Tag Archives: Bainbridge Island

Fort Ward

Our Bainbridge trip included a bonus element.  I had been advised how busy the ferries could be on nice summer weekends so we headed out early anticipating some long lines to get on the boat.  We got to the terminal about an hour ahead of when we were planning to sail, bought our ticket, drove straight on to a boat and it sailed a minute later!  This was a pleasant surprise.  However, it did mean we were on the island a lot earlier than our planned first stop was open.  We needed to kill some time.

Nancy did a quick search and came across a place called Fort Ward.  We put that in the GPS and headed off.  Fort Ward is an area of the coastline that used to be part of the protection of the approaches to Bremerton naval shipyards.  It was given up by the military a long time ago and now sections of it are rather nice housing and more of it are a state park.  In the early morning, walking along the shore through the park was a very pleasant way to spend some time.

Bloedel Reserve

I’m always on the lookout for the place I might move to when I decide to lay off the whole sordid business of working for a living.  We took a trip to Bainbridge Island which, if you asked Nancy, was a chance to check out some of our new area or, if you asked me, was a house hunting trip.  The place I was looking at was called Bloedel Reserve.  They may tell you that it is an estate that is now open to visitors but clearly they are keeping it ready for me.  A nice little house with some delightful gardens.

The house is not necessarily my style but I’m sure I could find a way to make it work.  The grounds do look like they might need a reasonable amount of effort.  I suppose I could buy a little mower to ride around on but that does sound a bit like hard work.  I suppose I could get some help.  I wonder whether Nancy would like a little John Deere?