~San Juan Islands~

The first week of August, we were blessed with the opportunity to travel to the San Juan Islands with our church. Athey Creek Christian Fellowship knows how to “go big or go home.” But what we didn’t know was so does Applegate Christian Fellowship, the other church group that was there and putting the trip on. We were blown away! Seriously, if we ever tried to duplicate this trip on our own, we would have to spend a fortune, figure out how to get around otherwise, we’d be lost, and we would certainly not eat nearly as good. If someone asked us to tell them the most memorable part of the trip, I am not sure either of us would know where to begin.

We could start to tell you about how beautiful God created this group of islands. He made them rich in color, fragrant in smell, vibrant in sound, and eye-catching in sight. He created it to be a place where bald eagles soar freely through the air, purple starfish hold tightly to the rocks, and seals swim gracefully in the water below. The rolling hills are scattered with organic farms and lavender fields. The glistening water beckons company of kayakers, divers, and sailors.

Or possibly we would tell you about the amazing new friendships that were formed during this camping excursion. It almost felt as if the Ritchie’s hand-picked us from the get-go to take under their wing and show us the way. Our fellow beach-side campers, the Lippincott’s and Ortiz’s, quickly introduced themselves and made us feel so welcome. And we were finally able to spend some time getting to know the Meador’s, our pastor and his family, a little bit better. The fellowshipping that took place on this trip was an absolute blessing and we enjoyed time with each and every family on this trip.

Maybe it would be the ridiculously delicious food that was prepared for us day in and day out by the most wonderful hosts in the world. Homemade food and camping aren’t two words from my vocabulary typically used in the same sentence. But if you met Ross and Diane Meador, you would know what I mean. Even though I don’t have pictures to prove how yummy it was, my personal favorites were Diane’s granola and her scones. Oh.my.goodness.

The miles. I bet it would be the amount of miles that we rode on our bikes while we were there that we would graciously brag about. We spent several days on rides around Lopez Island, which is where our campsite was for the week. The best was the 6 hour adventure we took with Brynn and Jessica for a 30 mile ride, which took us to all around Lopez. We road on other islands as well, including the hardest ride of Dustin's life up Mount Constitution on Orcas Island and our leisurely ride with a big group to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island.

However, I don’t think we’ll ever forget the unexpected adventure that we took with Ross over to Center Island. I am not sure if we weren’t paying attention when we volunteered to help, or if Ross just forgot to share some of the “minor details.” The boat ride over seemed normal, but the next thing we know, we are pulling a dingy boat loaded with an oven. Really, a free oven floating on the water? Yep, that was only the beginning of this funny adventure.

Perhaps the one that tops the list is the way that we studied through God’s word, worshipped together, and grew in our relationship with Him. We heard from several of the pastors, each teaching on a special encouragement from the Lord. We gathered each morning and evening, together as a group for praise and prayer time. And we were led in worship by Jon Micah, the lead singer for Kutless, for several of these days.

A few of the other things we did on this trip included a kayaking journey around the island where we saw seals up close, plucked starfish from their rock for a photo op, and watched bald eagles fly above us. A trip to Rosario’s on Orcas Island for a bit of history and a short organ concert. And a sailing trip on the Kimset for a few hours. While they may not be at the very top of the list, they were certainly memorable!