I am in Skagit County, Washington, an incredible place. It is around 40 miles from Port Townsend, but of course I took the long way around on the #101 and the #5, to avoid paying a large ferry fee. After driving through overcast Seattle and then coming to the beautiful, sunny farmland in Skagit County, I knew this was someplace I would like to stay for a while. The rv park I’m at is on Fir Island, with the Skagit river on one side and farmland on the other. There are places all around to explore. Whidbey Island is just to the east, with Deception Pass State Park. There is also a naval air station there and their jets fly right over where I’m staying. It’s like a free air show. I have to jump up and look every time a jet goes by. It is probably a reflex from my childhood.

The city of Anacortes, on Fidalgo Island, is 11 miles away. They have a beautiful park, Washington Park, that has a scenic loop road you can drive, but be forewarned, don’t drive anything longer than 20 feet. I drove my truck and had to back up and maneuver to get around sharp curves.

The two pictures above were taken at Washington Park. It is the first picture I’ve gotten of a Cedar Waxwing. It was eating berries, as I guess they are prone to do. The deer below it was eating the same berries.

Black Oystercatchers.

Anacortes is a tourist town and seems to want to develop every square inch of their land. There is a subdivision next to Washington Park and another subdivision is in the process of being built next to it. (OK, step off the soapbox).

Also at Washington Park, a wooden ship with the ferry to the San Juan Island in the background.

Barn swallows enjoying the sun at my rv park. Skagit Flats, the area I’m in, was named a birding hotspot a few years ago, but fall and winter are the prime times for birding.

View from a hang gliding spot above Skagit Flats. Guess the goal is to get past the trees and land in farm land.

The area around Goose Island State Park in Texas is primarily known for two things: the largest winter population of endangered whooping cranes and The Big Tree. This is a coastal live oak that is more than 1,000 years old. There are beautiful groves of oaks all over this area. Homes and roads are often built with a view towards saving all the oak trees they can.

An American oystercatcher, a rare visitor from Mexico.

A white ibis, a rare visitor to muddy pools, marshes, and mudflats.

Brown pelicans by the bait shop at Goose Island State Park.

Pelicans watch intently as fishermen clean fish. You know pandemonium will break loose when any scraps are thrown their way.

The Fulton Mansion in Rockport.  Built in 1877 by George Fulton, with indoor plumbing and central heating.