This two-part bridge was built in 1935, to span the treacherous water of Deception Pass. We didn't realize that it was such a famous icon until we saw that the two parking lots on either side of the bridge were full with visitors taking pictures. We also found that 15,000 cars pass over this bridge every day. So we had to join the other tourists to get our picture on the bridge. With the high winds over the water and the roar of the traffic only inches away, it did feel like a treacherous journey across the Deception Pass.
The tide was coming in, and we could see the turbulent waters of the pass going under the bridge. We had already been warned by a local kayaker to stay out of that flood going through Deception Pass when the tide comes in. The current is impossible to row a kayak against.
Deception Pass State Park has hiking and public beaches on both sides of the bridge. We did some hiking to the heads that overlook the Salish Sea, to get pictures of this beautiful coastline of our island.
We found another new-to-us wildflower growing at the edge of one of those high hills overlooking the water. Mark was hanging on to Denisa's shirt-tails because he thought she was getting a little close to the edge to get that picture of the flowers with the rocks and water far below.
On another hike, we could also get pictures of the Deception Pass Bridge. There's an island in the water that supports the middle of the two-part bridge. We found out that this water passage between Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands got it's name in 1792 when Captain Vancouver "felt he was deceived as to the nature of the inner waterway." He wrote on his chart "Deception Pass" and the name stuck. Yeah, we thought the story would be better than that too.
We took a longer hike up to the Lighthouse Trail in the state park. We must say we felt like we were deceived, because there was no lighthouse on the lighthouse trail. Lots of pretty views high above the water where a lighthouse should be--but no light.
We were also deceived by the trail signboard that indicated this was a loop trail. After enjoying the summit, we took off on a spur trail that ended abruptly in the forest. It took some hardy bush-whacking up and down steep inclines to get back to some semblance of a trail. Denisa might be smiling as she emerges from the bushes, but she wasn't too excited about this loop trail a few minutes earlier.
On another day we explored the western shores of Whidbey Island, at Fort Ebey State Park. We're still looking for that pod of orca whales that live in this area, but we were skunked again today.
We later stopped in at Fort Casey State Park, also situated on the west side of the island. This fort was first constructed in 1897, and was last operational during World War II. The U.S. had guns pointed to the sea in case the Japanese ships would try an attack on the mainland through this strait. It's a good things all the guns were decommissioned long ago, since Mark seems to be standing right in front of the ten inch gun barrel.
Denisa is happy to report that we weren't deceived this time--there really is a lighthouse at Fort Casey State Park. The Admiralty Head Lighthouse is one of the prettiest we have seen in a while, with a lovely new paint job and flower beds in front of the lightkeeper's house.
As we stood by the water in front of the lighthouse, we enjoyed another bald eagle fly-by show. This pair of mature eagles was flying close together in formation--buzzing right over our heads. It looks like they have been taking lessons from the Navy airmen that work and train at the navy base here on Whidbey Island.
We feel like we have explored yet another island on this stop in Washington. We haven't seen any palm trees yet, but we can confirm that there are plenty of beaches and miles of shoreline in this section of the state.
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