June, 2023
The word “samish” makes me hungry for a “sandwich”, like a little kid might say the word. 🙂
But the word “samish” is a real word in and of itself. And there is an island here named Samish Island. The word is pronounced “sam-ish” with the accent on “sam”. Samish Island is named after the Samish Indian Nation here.
Bison bones were found on nearby Orcas Island that carbon dated back 14,400 years ago. The bones had notched edges showing tools had been used by people back then for butchering the bison. This was evidence that people inhabited those parts of the San Juan Islands known as Samish Traditional Territory. How old is the Samish tribe? They say their history goes back to time immemorial. In other words, so long ago that it can’t be measured.
Today, Samish Island is home to many people, not just Samish Nation people, although it is still an important place for Samish people and a place for gatherings of the Samish people. While I drove around the island today, I kept that history in mind.
Here is a Google Earth image of most of the San Juan Islands today showing where Samish Island is in relation to Bay View and my Bay View State Park campsite. You’ll see Bay View over on the lower right. The big red DOT is the Bay View State Park. Then there’s a yellow line that leads up the road to Samish Island.
Such a beautiful day for a drive along the water.
See the map below of Samish Island. The only way to drive on/off the island is on the road “Samish Island Rd” at the southern edge of the map.
I took the photo below after I got on the island, then parked and looked back at that road … and at Alice Bay. The road runs right along those telephone poles and right along that riprap line of rocks. I was told that in the winter, with a super high tide, and with a storm wind, sometimes the road is impassable because of the volume of water covering it, and you cannot get on or off the island by vehicle. Better be stocked up with food and water.
But today was lovely. 🙂
Above and below … two views to the southwest from the edge of Samish Island out over Padilla Bay, looking at Hat Island, Saddlebag Island, Huckleberry Island, other smaller islands too, with the town of Anacortes on large Fidalgo Island in the background.
Here’s a very nice home (below) looking that same direction. I could live here!
And then I noticed this delightful gathering/hangout spot below, with a small firepit for cool weather, and trees for shade in warmer weather. The walkway leading off to the right of this platform leads up to a home.
Below, the view between two other homes.
I love the look on the face of this fellow below. He was next to the water at yet another home here. What is he looking for, do you think?
And then I came upon these shellfish crates piled high. Turns out this building and the crates are part of the Penn Cove Shellfish company. There are a number of places around Puget Sound where this company grows and harvests shellfish … mostly clams and mussels and oysters.
I’m not sure what the company does at this particular facility, but there was a sturdy work boat parked at the dock on the water side of the building above, with four Great Blue Herons taking up residence there this afternoon. The place sure must smell good to those Herons.
Then along another road were these houses below. Some homes here are built really close to each other. Most seemed to be built with a nice space in between.
Below … the Samish Island Acres Community Garden. It was very well maintained, very clean, very impressive.
A local barn … with some local cows having an afternoon rest.
Besides the Great Blue Heron on that fishing boat up above, in front of yet another home here on Samish Island was this Great Blue Heron … truly blue! 🙂
Around another curve in the road, I discovered a private campground on the island. What was interesting to me was that there were two travel trailers there … a fiberglass Casita on the left was connected to a big white RAM pickup truck similar to mine … and then an Escape “19” trailer was next to that. I purposefully didn’t zoom in, nor fix the focus on this photo, because I didn’t want to show license plate numbers in case the owners wanted privacy. But it was fun to see these two molded fiberglass trailers.
And lastly, below, my favorite house. It was on a double lot, so had plenty of room. It looks small from the front but when I view it from above using Google Earth, it measures about 30 feet wide at the front, and then about 40 feet long towards the water, so about 1,200 square feet in size. If there’s a sizable back deck (on the water side) then maybe the house is just 1,100 square feet or so. I could live here!
The house faces north, with a perfect view of Mt. Baker off to the right. Did I mention that I could live here? 🙂
So those photos and info tell you a bit about Samish Island today. There were lots more interesting things that I saw, but these were the highlights.
And now here below are are some links you might enjoy if you would like to learn more about the Samish people and their history.
https://www.samishtribe.nsn.us/who-we-are/timeline Using the scroll bar on the FAR right hand side of your screen, scroll down just a bit so all of the first photo shows on your screen. Then put your mouse cursor in the middle of the page (from side to side in the middle of the page) and then use the mouse wheel to scroll down to read the history there and view the photos.
https://www.samishtribe.nsn.us/who-we-are/culture This video is wonderful! Please do watch the video here if you have the time. Such peaceful, kind, thoughtful, loving people. There are no violence, no “control” desires, no retribution, no desire to “fight”, no desire to TAKE from others so they have more. Given how they’ve been treated by the intruders (us), it wouldn’t be surprising if they felt angry and violent, but they don’t. They fill their lives with love. A good lesson for all of us I think.
So, where would you live if you could live anywhere you wanted? I think I might live on Samish Island! 🙂
Gorgeous! I’ll live there too! And I promise to stockpile food and water for times when that road is inaccessible. Hmmm, maybe the electricity goes out too? I love a good fireplace or woodstove. I can split wood.
Ha! You would make a great neighbor Lori! Let’s go!
Samish or samwish or …. that’s exactly how my mom told me I pronounced the word sandwich when I was a little kid. What a great memory. 🙂 ok, yeah, the rest of your blog post was great, but I really liked just that intro sentence. 🙂
Oh I love that Joe. 🙂 Warms my heart.
I do that too, think about living in the places I visit. If I could live anywhere, it would probably be Northport Michigan, a small town at the tip of Michigan’s little finger.
Ok, Northport is on my to-do list when I get to Michigan. 🙂 Maybe some day you WILL move there, Dawn.
There’s a small village that’s right on the edge of the beach on the east side of Baja Peninsula, near the northern end of that large bay called the Gulf of California, that both of us would love to move to. Summers are warm, but with a breeze off the water.
Love the closeup of the cow. And your favorite house looks wonderful! Excellent info about the Samish Nation, thank you.
That small village sounds wonderful. I’ve driven down part of the west side of the peninsula (and loved it), but not the east side. Maybe one of these days I shall. 🙂
So pretty! I’d worry about winter access if that road is inaccessible, but like you say, stock up on food and water, and toilet paper! 🙂 That community garden does look nice, I’d be in there in a heartbeat.
Oh yes indeed, Ruby, toilet paper too! 🙂 I bet those people are real gardeners, like you are.
That fellow in the yellow rain slicker and sou’wester is a puzzle. He’s holding a lamp (and supposedly the lamp is lit) and he’s looking up at the sky. So one might assume that he’s out there at nighttime, in the dark. But if so, and if he’s holding a light that’s lit, then he isn’t going to see very far. Is he looking up into some trees? Maybe he’s on board a ship and is looking up into the rigging? Maybe he’s looking up at a street sign and trying to figure out where the heck he is? ha!
I like that cow closeup. And I like the Samish info. And I think probably anywhere in/on those islands would be a terrific place to live. Thanks for the work on this!
Good point about the light, Walt. Ha, I like your thought about him trying to figure out where he is. 🙂
You are welcome.
That video about the Deception Pass Maiden was stunning. What wonderful people! Indeed, a lesson to us all. Have you seen that statue, Ann?
Where would I live if I could live anywhere .. probably back in Wisconsin along the lake where I was raised. But I’m still working and haven’t found a way to do what I do and live outside of a large city. Sigh. I’m putting money aside best I can, will retire asap and then get back to heaven along those lakes.
I love the cow photo too. 🙂
I have seen that statue, Pat. It was while I was camping … either at Deception Pass State Park or on Fidalgo Island. I was impressed even though I didn’t then know the history of it.
Keep saving your pennies … and I hope you do get back to those lakes in Wisconsin.
Great blog, for so many reasons. I really like how you juxtaposed those two photos at the very beginning — the old wooden canoe — and the new wooden canoes. That was sweet.
Thanks Fran. It seemed a perfect introduction to this blog post.
What sort of boots is that fellow wearing? That would tell if he is on board a ship or on land. It appears he may be looking for guidance from an overseer or manager, asking “what should I do?” or “which direction to go?” I wish him a kind and helpful answer.
Good question about the boots, Henry. The carving isn’t that detailed unfortunately. I really like your thought about him asking for or seeking guidance “from above”. Like you, I wish him a kind and helpful answer.
I didn’t know there were that many islands in the San Juan Islands. Thanks for the tour of a beautiful island, I too would love to live there, but I’ll just have to settle for that campground someday. A new bucket list item! :c)
Oh the San Juans are FULL of islands, I mentioned only a few here. And then there are dozens and dozens and dozens more in other parts of Puget Sound. And then there are the Canadian Gulf Islands immediately to the north. This is a boater’s paradise … and a camper’s paradise. 🙂 Come visit!
So I looked up Penn Cove Shellfish and learned a lot! Even tho these shellfish are “farmed” it’s not the same as fish that are farmed, what with all the damage to the fish and the environment that happens with farming fish. Shellfish are kept in their natural environment and feed on natural, native “food” that is already in the water — they aren’t “fed” fake food or chemicals. I’ve also been researching the worldwide fishing industry and am appalled by the damage done. After reading dozens of websites on all sides of the issues, it seems pretty much everyone agrees that shellfish farming, especially the kinds that Penn Cove company does, might actually HELP the environment and other species. Gives me hope, but we need governments that care in order to make these sorts of changes. I read that Scotland is in the midst of change. Is Scotland ahead of the whole world? I wish I were a Scot!
Love the cow photo, and the fellow in the rain jacket. What a beautiful part of the world you live in. Thank you sharing this!
Excellent comment about farmed shellfish vs. farmed fish, Susan. I thought about writing some of that in the blog post but figured the post was long enough as it was. But I really like that you added all of that. I hope readers here read your comment and then do their own research. I’ve read the same information you have, and have been hearing about it for decades. I wish we could pay more attention to our earth and its health. Eat shellfish!