Since our last post we have moved twice and have been very close to the epicenter of an earthquake. I never imagined that being nomadic would make us movers and shakers! I feel so under-dressed (all the time).

Eventful Last Days in Port Orchard

While we were moochdocking in Leslie and Anthony’s side yard we were cat and house-sitting for about 10 days. They have two sweet cats named Maui and Titan, each with a colorful history and corresponding trust issues.

Maui had oral surgery several days before Les and Ant left, so I was in high-observation mode. On our second day as substitute cat servants Maui stopped eating. I wrangled her and took her to the vet. But first, given the shady reputation she has with the vet staff, I had to pick up meds to make her a little more chill before the visit. She never expected to be manhandled by me, so I was able to successfully shoot her medicine down her throat. She felt betrayed, I’m sure. She ended up having an infection. Maui’s grudge only lasted a couple of days. Like it never even happened. And now, two weeks later, she is thriving!

Two days before we had to end our moochdocking time, a windstorm swept through and knocked out power to the entire city of Port Orchard. We all had a very sleepless night as Doug, the GIANT douglas fir in their front yard, lost many pine cones and twigs. From inside our camper each cone sounded like a crushing branch. Wind gusts were close to 60 mph, so there were times when the trailer gave a little shake. We have endured several big wind events, but being under big trees is stressful!

This provided yet another reason to be grateful for our nomadic lifestyle since we have solar, lithium batteries and a propane generator. Leslie and Anthony ended up hanging out in our trailer, showering for work and eating with us since everything in their house is electric. The timing was perfect since we were scheduled to move to our next location on the day the power was restored. It ended up being a fun time spending that time with the kiddos. They are lovely humans.

Back to Rainbows and Unicorns

I learned the difference between the Kitsap Peninsula and the Olympic Peninsula. Port Orchard is on the Kitsap Peninsula. Then you cross the Hood Canal onto the Olympic Peninsula. My daughter informed me that people new to the area sometimes get confused so locals might just refer to the two peninsulas as one giant Olympic Peninsula to simplify the conversation.

Our next stop after moochdocking was the magical Cliffside RV Park on NAS Whidbey. We spent a month there last summer when the flowers were in bloom. This time was just as lovely and always with the most amazing sunsets. We enjoyed a three-day break from pine needles and dirt since they only have concrete RV pads…plus free laundry, a running track nearby and the thrill of EA-18 Growlers flying right over our heads and rumbling our innards.

From Cliffside RV Park we noticed that our RV site was actually facing our next stop in our travels, American Camp in Friday Harbor. GPS said we were something like 12 miles away across the water. Since we are not open water swimmers nor crows, we had to drive to Anacortes and ferry through the San Juan Islands to Friday Harbor. Truly glorious!

Big Ol’ Pig Balls?

Last summer we got curious about the San Juan Islands while enjoying Whidbey Island. We could see the San Juan’s from our house! We tried a few times to reserve a ferry to go check it out, but during the summer, that is no easy task. When we noticed a volunteer opportunity at San Juan Island National Historical Park, we saw a great opportunity and submitted our application. After a very organized and thorough process, we were fortunate to be one of the two selected volunteer couples. Now we get to spend two months on San Juan Island as volunteers. What a gift!

Greg is so funny each time we pass ferry toll booths: “Is this the ferry to Jamaica?” *eyes rolling” The ferry ride was 1.5 hours of some of the most beautiful scenery we have ever seen! On the ferry we were excited (and and a bit nervous) to meet our fellow volunteers and the park rangers. No need to be nervous as everyone we have met so far has been salt-of-the-earth and wonderful. This is going to be a great experience and I have a feeling we are making lifelong friends!

If you’re curious, here is my amateur, very abbreviated explanation of where we are volunteering: San Juan Island National Historical Park preserves and educates regarding the tribal communities who existed here before the British and Americans came along and acted like fools by nearly starting a war over a pig that was shot for eating potatoes, thus The Pig War. This was really a dispute over the border that separated the San Juan Islands from the United States or Canada/Britain. The English set up camp north of the American Camp. Military might and ships were poised for action that never happened. They stayed this way for about 12 years, socializing and avoiding the turmoil of the Civil War happening at the same time on the mainland until an arbitrator from Germany said the border should be the Haro Strait. This made the San Juan Islands part of the United States. Whew. I am no expert. (This is my personal, initial info and opinion).

We were greeted at the entrance to the park by a group of protesters. They were passionate and had the most clever signs. Our campsite at American Camp has views of the Olympic Mountains and the Salish Sea. If we look right, we can see Victoria, BC! (just a short kayak ride if “things” get too crazy…) There is even a fire ring, picnic table and room for a tent if and when we have visitors!

We had a day of training yesterday and have explored the island a bit. There is so much to see! I hope two months is long enough! They might have to drag us to the ferry on May 1st.

Last night we got a taste of the social scene at a trivia night at the local hangout which is a combination of a bowling alley, arcade, billiards, a restaurant and a bar. It was so much fun as we had two park rangers and on our team along with our wonderful fellow volunteers and new neighbors.

The trivia questions were challenging and often obscure. It was a good brain workout and a great way to get to know the rest of the team. We had to come up with a trivia team name. The rangers told us that a veterinarian once complained that the bronze pig sculpture near the visitor center at American Camp was, let’s just say, way too endowed to be accurate. This inspired our team name, Big Ol’ Pig Balls.

Catio Corner

We have been very patient with extra visitors entering our home recently and then being asked to ride in the truck and on ferries. The updated views from our catio meet our standards. And the sun has been a welcome treat. We know that there are bald eagles, uncivilized, feral cats, deer and lots of foxes around our catio. We will continue to monitor and menace when necessary.