Guemes Mountain Summit Views

The summit, at about 660 feet elevation, offers partial views from the northeast to the southwest. We spotted several of the San Juan Islands and parts of Fidalgo Island.

Man Against the Sea

Remnants of a sea wall on the west side of Whidbey Island. A developer thought houses could be built here but the Salish Sea won out. The San Juan Islands are on the horizon.

San Juan Islands at Dusk

March 22 at Sunset Beach, Whidbey Island.

Fishing Boat

A lone fishing boat heading north past Smith Island.

Summer San Juan Dusk

A recent view of the San Juan Islands from Joseph Whidbey State Park on the west side of Whidbey Island.

San Juan Calm

The San Juan Islands at twilight from Joseph Whidbey State Park on Whidbey Island.

San Juan Twilight

A recent view of the San Juan Islands at twilight from the west side of Whidbey Island.

San Juan Dusk

Sucia Island State Park

I recently went on a group tour to Sucia Island. It is called the crown jewel of Washington State's marine park system.

It is accessible only by boat and we took the Viking Star, leaving from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal.

Sucia (pronounced su-see'-ah) means "dirty" in Spanish and was named so because of the reefs and rocks around much of the island.

Our tour guide showed us the wave action on sandstone as we hiked over a peninsula. We ended up at Fossil Beach.

And we did see many fossils.

It was low tide and we also saw starfish and anemone.

Our guide said this red one was a bit rare to see.

As we were nearing lunch time, I think some of the star fish were already having theirs.

The geology of the island is varied.

Our boat trip gave us some glimpses of refineries and other commercial endeavors north of Bellingham,

and the Lummi Island ferry.

Here is a map showing the location of Sucia Island.

San Juan Islands Sunset

Pastel Sunset

Sometime the sunsets are not spectacular, with blazing color, but are just peaceful. The San Juan Islands are on the horizon.

San Juan Islands Sunset

This is a recent view from the west side of Whidbey Island. A high pressure system stilled the air and made the Salish Sea like glass.

San Juan Dusk

San Juan Island Dusk

This is a recent view of the San Juan Islands after sunset from Sunset Beach, near Joseph Whidbey State Park, on the west side of Whidbey Island.

San Juan Islands Morning

The San Juan Islands from Whidbey Island.

Whidbey Island Sunset

A recent sunset from the west side of Whidbey Island. The San Juan Islands are on the horizon to the right and Smith Island is at the left.

San Juan Islands at Dusk

This is a recent view of the San Juan Islands at dusk from the west side of Whidbey Island.

Mt. Erie View

Before you reach the parking lot at the top of Mt. Erie, there is a pull off area on the right with steps leading to an observation platform where you'll have views to the west. Across the road you'll find steps leading to a short stroll ending in another observation platform providing views more to the northwest and the San Juan Islands. This is the view from that latter observation area.

Mt. Baker from Mt. Constitution

Mt. Baker from the San Juan Ferry

What a blessing to live in the Pacific Northwest - water, islands, mountains, sunny skies.