Today starts with a ferry ride to Fort Casey on Whibdey Island. The ride from the ferry landing at Fort Casey is through dairy country and is a nice way to start the day. Soon you arrive at the town of Coupeville. I recommend skipping breakfast in Port Townsend so you can enjoy it in Coupeville, which has a bucolic setting on the glassy waters Penn Cove.

Continue around the waterfront as you work your way northward. In the water you’ll see oyster farms.

Don’t pin any hopes on Oak Harbor being a nice place to stop. It’s a military town and has all the charm of one. Windjammer is a nice little park on the waterfront if you happened to have packed your lunch however.

There is a bit of a climb out of Oak Harbor through a suburban neighborhood, but the road eventually descends into Clover Valley, where you’ll likely see at least one jet fly over head as it lands at the nearby air base. Not much longer and you’ll reach deception.

There is a bathroom here, and it is definitely worth a stop at the bridge to watch the water below funneling back and forth through the narrow channel. Once finished, continue on to Anacortes by taking a left on Rosario road after crossing the bridge. This is the more scenic route into town.

Anacortes is spread out, but it does have a small downtown district. Plan your overnight there based on what you’re doing next. If you will be headed to the San Juan islands next, stay closer to the ferry terminal. If you plan to continue on to Bellingham, you can stay closer to downtown.