportunities!

Orca Whales Postcard
by

sandybuckley

And the day ended down at the beach watching the graceful antics of local harlequin ducks...can you say...LIFE IS GOOD? Well, it certainly is!

Harlequin Duck Notecards
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sandybuckley

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Fox Pups on San Juan Island

Pupping Season is Upon Us!

Fox Pup Notecards - Customized
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sandybuckley

We are very fortunate to have a diverse and varied animal population on San Juan Island that is supported by a community appreciation and respect for nature and her wonders. One of the populous creatures you will find on the islands are fox- a member of the dog family. On the island, there are several color variations of the red fox, including red, silver, and cross, as well as combinations of all three. We've seen them feast on birds, field mice and rabbits (especially down at American Camp- where it is always fun to watch them hunt the rabbit dens at sunset)- but they will also eat raccoons and ducks! Plants make up another portion of their diet- and the pups are often seen munching on the grasses around their culvert dens!

Everywhere you turn this month and well into the summer you will find frolicking fox pups in roadside culverts and grass embankments. So, if you're on the island, please take heed and keep them in mind!!!

Fox Kit Notecards Friday Harbor, WA
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sandybuckley

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Friday Harbor May 2008

Friday Harbor in spring has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Well, at least to me...smiles. Flowers are flowering, birds are mating and the first fox pups are arriving. Just this week baby foxes were spotted on West Side Road- and there are finally signs up to remind motorists to SLOW DOWN! Last year we spent a week trying to rescue two of the pups who had been hit by speeding cars- ti was hard to watch but they were eventually captured and completely rehabilitated by Wolf Hollow. To follow the rehab efforts on the island, be sure to visit their site...www.wolfhollowwildlife.org

Speaking of foxes, this was a picture I captured of their mom last year!

Here's Looking at You Mousepad
by

sandybuckley

And the birds...we have eagles en masse this month as well as quail who have just recently returned to the island. Below are some of the birds you'll pretty much see most of the year on the island.

Birds of the San Juan Islands Collage
by

sandybuckley


As a follow up we did have the chance to eat at COHO and it was definitely well worth the wait. The food is divine- the salmon is to die for and the duck salad is unrivaled. AM & Dave certainly have their hands full- but the ambiance was fantastic and the menu perfect! Check it out here! http://www.cohorestaurant.com/index.html

I am back in town and will be adding frequently- April was a wild and crazy month! News today is that there are whales headed North of the island through Active Pass- no one yet knows who they are- but could this be J Pod who is "overdue?" Detail to follow! Sandy Buckley

The Eagles Have Landed

April 9, 2008- Well, we all know that wildlife watching is fantastic in the islands- and that has certainly rung true the past few months. Every day is a treat to watch all the juveniles bicker and play while watchful parents keep an eye on the waters for fish. We're also seeing lots of pairs of herons in local fields- of course, I never have my camera when I need it! But here are a couple of eagle shots:

Bald Eagle Stampsbysandybuckley
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Under Seigebysandybuckley
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This second shot took place only this week. A golden eagle has begun visiting the west side and frequenting an area where adult bald eagles habitually sit. I actually watched this play out- the golden went over to one of the fir trees and grabbed pine cones. What you are seeing in the picture is the golden eagle pelting the bald eagle in attempts to get the bald one to move from his/her perch. Go figure.

Friday Harbor is really a beautifully rich world unlike any place I have ever been!! That's all for now, take care- Sandy Buckley

Dining Opportunities Have Become More Interesting this Month!

With the onset of spring in the Islands comes many enhancements to dining opportunities! Lots of Island favorites start reopening and this year is no different! Locals rejoice in the enriched menu selections- since lots of options diminish over the winter months. Some happening restaurants we've all waited for and who have reopened this month include...

DUCK SOUP INN

http://www.ducksoupinn.com/

Gretchen's wonderfully sophisticated Inn reopened on the 4th- we're planning on sampling the seasonal offerings this weekend so expect a review! :) One of our favorite places on San Juan Island for somewhat upscale romantic dinners!

COHO RESTAURANT

http://www.cohorestaurant.com

Well, this isnt a reopening ---it's an opening! Dave Pass and Anna Maria de Freitas are venturing into the restaurant business later this month with an introduction of Coho, featuring pacific northwest fare. We've known these two since 2003- when we all used to live in Maryland- and can vouch for lots of memorable feasts at their table. This menu will be fantastic!!

Spring in the San Juan Islands

April 5, 2008- This just in! This week I think we can all officially agree that another Island winter has been put to rest with the bold appearance of spring harbingers. How can I be so sure? Read on...

It was no joking matter when I looked out my front windows April 1rst and immediately did a double take. Were those actually fins in the water? (Our house looks out over the Haro Straits on the west side of San Juan Island). The water was calm as glass and the sun was just beginning to add some warmth to the day. I head out onto the deck and am greeted with one of the most joyous sounds one will ever hear- the exhalation of an orca whale about 100 yards off the shoreline. So it was a fin! But wait, there were more- 4 beautiful whales resting right before my eyes.

In the islands, we have transient killer whales who tend to frequent the waters as well as resident orcas. While both are orca whales, that's about where the similarities end. Orca Network has a great article which you can read herehttp://www.orcanetwork.org/nathist/transients.html or you may want to check out the local experts over at the Center for Whale Research here: http://www.whaleresearch.com/

So at this point, I have no idea if I am watching transients or residents- although I wasn't seeing any seals in the area and these guys were hanging out milling for approx 20 minutes. Upon closer inspection, sure enough- it turns out to be Slick (j-16) and here family- which meant that J pod had returned to the island! (Closer inspection required pulling up my handy whale ID guide and closely reviewing the shapes of the fins and variations of the saddle patches- the guide is also available at the Center. Well, that started off the day well! for the next three hours J Pod headed very slowly north on the west side- not too close to shore but they were back!!

Finally taking a break from watching the whales, I suddenly notice a strange and yet vaguely familiar buzzing in my ears- and as I walk out further on my deck I am suddenly strafed by a passing hummingbird!!! Sign number two! (By the end of the day we had hummingbird wars going on at the feeders...smiles!) Yes, I made up the requisite batch of food and the saying "build it and they will come" certainly rang true that day!

Later this same week we would see our first yellow finches and even more inspiring, see the beautiful swallows return to the west side! Spring has Sprung! And as of today, J pod is still in the area, with all present and accounted for (with the exception of J43- who the Center has not been able to find yet...fingers crossed!) Check out the local views of Friday Harbor here!

That's all for now!