Windy Day and an Alternate Ferry Route to Orcas

Saratoga Passgae between Whidbey Island and Camano Island

Had to do some field work yesterday despite the wind. My first job was on a shoreline bluff on the east side of Whidbey Island and then I headed up to Anacortes to catch the ferry to Orcas Island. Due to the wind the ferry took an alternate route as shown on the map to avoid the southern end of Rosario Strait and the exposure to ocean swells rolling into the strait via the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Alternate ferry route to Orcas in red (Google Maps)

I enjoyed the alternate route as it gave me some views of islands and passages I had not seen before.

Cliffs on the east side of Cypress Island (named for junipers that are cypress like (juniperus maritima))

Tombolo connecting small island to Cypress

Cone Islands with Cypress in the background. Note balds on Cypress

Approaching passage between Cypress on the left and small Towhead Island on the right

Towhead Island with Lummi Island across north Rosario Strait in the distance

Eagle Cliff at the north end of Cypress during brief hail storm.

While named eagle the cliff has been a nesting site for falcons

Approaching Peavine Passage with Blakely Island on the left and Obstruction on the right.

Airport on Blakely. Numerous San Juan Islands are primarily accessed via plane

Rainbow near the end of the journey looking up East Sound with snowy Mount Constitution on Orcas Island