June 23-28, 2023
Great weather, time to go camping!
This time I’m headed north up I-5 to Bay View State Park. This campground is on the west side of I-5, right next to the waters of Puget Sound, just across Padilla Bay from Anacortes, WA. But first I’m going to head to the east side of I-5 and visit my favorite niece in the universe, in Darrington, WA.
On this first day, I drove up I-5 from my home near Olympia, WA, through Seattle, and Everett, and Marysville, etc. While I was on the freeway in Seattle, I happened to pull in behind the lunch truck below. Mami Tran! I was raised in the Philippines so I think all Asian people (and everyone around the world in fact) are wonderful people. I don’t know much about Vietnamese food, but the Mami Tran website makes their food sound delicious! Of course, I didn’t access the website while driving on the freeway, but later that day I sure did. Yum.
I continued north on I-5, through Seattle, then north of Marysville I turned off and went east to Darrington. I spent a day or two with my niece at her home there. And then I headed west and back across I-5, and then to Bay View State Park. I’d not been here before, either camping or even driving by, but I loved it!
Just before turning into the campground, I snapped the photo below of the view from the campground entrance. Some of the islands are part of the San Juan Islands here in WA, but some of them are, well, just islands here. There are so many islands that we often don’t differentiate between which group of islands each one is in. The water is saltwater and is called Padilla Bay. Looking at the beach, you can tell the tide is out. 🙂
And then I took the turn into the campground and found my campsite. I backed the trailer in and got set up. It was perfect.
As I snapped the photo below, I was looking west towards those many islands. As you can see, my campsite did not have a view of the islands. Too many trees. 🙂
But that was ok, my spot was perfect. Behind me were these black cloth barriers that the state park employees had installed in order to stop foot traffic so native plants could regrow. I liked that. In the photo below, you can see one campsite behind me, with that one picnic table. During the four days that I was here, there was a camper/van in that site only one day/night and they were very quiet people.
Otherwise, the other days/nights I was here, there was the occasional dog-walker (above) … and the occasional bike rider (below) … behind my spot. It was so quiet and so peaceful.
My campsite did not have electricity. Because of the trees, my trailer’s roof solar panel was often in shade, so I put out my remote solar panel. The weather was warm enough that I didn’t want a fire in the evening, especially not right next to my truck!
When I registered online for this campsite, the state park website said the park was full, every night. And yet, looking across the little roadway from my campsite revealed the following …
All week, with the exception of one night, every one of those campsites was empty. I’ve emailed the WA State Park offices and asked about this. Obviously, there will be the occasional cancellation or “no-show”, but this many? I’ve found this with other WA State Park campgrounds as well. I’m of mixed mind … do I try to get this corrected so that more people can enjoy those campsites? Or do I let them continue to be empty so I don’t have noisy neighbors? Hmmmm.
Also in this campground are cabins! And they do mostly have a view of the islands although the view might be through a few trees.
But closer to the campground entrance was this one campsite (below) that had only one neighbor and had a glorious western view of the water and the islands and the sunset. I’m not going to tell you the campsite number! Well, ok, it’s number 3, but I get first dibs ok?
So, where is Bay View State Park, you may ask. Here are two images below from Google Earth …
Basically, I drove up I-5 to Burlington, then turned off the freeway and headed west on state route 20. Then, part way over to Fidalgo Island on route 20, a sign said to turn right in order to go north to the small hamlet of Bay View, and to Bay View State Park. I did that. Easy as pie.
And there I was, happy as a clam at high tide, as we say here in the Pacific Northwest. Clams are harvested at LOW tide. So at HIGH tide, clams are safe from being dug up and eaten, and so they are, well, happy as a clam at high tide. Younger folk here (or people new to the area) know the saying as “happy as a clam”, but we other folk know the original saying. 🙂
Anyway, I’m here, in a new-to-me campground, looking for adventure and new things to learn. Stay tuned! 🙂
Camping! Yeah! Best times. 🙂
YES!! 🙂
Amen, more camping! 🙂 Love the maps even tho I’m not in Washington State and probably won’t ever be, but I love looking up online where Ann is.
Shawn, you just follow me anywhere you want. 🙂 Thanks for being here.
The best day is always the first day when we arrive someplace new, to meet new people, see new things, learn new things. Best day! 🙂
We’ve not been to Bay View State Park either, ANOTHER place Ann has now been and we haven’t. We have to catch up! 🙂
Janey
Me too Janey, best day is the first day. Now that covid is no longer closing the BC to WA border, maybe we can find a time to meet up somewhere. I’d love that.
Yes please, more camping! Love your blog posts and your travels.
Yes, first day at a new place is really super … thanks Jim & Janey. We sure wish we were still driving around and camping rather than PARKED!!! But we will live vicariously and Ann’s journeys always bring up memories for us.
Here’s to #3 on your next trip here Ann.
Thanks Marge. 🙂 I really like that you’re here … you and the guy you’re with. 🙂
My boat is for sale. 🙁 I love that and hate that and I bet you did too with your boat Ann. But I’m encouraged to buy a travel trailer, maybe even a Canadian built Escape trailer. I’ve been looking. If I do, I’m going to bug you to death about where you go and where you’ve been and what you’ve like or didn’t, etc. Get ready for a pest! 🙂
Oh, Mark, no! Oh gosh yes my heart hurts for you. But since it’s time for a change, then good for you for doing that. A new owner will love your boat. The new owner of mine did, although it took him a bit of time to figure that out.
Feel free to bug me all you want. 🙂 I just emailed you so you have my email address. But please don’t stop commenting here too. Your voice is important, even if you do become a pest. 🙂 Ha!
One of my favorite restaurants in Yakima is Mom’s Dishes owned by a Vietnamese family and offering absolutely delicious Vietnamese food. I highly recommend Vietnamese food!
Next time I’m camping at Sportsman Campground in Yakima, I’ll be visiting Mom’s Dishes. You can bet your boots! 🙂 Thanks Paul.
I liked the two photos of your neighbors behind you, the dog walker and the boy on a bicycle, and how you enjoy them. But I LOVE that front porch on the cabin, with the swing seat, and probably a view of the water. I could live there. 🙂
I thought that too, Ruth, about living there. It was a gorgeous view.
Camping yes! I just now noticed the Washington State Parks image/logo/emblem on their sign. It’s really cool … mountains, islands, water, trees.
Can’t wait to see what you get yourself into this week here. 🙂
I like that WA State Park image/logo too … whether the water be lakes or saltwater, it really is a common view here in Washington State.
Ok, more adventures coming. 🙂
Steve once said that if he could live anywhere in this state he would like to live in Bayview. It is a beautiful place, and always seems peaceful. I like your description of it as a hamlet. I always thought of it as a community. No downtown. It will be interesting to see what you discover, since you always find things that I never knew about. Looking forward to the rest of these posts.
Oh Fritzi, that means a lot to me. You know I went to high school with Steve and I liked him a lot. When the two of you married, I couldn’t have been happier for both of you. Wow, he would have liked to live in Bayview. No wonder I liked it there so much.
I don’t know why the word “hamlet” popped into my mind but it fits, doesn’t it?
Ok more coming. 🙂
Looks like a gorgeous place. I’ve always traveled into the mountains. The salt waters of WA and BC are calling me. 🙂
Yes, go to the water. I bet you have stunning stories to tell about the mountains, Steve. And there are more stories in your life to come. Start a blog! 🙂
I like the kid on the bike. If that’s the worst you run into, then you are having a wonderful time. Sounds like that’s what you think too. The cabins look nice, but maybe a bit small … do they have all of the “amenities”?
Watching and reading your blog … what a nice way to see the world. Thank you!
Ah, yes that kid was actually pretty fun to watch ride his bike around and around and around and around, etc. He was quiet as a mouse.
The cabins are small … they have heat/electricity and a small fridge/freezer and one double bed and a bunk bed as well. Four of the cabins have no restroom, tho there are restrooms nearby. But two of the cabins have a bathroom and shower inside and a microwave. So there are options. The two cabins with the most amenities have the best views too!
You are welcome, Ben. Thanks for your comments. 🙂 Glad you’re here.