No. 310 Washington State Classic Car Shows

Washington State 2015 Classic Car Shows 

Moses Lake Spring Festival Car & Bike Show +Cruise  - Moses Lake, WA

May 22, 2015 - May 23, 2015

34th Annual Moses Lake Spring Festival Open Car Show - Moses Lake, WA May 23, 2015 - May 23, 2015 11th Annual Spring BBQ Hot Rod Gathering - Palouse, WA May 30, 2015 - May 30, 2015Corvettes on the Columbia - Kennewick, Wa June 5, 2015 - June 7, 2015All Corvette Car Show - Anacortes, WA June 6, 2015 - June 6, 2015Waterfront Festival Open Class Show _ Anacortes, WA June 7, 2015 - June 7, 2015VETTE-A-BRATION _ Yakima, WA  June 12, 2015 - June 14, 2015ATHS Columbia Basin Chapter Antique Truck Show Richland, WA June 13, 2015 - June 13, 2015El Camino/Chevelle Show - Snohomish, WA June 14, 2015 - June 14, 20153rd Annual Pit-A-Billy Car Show - Seattle, WA June 20, 2015 - June 20, 2015Rakers Car Club 12th Annual Car Show - Port Townsend, WA June 20, 2015 - June 20, 201510th Annual Fenders On Front Street - Issaquah, WA June 21, 2015 - June 21, 2015Gear Heads Father's Day Car Show - Bellingham, WA June 21, 2015 - June 21, 20152015 Blessing of the Cars! -Tacoma, WA June 21, 2015 - June 21, 2015Fenders on Front Street - Issaquah, WA June 21, 2015 - June 21, 201522nd Annual Cool Desert Nights Car Show - Richland, WA June 25, 2015 - June 28, 2015Eastside Parkway Pile-Up Car Show - East Wenatchee, WA June 27, 2015 - June 27, 2015Flying Eagle A's Model - Vancouver, WA  June 27, 2015 - June 27, 2015 Hot Rods, Hot Dogs & Motorcycles - Bothel, WA June 27, 2015 - June 27, 2015 2015 Mukilteo Classic Car Show - Mukilteo, WA June 28, 2015 - June 28, 2015 Rat City Rodz Hot Rod Block Party _ Everett, WA July 11, 2015 - July 11, 201510th Annual Camas Car Show - Camas, WA July 11, 2015 - July 11, 2015

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No. 309 Whale Watching Recap Video

Tuesday June 16th, 2015
Anacortes, WA

The orcas had no shortage of energy today as they awoke from their nap and began to put on a show for the ages!!!

Highlights:

A large group of deer just outside Cap Sante
Multiple mature bald eagles all around
Harbor seals hauled out in multiple locations
J,K, and Lpod along the western shore of San Juan island


Naturalist log


As the IE3 left the dock this morning the wildlife started out fast and furious, with a large group of black tail deer taking advantage of the low tide this morning. They slowly strolled along the exposed rocky shoreline looking up occasional at the IE3 as it passed. Two small fawns followed their mother up in the grassy lawn of an Anacortes home where they stopped for a rest and the boat was able to get some amazing looks. Suddenly a mature bald eagle came soaring in overhead making its way over the trees toward the city of Anacortes!!!!

As the IE3 exited Guemes channel and entered into Rosario strait a slight roll began to come in from the south. With that captain Carl aimed the IE3 west into the heart of the San Juan islands and the protected waters that lay inside. A Washington state ferry passed by as the IE3 entered into Thatcher pass and was joined by a turkey vulture and 2 more bald eagles. This was a good sign and as sea birds like the rhinoceros auklet and the pigeon guillemot dove deep for their morning meals guests began to head into the galley to enjoy Eli's good cooking.

The IE3 made a nice slow up through Pole pass where it got good views at a great blue heron that was hunting in the now shallow waters off of Orcas island. The sun was high no, the waters were calm and so the IE3 pushed further west in search of glory. As it got to Battleship island another eagle was spotted perched in a  tree near a large nest!!! Dozens of harbor seals were also seen just off the port side basking in the days warm sunny rays!!!!

Captain Carl continued to drive the IE3 south where it was joined up by a large group of Kpod whales. At first the whales were spread out but as the IE3 got on scene the whales grouped tightly together and went into what seemed like a resting pattern. Multiple fins rising high out of the water together was certainly a sight to see as you could feel the true majesty of these animals. The Kpod group was south bound and so was the IE3 when a large group of whales was spotted ahead and the excitement began to build!!!!

Who were these whales and what was going to happen when these groups met? Well it turned out to be Jpod and at first the two separate groups were oblivious to each other. Suddenly something triggered a young Jpod calf to get excited. In the distance a whale spy hopped high above the water to spot the still south bound Kpod and as soon as it did the fun had begun!!!! Multiple whales breached and some even began to porpoise toward Kpod in order to catch them. As this happened a few of the elder females in the group began to slap their flukes at the surface, trying to quill the upcoming surge of baby orca energy, but it was too late!!!!

Soon whales were breaching and spy hopping left and right, and it was becoming difficult to track where the action would happen next. The whales were definitely happy to see the IE3 and the magnificent people who were on board!!!! As the whales neared Lime Kiln lighthouse though distance was extended due to regulations and agreements with the light house and park area. That made no difference as the whales continued to party and to wave goodbye as the IE3 had to depart, but that did not mean the show was over.

As the IE3 reached False bay captain Carl spotted another couple of whales, it was a few members of Lpod out fishing in a very fast flowing current line!!!! We had some brief looks at these whales as time was already short from the previous show and once again we departed scene headed east. The seas had begun to pick up but it meant nothing to the hardy group onboard the IE3, some folks were even riding out the waves on the bow and taking the occasional salt bath!!!!

It was truly an amazing day packed full of wildlife the entire trip, one that won't be soon forgotten!!!!
 

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No. 305 Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park

Lime Kiln Point State Park
1567 Westside Road
Friday Harbor, Wa 98250
Hours: 8am to Dusk

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Lime Kiln Point State Park is located on the western side of San Juan Island. The 36 acres state park features over a mile of trails that wander down to the waters edge and through a grove of pacific madrone tree to the Lime Kiln Lighthouse. Beginning in the 1860s the west side of San Juan Island was quarried for lime stone and a good portion on the island was deforested to feed the fires that transformed limestone into lime, which was then used in construction mortar.
A shoreline viewpoint is about a 10 minute walk from the parking lot. The rocky shoreline plunges to over 900 feet in depth quickly. Through the daily tidal currents from Haro Straight into the Gulf of Georgia nutrients rich waters are pushed up against the island attracting a variety of marine life to congregate just off shore including fish, otters, sea lions, seals, minke whales and orca whales that come to play in the kelp beds and hunt for salmon.
Depending on the time of year Lime Kiln Point is a popular land based whale spotting location.

Lime Kiln Lighthouse is a 38 foot octagonal building built on a rock cliff 20 feet above the waterline and the fourth-order Fresnel lens was first light in 1919. The lighthouse tower was built atop of a fog signal building. In 1951 the Bonnevile Power Administration laid a submarine power cable from Anacortes, WA to San Juan Island and the Fresnel lens was replaced by a non-rotating electric bulb, and two electric foghorns were installed. The light station became fully automated in 1962.
In 1984 the lighthouse station and grounds were turned over by the United States Coast Guard to  Washington State Parks. The USCG still maintains the lighthouse tower as an active aid to marine navigation, but the building is used by the Friends of Lime Kiln Society as an Interpretive Center for Special Events and Tours.

Discover Pass: An Annual Discover Pass or a Day Use fee is required for vehicle access to the park for day use. No over night parking

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No. 301 Save Big on 2015 Whale Watching Tours

2014 was an incredible season.  From christening the Island Explorer 4 to seeing whales every day since May 2014, this year will go into the record books.  Check out the whale report to re-live all of the 2014 tours!   View the Whale Report 

ALL GIFT CERTIFICATES AND TOURS FOR 2015

THE BIGGEST SAVINGS OF THE YEAR ARE HERE!

Save 50% off the regular ticket price now through December 24th, 2014 . You can take advantage of the huge savings one of two ways: Call or stop in to purchase a gift certificate to put under the tree. This would also make a great gift for yourself if you are unsure of when you would like to join us for a trip.     OR If you already know when you'd like to go whale watching, book your 2015 tour online with the promo codes below and instantly receive the incredible savings. With this great deal, you have the choice to depart out of any of our three departure locations: Everett 3 hour guaranteed whale watching tour - March 7 through May 8 Adults -- ONLY $34.50 + taxes (regular price $69) Children -- ONLY $24.50 + taxes (regular price $49) Book for a specific date online with code HOLIDAY1 Anacortes (April - October) or Port Angeles (May - October) guaranteed whale watching tour  Adults -- ONLY $54.50 + taxes (regular price $109) Children -- ONLY $24.50 + taxes (regular price $49) Book for a specific date online with code HOLIDAY2 Hurry! This deal expires on December 24, 2014 at 3PM - call 1-800-465-4604or book your 2015 tour online to take advantage of 50% savings! Whale Watching Reviews and Highlights

Island Explorer 4 Arrives in Everett, WA

New to Island Adventures in 2014, the Island Explorer 4 is the little sister to the Island Explorer 3. She is 85 ft long and 24 ft wide, with a full walk around lower deck, spacious upper viewing deck, galley with hot food and beverage for purchase, his and her restrooms, over 300 sq. ft. of outdoor rail viewing space, and has comfortable booth style seating in her indoor heated cabin.



Island Adventure Tour from Anacortes, WA

Based out of Anacortes, Washington, only 90 minutes north of Seattle and 90 minutes south of Vancouver, BC. Anacortes is located on the mainland and is known as the “Home Port” to the San Juan Islands, providing the perfect departure point for our Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Cruises.
Island Adventures operates a 101 ft. long, 24 ft. wide, 2 story, 99 ton whale watching vessel called "Island Explorer 3." The vessel has a range of 750 miles but daily wildlife excursions are limited to 5hr & generally are 60-90 miles in duration. 






Humpback Tour from Port Angeles, WA 

Introduced in 2014 Island Adventures adds a new destination for marine life viewing in the Puget Sound. Island Explorer 4 departs   Port Angeles, WA in late summer for humpback whale sightings 

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No. 297 Humpack Whales with Island Adventures

Island Adventures
http://www.island-adventures.com/
1801 Commercial Ave
Anacortes, Wa
1-800-465-4604

Back out on the waters with Captain Scott and Tyson for my first humpback whale watching tour on
Island Explorer 4 from Port Angeles, Wa
If you have not taken the drive to western Washington you are missing out on some stunning mountain and sea scenery.
Port Angeles, WA sits along the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains. For more information on events happening in Port Angeles check out the city's website
http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/

Area Attractions near Port Angeles
Hurricane Ridge 
Olympic Game Farm
City of Sequim
Point Wilson Lighthouse 

Images from the day on the water


  

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No.289 Super Pod with Island Adventures

Island Adventures
http://www.island-adventures.com/
1801 Commercial Ave
Anacortes, Wa
1-800-465-4604

Back out on the waters of Puget Sound with Captain Scott and crew for a sunset sailing aboard
Island Explorer 4.
Arrived early in Anacortes to check in with Island Adventures and then it was off to grab some lunch and scenic views atop of Cape Sante Point before heading down to the marina to board the 3:30pm sailing.

looking west from Cape Sante Point overlooking the marina 

Trip started off with motoring out into Rosario Straight past Washington Park, Burrows Island and Allan Island before crossing over to the south end of Lopez Island where we came across an out of season Steller Sea Lion and harbor seals on "Swirl Rocks."

Steller Sea Lion out on the rocks

After about an hour we arrived at the south end of San Juan Island and saw a group of Orcas near the shores of South Beach. It was soon pretty evident that we found ourselves in the middle of a      Southern Resident Killer Whales Super Pod with members of J, K, and L Pods surrounding the boat on every side. Spent about an hour on scene with this super pod before heading home during sunset

setting sun behind Lopez Island, WA

Arriving back in port just as the sun is setting on a great day 

Things to do in washington state, orca, killer whales, whale watching, boat trips, puget sound boating, puget sound whales, island adventures, san juan island, lopez island, whale watching trips, pugetexposure, pugetexposure.com, seattle, things to do while in seattle

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No. 274 Whidbey Scenic Isle Way

View Larger MapDriving Directions

The Whidbey Island Scenic Byway is part of the Great North Cascades Loop. This section of the byway is around 75 miles in length and takes just over 2 hours to drive without any stops. But there are plenty of scenic overlooks and parks to visit along the way. You don't have to visit every stop listed in this guide. This byway has much to offer and is worth visiting again and again throughout the year as seasons change the scenery and different wildlife species become active.

Starting off in Anacortes, Washington (77 miles north of Seattle, WA)


A) Cape Sante Overlook 
Anacortes is homeport to the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest. Located on Fidalgo Island, it is conveniently situated halfway between Seattle and Vancouver BC and is the destination point for the San Juans and International ferry runs for Washington State.







B) Mount Erie View Point 
Mt. Erie View Point is on the highest mountain of Fidalgo Island in Skagit County. The 160 acre park is operated by the Anacortes Community Forest Lands and offers various adventure activities such as multiple rock face ascents, trails and a number of hill top viewing areas.






C) Bowman Bay Pier
Bowman Bay is located just north of the Deception Pass Bridge off of Highway on Fidalgo Island. The bay is separated from Lottie Bay to the south by a small and growing sand bar but it still is subject to tidal changes. Check current tidal conditions before your arrival to predict access to the shoreline. 





D) Deception Pass Bridge
The main feature of the park is the 180 foot tall Deception Pass Bridge, which was completed in 1935. The quarter mile long bridge spans two cuts in between Fidalgo and Whidbey Island. When the bridge first opened in 1935 on average 700 cars crossed between Whidbey Island and the Mainland. Today over 20,000 cars and trucks cross the bridge daily.







E) West Beach
West Beach is a long, gravelly shoreline dotted with boulders and driftwood and as excellent views of the Olympic Mountains, the San Juan Islands, and even Victoria on a clear day.  Keeping an eye on the changes in tide levels is important if you want to take a stroll around the large boulders to the north and look back at the cut and Deception Pass Bridge.






F) Fort Ebey State Park
Fort Ebey was originally commissioned by the United States Army in 1942 as military artillery Battery 248. Battery 248 featured 2 rapid fire 6-inch shell cannons, earth covered concrete support structure and fire control post. An SCR-296A radar facility was located south of the battery. 

G) Fort Casey
In 1858, the U.S. government purchased ten acres of land costing $400 for the construction of Admiralty Head Lighthouse. In 1890, the army took over the premises. It named its garrison "Fort Casey" in honor of Brigadier General Thomas Lincoln Casey, the last U.S. Army chief of engineers. At that time, Fort Casey, in union with Fort Worden and Fort Flagler, was said to comprise a "triangle of fire" guarding the entrance to Puget Sound. 


H) Admiralty Head Light House
The Admiralty Head Lighthouse, built in 1903 by the Army Corps of Engineers, is located in Fort Casey State Park near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. The beacon, high on a bluff, 127 feet above sea level, was an important navigational aid, especially for sailing ships entering Admiralty Inlet from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It replaced the Red Bluff Lighthouse, a wooden Cape Cod style structure built in 1861. Although decommissioned in 1922, the Admiralty Head Lighthouse received national recognition in 1990 when the U. S. Postal Service selected it for a collection of five commemorative lighthouse stamps honoring the U.S. Coast Guard’s bicentennial.



J) Clinton/Mukilteo Ferry
Return to the Mainland via Washington State Ferry Clinton / Mukilteo run. The crossing takes about 20 minutes

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No. 272 Whale Watching in the North Sound

Great Ways to Save on Whale Watching Tours this summer with 

Island Adventures

801 Commercial Ave

Anacortes, WA

Website: http://www.island-adventures.com/

Phone Number: 360-293-2428

Save Big on EVERY Wednesday 

Save $30 off adult tickets and $20 off children 3-13 yrs

Early Bird Special

9am Departures are discounted $30 for adult tickets and $20 for children 3-12yrs

Can't Sail on a Wednesday or 9am Tour?

Save big on any day with the 

$10+$10+$10 Deal 

1. Book online                                                                  Save $10

2. Book 7+days in advance                                               Save $10

3. Book with AAA, Military ID, Senior 65+, Student ID Save $10

50% Off New Port Angeles Sailing 

Save 50% Off on Port Angeles Humpack Sailings Monday- Friday in September or October when you book ONLINE by July 1st, 2014 using promotion code PA14 

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No. 257 Inaugural Sailing of Island Explorer 4

Website: http://www.island-adventures.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/islandadventureswhalewatching

Saturday March 29th Island Adventures newest vessel the Island Explorer 4  joined her bigger sister ship the Island Explorer 3 for her first whale watching tour. In her past IE4  was used as a dive boat in the caribbean and as a sight seeing boat in New York City. Over the 2013/2014 offseason staff and crew of Island Adventures as well as numerous skilled small business in and around Anacortes overhauled IE4 with new deck work, new wood work, upholstery and engines. For the next 2 weeks IE4 will be running gray whale trips from Everett and then in April head to Anacortes for the start of the Orca season. Later this summer Island Explorer 4 will be in Port Angeles, WA for humpback, Orcas, Minkes and Gray whales sightings.

Island Explorer 4 details: She is 85 ft long and 24 ft wide, with a full walk around lower deck, spacious upper viewing deck, galley with hot food and beverage for purchase, his and her restrooms, over 300 sq. ft. of outdoor rail viewing space, and has comfortable booth style seating in her indoor heated cabin.Powered by 2 next generation Cat Marine Diesel engines she is able to maintain 15+ knots all day long while being environmentally friendly, fuel efficient and meet California Marine Environmental Standards. 

Thanks to Owner Shane Aggergaard, Captain Mike & Captain Scott for inviting me down for Island Explorer 4 inaugural sailing. 

Captain Shane and that new boat smell 

Captain Scott secures his new ride 

IE4 ready for passengers 

A harbor seal checks out the new paint job on IE4 prior to departure

The "Lucky 2" make it onboard with the help of Captain Mike 

Island Explorer 3 on scene with Gray Whale #53 Little Patch

Gray Whale #53 Little Patch near Whidbey Island, WA

Captain Mike working the microphone and shutter button 

Captain Mike and Captain Scott working as team to find us some whales 

Gray Whale #383 spotted in the shallows of hat Island,WA 

Gray Whale sends us home with a deep dive fluke wave

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