The beauty of life is in each precious moment ...
Remember to stop and smell the roses.
With Baby Beest's continuing engine "woes", our past few weeks of travel have been just a tad bit stressful. Popping the hood, topping off the coolant, and watching for that pesky "check-engine" light had almost started feeling like a normal part of our daily driving routine.
While she still managed to get us where we needed to go, we were getting a little weary of Baby Beest's "much larger than van-sized" drama. Luckily, the Puget Sound area of Washington state proved to be the perfect spot to
recharge our internal batteries
before facing what could be a prolonged and costly "spa" visit for our beloved home-on-wheels. A little island time and hefty dose of community spirit proved to be the "fix" that Doug and I needed.
San Juan Island Recharge
This archipelago off the coast of Washington state is known for its scenic beauty and laid-back lifestyle. When we visited Friday Harbor last year, we knew that we could easily be convinced to return someday. So grateful that our "someday" showed up just when we needed it most.
Our ferry meandered around the various San Juan Islands and brought us into Friday Harbor. Once we were settled into our campsite on the county fairgrounds, it was a short walk into town where we quickly got used to the colorful and laid-back atmosphere of the island.
Friday Harbor buzzes with activity during the day,
We were grateful to be able to let Baby Beest rest while we utilized our feet and bikes to explore the area. The highlight of this visit was to take the free, inter-island ferry to check out one of the nearby islands.
After landing at the ferry dock on Orcas Island, we had to bike ten miles across the island in order to reach Doug's "reward".
Thanks to our e-bikes, we were able to easily pedal past fields of grazing llamas,
and crank up the power to make it up "Uff Da Hill"
in order to reach Doug's coveted prize ... lunch and an IPA at another cute "off the beaten path" craft brewery.
The relaxed vibes of "island time" was definitely what we needed to start recharging our internal batteries!
After our four days on the island, we had two ferry rides and an hour-long drive in order to arrive at our next recharging station located in Port Townsend, Washington. There, surrounded by fellow Hymer van owners and dear friends,
we would enjoy five days of helpful "fix-it" ideas,
relaxing beach walks and talks,
scrumptious potlucks,
energizing campfire conversations, music, and dance,
and soul-enriching laughter and friendships.
While there will always be those stormy skies and rough seas,
we are grateful for the people and places that provide a refuge for our souls
and "recharge" us so that we can handle whatever tomorrow brings.
Update:
We made it to Vancouver, Washington where it sounds like Baby Beest is going to get a new engine ... not the "inexpensive" fix that we had hoped for, but it's definitely proceeding smoother and faster than we originally thought. Fingers crossed, but we may only have to "enjoy" a five day hotel stay before being back "home" once again. The knowledge and communication of the repair shop mechanics definitely has us embracing the company's motto ...
Believe in Nice!