Seattle to San Juan island, day 16 Saturday 22nd September.

Woke early after good nights sleep. as catching a boat to the San Juan islands. We have booked an overnight stay on the islands and a whale watching trip. Booked a taxi to pick us up. The trip to pier 69 had lots and lots of traffic. Seattle is a very large bustling city and after the plains of Montana a bit of a shock. Saw the needle, the iconic building of Seattle. Have booked a tour up it. You have to go up the side of the building in a lift. Lots of Starbucks as this company started in Seattle. Martin not so sure now!!!

The boat leaves at 8.15am with a three and a half hour boat ride. Got the boarding tickets and checks done. Got a large coffee and cinnamon bun. Have sussed coffees now. Ask for drip coffee and 2% milk. Took sea sick pill. The boat is a double decker one, quite modern. Food and refreshments available on board. We sat in and got a sea window seat. Off we went. Started to feel sick immediately. Not sure why but the boat bobbed around a bit. After an hour things got better and I could enjoy the voyage. The rain had stopped and blue skies appeared. The boat went into Puget Sound. There are numerous islands dotted all around. Some occupied and som not. You could still see the mainland and large tankers moored up. It is a busy shipping lane. Settled into the journey. Had binnoculars and saw basking seals. Half way an announcement said that the toilet pump wasn’t working and we had to go back to Seattle. The sea sick part felt pleased at this but disappointed at the same time. After half an hour going back to Seattle they decided we could go onwards to Friday Harbour. Definitely testing my sea legs!!! After some porridge on board felt a whole load better and read an book.

Arrived at Friday harbour and those going on the whale watching stayed on board. A short break than an hours cruise to a possible sighting. Due to the type of boat once something was sighted only a few got a view. Managed to push my way through and saw the whale tail. This was a humpback whale not the minki whales we thought we’d see. The whale tail was white edged in black so a different type than those we saw earlier. A little disappointed but the views on the top deck were stunning and being well wrapped up stayed up there for awhile.

Back to terra firma. Thank god. I will never go on a cruise .....

walked up hill to hotel. Had a confrontation when they wanted us to leave card details as deposit against damages. Only staying one night and as martins card was cloned fraudently before we went to USA we were very adverse to leaving it. Settled for a $100 dollar cash deposit.

Room comfy but both quite hungry by this time,

. Friday harbour is a little like Salcombe and the buildings quiant and new. Found the Downriggers restaurant where we had to wait a while for a seat. It was worth it. I had a flat iron steak. And Martin spicy prawn mac and cheese. Mine was the best and fresh broccoli to boot. Martin had a taster flight of beers and I a coors light. The long day caught up with us so a walk up the hill to the hotel. An interesting day.