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Past Camping Trips |
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In late April we made a trip to Whidbey Island. Through the same friend we rented from last fall, we took residence in their property on the shores of Deer Lake. April 30 was the general lake opener so we would have a prime place from which to fish.
I began the trip early with a stay at Fort Casey. The weather turned out to be fantastic, there was no rain and little wind. Like last autumn, I went riding around the island. While I mostly followed the routes I rode previously, I did manage to explore new territory in the north central area near Oak Harbor. The hills were challenging, probably a bit more so than last time but still I couldn't ask for anything better.
Normally, I would have been en route to Port Townsend but this year was a little different and we would be staying on Whidbey Island. And, instead of lodging in the small room at Fort Casey, I upgraded to one of the former officer houses. Each afternoon deer would come and feed in the front yard.
After two days at the Fort, it was time to move on and stay in the house at Deer Lake, a rather urban body of water in Clinton. We expected a number of people to be out in boats in the morning so it might be somewhat crowded to cast a line. And, the weather was not looking so good, it rained all day Friday. However, fishing the lake became a secondary concern to me once I learned of the poetry festival that was taking place on the same day as the opener. A trip to Whidbey Island is a great excuse to visit Greenbank Farm and their wine shop, in fact it's usually the first place I go. I noticed a flyer in the shop announcing a festival put on by the Washington Poets Association (WPA) called Burning Word. I was fortunate it happened to be on the same weekend I was here. Held on the grounds of the farm, it was quite an experience. Between the readings and access to small press collections, it was well worth the admission.
Though it was a twist from our normal Port Townsend jaunt, this year's spring outing proved to be as satisfying as any previous. Whidbey Island is definitely a place worth spending time.
Whidbey Island
