Saturday, July 17, 2021

On the Point in Port Townsend

 July 7 - 14, 2021
Port Townsend, Washington

A quick 30 mile drive in separate vehicles takes us north to the quirky and quaint town of Port Townsend. We've visited several times, and this time we're staying here. Point Hudson Marina and RV Park is on Puget Sound - full hookup utility posts divide a dirt and weed lot into very snug sites. Making the reservation in January, I was able to get us one space from the water's edge with full views in front. In addition to the beauty, we're a few blocks from town. A little town with a very busy main street where Fed Ex and UPS park in the middle of the road. Making for a challenging final few blocks to the marina :-)

A first for us is a fabulous restaurant a few yards from our home! Docs Marina Grill has great food, service and wine - we enjoy it a few times during our stay.

When we pulled out of Gig Harbor the steps failed to go out when Bill was getting out. With everything going on while in Sequim we scheduled a mobile tech for this stop. In the meantime we're up and down the step ladder, and Tessa is making the big leap in and out. Sigh.....

Front yard views.


Point Hudson Marina is very busy.

When we don't have a waterside neighbor our views are even better!

Fortunately our very, very close neighbors on the other side are quiet and friendly, since our slides nearly touch.

With our beautiful views we spend more time than usual at home. Port Townsend is one of my favorite places to shop, because there are so many unique and adorable places to browse. I spend a couple hours one afternoon, and bring home a couple scoops of ice cream from Elevated! Per usual, we take a few day trips, including a ferry ride to Whidbey Island.

Fort Flagler parade grounds and officer housing overlooking the Sound.



USGS research center at the beach.


Fort Flagler SP Campground has many tall whirligigs and flags - they're colorful and fun!

A foggy day at Fort Worden takes us to Point Wilson Lighthouse. Active from 1879 to 1913, restoration efforts are ongoing.

Fort Worden is an active part of the Port Townsend community, with vacation rentals, museums, classes, galleries, and a pub. 

I love this old theatre, currently sitting dormant.

The old schoolhouse currently hosts adult classes.

We've taken ferries in the rig, in the Jeep and on foot, and never "felt" the trip across the water like we do this time. Both of us are feeling a little green by the time we arrive in the Jeep at Whidbey Island. We're soon fine, and don't have similar effects on the return trip. Hope it was a one-off!

Whidbey has a wonderful diversity including beaches (of course), mountains, forest, farmland and small towns. Deception Pass is incredible, but with zero parking available on either side of the bridge I'm unable to get a photo. There is also major construction on most of the bridge.

Monochromatic morning leaving Port Townsend on the ferry.

North Beach at Deception Pass State Beach.

Tessa and I walk awhile on the pretty beach, but it's too rocky for zoomies :-(






Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey SP. Like the other state parks in the area, the campgrounds are at or near capacity. 
Mike from West Sound RV arrives as scheduled on Monday morning, and within an hour has our steps working! So nice not having to use the ladder anymore. Not so nice is trying to find a rental car for our upcoming time in Sumner to get the hitch installed on the Jeep. I finally give up when the only available option in a 100 mile radius is $700 for three days! 

Also challenging is getting reservations for the next leg of our route. I was waiting to confirm Canada was not opening for tourists and that we would need to use Plan B on Hwy 20. But I waited too long and every place I call for a couple days is either full or I'm waiting for a return call. Plans C and D are mapped just in case. 

Our final day is a real treat when we get a visit from our high school friend Katie. We visited during our last trip to Seattle where she's lived for a couple decades, and this time she makes the drive to see us. Lunch at Docs and hanging out in our waterfront yard makes for a perfect afternoon. 

Just after Katie leaves, Tessa gives us a real scare with violent sneezing that she can't stop. There are a lot of foxtails here, and I'm afraid she's got one stuck in her nostril. I call the ER vet in town only to find out they can't take her in because they're slammed. The next closest vet is 40 minutes away with up to a five hour wait!! It's terrifying that we can't get her any help if it becomes serious. Fortunately she eventually gets rid of whatever she had and is eating, drinking and playing normally. I call to take us off the waiting list and take my own deep breaths.

Katie and Bill - and the ferry coming into port.

Mt Baker in the distance. Nesting boxes up close.

Just before we leave this momma and fawn stop for a bite to eat.   

Like most of our stops, our time goes too fast, and I'm already looking forward to coming back in 2024 and staying longer. 

Next we return south driving separately, where hopefully we'll get the rig and Jeep connected once again.

19 comments:

  1. Wow! We stayed at Port Townsend in the state park at Fort Worden years and years ago--it still remains as one of our most favorite memories. Love your photos--they brought back such fun times as we were with dear friends, one of which died a few years ago. Car rentals are the same in Montana, a friend's son tried to rent a car for the weekend while he was visiting his family--$700 for the weekend!!! Not having access to a vet is so, so scary!! Happened to us this past spring in Pearce, coming up on Easter weekend. The emergency clinic in Tucson had an EIGHT hour wait, every vet I called (6 of them) said no, they were slammed. I finally gave up and called a vet in Benson we had seen before and didn't care for--a visiting vet was on duty and agreed to work Emmi into their schedule. Very scary! I will send good vibes that the motorhome and jeep are reunited soon!

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    1. Yeah it's crazy how many things we're finding are much harder to get done now that the world is getting out and about again! Not being able to get help for our babies is the very worst.

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  2. Great pictures to bring back memories of places we do not visit often enough. The Olympic Peninsula and its wonderful little towns offers so much to see and do.

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    1. The weather is perfect this time of year when there's no smoke. We left too soon :-)

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  3. love the photos and your site views (sans neighbor) It looks so cool and refreshing, lovely shades of grey. I don't love your mechanical and physical troubles! I hope you get the Jeep hook up done soon, what a pain to have to drive separately! I'm glad Tessa was able to rid herself of whatever was tickling her and that she's feeling fine now, but I know you'll keep that episode in the back of your mind and watch her closely for any repercussions. See you soon!

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    1. We're feeling whole now that we're able to tow again! Oh man, you're so right about watching her like a hawk now :-( Can't wait to catch up!!!

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  4. Such a pretty area. It’s been a very long time since we were up that far. Need to get back up there. Bummer your Canada plans were a No Go. Next time!

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    1. I'm surprised at the number of national forest dispersed camping available in Washington, you need to return :-) Yes, we're keeping Canada on the back burner for 2024!

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  5. We've been to Port Townsend but years ago and not with the motorhome so I'm very interested in this post and what you saw and where you stayed. I'm not the least bit surprised that you're having trouble getting reservations there are just too many people are RVing these days. I really hope the golden days of full timing are not over and that someday it might be possible to make reservations less than 6 months or a year in advance. So glad Tessa turned out to be okay. Nice that you didn't have to make that big drive or pay big bucks. But you do what you have to do when your loved ones are sick. I'm really loving your pictures especially since the Pacific Northwest is the one place that David and I were never able to go to together in the RV.

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    1. Reservation roulette is too real these days, in areas where we like to be anyway. Just had to make new ones to get around a couple fires, but at least I was able to get the nights I needed on an alternate route. I do so hope you can get to the West and see the PNW again. It's the best place to spend the summer I think.

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  6. Oh, I love seeing your photos and reading of your time in Port Townsend. It remains one of our all time favorite places and we never tire of spending time there! You scored a site with a wonderful view at the harbor campground. Isn't it delightful to just be able to walk into town from the campground?

    How scary that you couldn't find a vet for an emergency appointment for Tessa! I'm so glad she's okay. I hope you're able to get the reservations you want for the rest of your summer trip. It sounds like things are really different now in the world of RVing...I guess we're about to find out...

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    1. We might be wishing we'd stayed there as the fires are getting worse. Fortunately we've been able to get reservations for Plan C. I hope you find things a bit less chaotic where you're headed as it is definitely a different world out here right now. Still beautiful :-)

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    2. I sure thought of you two when I got shirts at PT Tshirt company :-))))

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  7. PT is one of our favorites. Your photos bring back such good memories. You have certainly had your share of problems on this trip. Hope plan C works out for you!

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    1. There have definitely been some challenges, but we're still loving being back on the road.

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  8. I love PT. Stayed on board at the marina. Crossing fingers for the next leg. Our visitation is slowing a bit.

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    1. The marina is a really busy place, we loved it! Even in the smoke the parks are still full here.

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  9. We didn't stay in Port Townsend but did a day trip over from Sequim. We checked out the RV park you stayed in and thought it would be great if we could get a site like had. What a super fun town. Jodee, your photos are wonderful. They are so clear that I felt like I could reach in. Love the B&W as the ferry headed out. So very glad that Tessa is all right. What a scare.

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    1. Not being in a water front site I don't think I'd be as impressed with that park except it's great for accessing the little town!

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