Port of Friday Harbor – the Heart of the San Juan Islands

Port of Friday Harbor – Where Friday Begins –

Going into the Port of Friday Harbor for a few days means several things for the crew of Kismet. Our arrival is followed by a list of chores we need to take care of while on land. Since we are usually anchoring or docking at marine parks for several weeks at a time, not only do we need to pump out and fill up the water tank, but two weeks of laundry can be quite a daunting task. Besides emptying and filling tanks, we also need to wash the boat, restock the cupboards, visit a hardware store, West Marine (we found out this trip WM is no longer here), and maybe the Post Office. So, to accomplish all chores in a timely manner, we come up with a plan for each day, so we don’t find ourselves overwhelmed on any one day. We also like to reserve some time to explore on land. Our stay at a marina is usually two to three days.

Pre-COVID-19, we enjoyed researching and hunting down unique restaurants to visit. We do occasionally seek out a restaurant, but being limited to ones with outdoor seating has put a damper on our excitement for dining out on this trip. Bummer!

We ventured out to a restaurant one night. Jim researched the options a bit, and we settled on
San Juan Island Brewing, is up the hill, not too far from downtown. It had plenty of seating outside; it was a nice evening, and I was grateful to get a slight break from cooking.

Exercise is a big consideration when going into port.

While we have gotten lots of activity hiking on the islands, it is nice to walk around a small island town. We’ll even walk back into the neighborhoods to get a better sense of the community that supports the town. We’ll usually schedule a lengthy walk and include a stop at the grocery store on the way back to the boat.

While I spend a few hours doing laundry, Jim will do all the other little errands. He’ll buy parts at the hardware store or various boating supplies while in town. We do the grocery shopping together; it takes both of us to tote that bounty back to the boat. Thank goodness, in the Port of Friday Harbor, the walk back to the marina is downhill.

Tillamook County Creamery Association is a farmer-owned co-op from Tillamook, Oregon. Our daughter-in-law, Sarah loves this brand of cheese. I think of her every time we see a huge display of products in the PNW. Sarah and her family recently moved to Michigan and can’t tell you how excited she was when she was able to find some at a local store in Traverse City.