San Juan Island

And now for one of my favorite spots on the planet, which I recently visited...San Juan Island, Washington. San Juan's a lot sunnier than the Seattle area due to its location in "the sun belt." It's also known as being one of the best places on the planet to get up and close and personal to the killer whale. Of course, all three days I was here, it poured down relentlessly, and the killer whales snubbed me with their conspicuous absence. Worthless Shamu.

San Juan's also known for being the site of the 1859 Pig War, which was a war caused by a British pig who got loose and destroyed some American farmer's crops. Yes. The British and Americans really had nothing else to do with their time besides start wars over loose pigs.

So basically, the American farmer shot the offending pig, the British general threatened to arrest the American farmer, and the Americans sent troops to protect the farmer. Both countries set up camps on either side of the island and waited to start their little war when some German guy intervened and negotiated a truce. I can imagine how that went.

American farmer: This pig destroyed my crops. #$@(*&%* little porker!
British general: Shooting it might have been a little bit, uh, overkill, though, don't you think?
German negotiator: How about everyone shuts up and we all forget this over some bier and bratwurst.
British general: Sounds good.
American farmer: Works for me. I'll supply the meat for the bratwurst. I've, uh, recently come into some fine sausage.

And the war was over.

Anyway, despite the weather, it was (as always) an amazing time to be had on San Juan. Here's some pics.

British Camp, on the north side of the island