Beach Time on Camano Island ~

 We slept in our first morning on the island, it was so quiet & peaceful.  There was the usual early morning cloud cover, as close as we were to the water, with super fresh, cool air.   (The date of Mason's Celebration had been changed, so we had an extra day beforehand.)  Jentry had told us about the best place to stop for coffee, tea & a sweet!  It was just a short distance from our camp, on the way to her house.  

Camano Commons~ 

When we arrived, hugs & kisses came first!  We did have one little problem...  The family cat, Yokai!  Finn is no fan of cats, in part due to me...  I'm constantly trying to keep cats away from our bird feeder & it's become a game of sorts to scare them off.  Since Yokai is an inside cat & to avoid any conflict, we put Finn in the backyard.  We had fun watching the two of them trying to figure things out!  Eventually, Finn came in & took up a spot under the dining room table, staking his turf.  Near us, protected from above & where he could keep an eye on Yokai.

Standoff!

It had been since September of 2019 since I'd seen grandson Ben!  Skyla & Josie had grown even taller in the year since they'd visited us in Iowa.  The kids decided we all needed to be measured.  Josie has just an inch to go to be taller than I am & Skyla already is!  Ben of course is heads above us all. :-)

Josie, Papa & Skyla~

The girls showed us their rooms, both of them decorated in their own unique style & beautiful!  Ben showed us his cars.  He has another BMW wagon up for sale.  He definitely inherited my dad's love of cars & mechanics.  

Our plan was to visit the beaches.  On our way we stopped at a little drive-in restaurant for lunch, where I had to order clam chowder!  Camano is a relatively small island, so it doesn't take long to get anywhere.  We went to the state park first, but it was busy on a summer Saturday.  Jentry's homeowners' association has access to private beaches, we decided to go there.

View east, looking at the Tulalip Indian Reservation & Warm Beach~

We parked at the Camano Country Club beach area.  It was a perfect western Washington afternoon, except for the smoke from the fires in Canada.  There was enough smoke haze to partially obscure the view of the Cascades & Mt. Baker to the north.  

We were on the eastern side of the island, facing the mainland.  There was a slight breeze & even with the smoke, the air smelled fresh.  Ben waded out into deeper water; Finn made several attempts to swim out to him!  When his feet left the bottom & the water went over his back, he started swimming as though he'd done it his entire life!  I'd waded past my knees & he ran out of leash, so I pulled him back. :-)  (We should have brought Doris's extendable leash.) 

Finn, me & Ben~

Even though Butch told him Not to drink the water, he had to try it. One little taste of salt water was enough!  Back on shore, Skyla cupped her hands, while I poured fresh water into them.  Finn drank & drank & drank!

Finn trying out the water~

Butch walked along the beach, Finn following along, wading in the water!  He rolled in the sand several times & sent it flying in all directions when he shook!  He was the happiest we'd ever seen him.

Finn~

Of all the dogs we've had, Finn is the first to love the water & is the first to live so far from it...  

Butch walked, Ben fished, Jentry, the girls & I beachcombed for treasures.

Jentry, Josie, Connie, Finn & Skyla~

It was almost 6 p.m. by the time we left.  We stopped by Jentry's to clean up before driving to our favorite restaurant in Stanwood, Jimmy's Pizza & Pasta for dinner. 

A great end to such a beautiful day~