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Rolling the Islands of the Salish Sea
   
 

 

Photo essay: Rolling the Islands of the Salish Sea: Poulsbo
   

Seattle to POULSBO (40km, 25mi) Take a ferry to Bainbridge Island and instantly find a more rural environment.
Points of interest: Bainbridge Island, Japanese-American family with 95 year history on the island, Suquamish Museum, Chief Seattle's grave, Norwegian town of Poulsbo.
  Leaving Seattle by ferry:  "Goodbye Emerald City see you in two weeks."  Confirming its reputation, Seattle produced some heavy gray skies for our departure.  The truth be told, this was the most threatening weather we saw in two weeks and it never didn't rain on us.
  There is something romantic about the cross Puget Sound by ferry. They magically transform your environment.  If you are coming from the city, they fetch you from the rumbling, gray canyons of concrete and deliver you to the tranquility, green canyons of nature.  If you are coming from the sedate natural side, they deliver your to the exciting and energetic city scene.
  So after a thirty minute ferry boat ride from Seattle and you are in the forest and farmland of Bainbridge Island.  Bainbridge.  Named by 1841 surveyor, Captain Charles Wilkes, for the commander of the frigate Constitution during the War of 1812.  One of the dead white men that dominate the place names of the area.
 
Port Blakely Cemetery		 It is interesting how differ a view of history you get visiting the Port Blakely Cemetery.  To the extent that it is a mirror on past times, the sir names are a mix of Scandinavian, English, Chinese, Japanese, Hispanic, Germanic, French and more.  Lots of unique grave stones and some very old ones as well.  Some of the stories are happier than others; people living well past eight years old, the there are also the tragedies of infants who only lived a few days.  Distinctively, the Jewish graves are separated to one side. If there are ghost here they don't seem to be angry. The cemetery has a very calming feeling.
  Around the corner is Islandwood, an environmental education center.  Students in the organic garden at IslandwoodThe buildings are made from recycled materials and designed to minimize energy consumption.  Students and adults participating on programs get to spend time at the organic garden (right), which is one of a half dozen unique outdoor learning sites.  Islandwood's efforts at sustainability are a stark contrast to snowballing consumption common elsewhere.
  bicycling across Agate Pass bridge To bicycle off Bainbridge Island you need to cross Agate Pass Bridge.  When there is no traffic it is beautiful.  When there is traffic it is a little more hair raising because the shoulder is not wide, but the bridge is not very long, speed limit is slow and most of the traffic is courteous.
  Chief Sealth's Grave
Chief Sealth's Grave		 Chief Sealth's GraveChief Sealth's Grave is in Suquamish, named after one of the bands he was the chief of.  Suquamish means "People on the clear salt water."  Carved poles and canoes make the structure surrounding the grave.  It had been vandalized a few years ago but thankfully has now been restored.
  Head stone at Chief Sealth's Grave
Head stone at Chief Sealth's Grave		 Chief Sealth was the leader of both the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes.  He was a "Firm Friend of the Whites," and converted to Christianity.  He befriended Doc Maynard, an early white pioneer and persuaded him to persuade the initial pioneers to move their homestead across Elliott Bay to the present site of the city.  Doc Maynard was an promoter of the chief name as the name of the city.
  Chief Sealth's Grave At Chief Sealth's grave is festooned with a fascinating array of gifts.  At the time of this visit the mementoes included:  an empty wine bottle, a calculator, a drawing of the Chief, bones, shells, a letter to him and other beverages. 
  Poulsbo main street
Poulsbo main street		 Poulsbo is an Americanized Norwegian term.  The name was suggested in 1883 by settler I.B. Moe to honor a place near his home in Norway.  Poulsbo sits on Dogfish Bay.  Despite pleas of Poulsbo residents, the Legislature in 1893 and 1899 refused to change the official title of Dogfish Bay to Liberty Bay. The present name, Liberty Bay, was adopted through general usage.
   
 

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