The Orcas-Oregon connection

Megan

It's a typically mellow afternoon in Eastsound. We've just shared a delicious Indian meal served up at the Farmers' Market (chicken curry, black bean dal, biryani rice and assorted chutneys) and now I've come to the public library to "limber up" before joining in on a writing workshop focusing on memoir.

The last couple of days have been as pleasant as any we've ever spent on Orcas Island and I'm glad to say that Mr. Grumpy is but a receding memory. Part of it is meeting new people on the island with a connection to Portland.

Thursday we awoke early, took Otto for a little walk on a shady path near the cabin, then headed toward the golf course for a round of nine holes. On the way, we stopped to pick up a hitchhiker named Megan -- quite the sight in her lavender hues and carrying a bouquet of flowers -- and instantly took a liking to her. Her story's unique in the details but not so different in general from the assortment of characters we've come to know or cross paths with on the island. What they have in common is the ability to pursue their personal passions while also working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Call it Adventurous Spirit + Resourcefulness.

Megan told us she's an intern this summer on a farm while also working as a server at Doe Bay. Previously, she'd been a pastry chef at a dude ranch in Arizona. She's from Ohio and has traveled up and down the West Coast, including Portland. "Oh, you're so lucky to live there," she said. "I love Portland." She was on her way to a meeting with her yoga instructor (turns out she teaches yoga ,too) and that night we wound up seeing her again, working the tables at Doe Bay Cafe's Open Mic Night.

We had a delicious lunch at Allium, a new restaurant overlooking the water in Eastsound, and then walked it off as we played golf. I got off to my usual horrible start but finished with a par-three on the 9th hole. Yay!

Chelsea, Jeanne and Lori

That evening, at Open Mic Night, we shared a booth with a mother and daughter named Jeanne and Chelsea, who also had an Oregon connection. Jeanne teaches writing at an elementary school near Eugene and Chelsea lives and works in Portland, at a restaurant in the Northwest part of town. They were camping at Moran State Park and had spent the day bicycling at Lopez Island. We had a great conversation, sharing stories about island life. Seeing their tight bond made both of us miss Simone.

Friday afternoon we headed back to Doe Bay for a three-hour kayaking tour. (I can't remember spending so much time there in a single visit but, hey, I'm not complaining.) There was one other couple in addition to the guide and, sure enough, they too were from Portland. Their names were Garrett and Jill and they were pregnant with their first child, which became a source of nonstop chatter for the next hour as our guide -- an Adam Sandler look-alike and apparent wanna-be -- peppered them with name suggestions for their unborn daughter.

It was a leisurely experience for the first couple of hours as we hugged the shoreline and a more strenuous final hour as we paddled back across the open waters. Unlike other kayaking excursions we've done on the island, we saw hardly any marine life: just a seal pup sunning himself on some rocks and a couple of great blue herons who took off one after another as though from a landing strip. Always a majestic sight.

OK, time to go join in on the workshop.