Shipwreck Days

Saturday was Shipwreck Day.  Apparently 30 years ago a bunch of commercial fishermen brought a bunch of their old tackle ashore and sold it to people who turned it into lovely yard art.  It was such a hit that it has become a beloved Anacortes tradition.  Nowadays the Fidaldo Island Rotary Club runs the show.  They get the permits, close down the main drag, assign booths, keep the fire department happy and charge space rent. I overheard someone at the Brown asking a woman with a day-glo vest festooned with Rotary credits about how much they make off of the gig and she said usually about $18,000.  But it's not just a fund raiser for them.  I read that many service clubs search for "treasures" all year long to sell in their clubs booth to raise funds for their respective causes.  Pretty cool.

Besides the philanthropic types, everybody and their dog seems to set up a booth.  The main street in Old Town is closed for TEN BLOCKS.

So Dave and I felt we should experience this event.  Keep in mind we live in a boat with approximately 200 square feet.  Maybe.  I'm no good at geometry.  If we bring something on board we better have a place picked out for it ahead of time.  Otherwise something else has to go.  We had no plans to actually shop.  If we were to brave ten blocks of yard sale, we needed sustenance.  So we started at the Brown for lunch.  But first we coached ourselves into accepting reality.  Not only was it Shipwreck Day, but it was Farmers Market.  And let's not forget the invasion of the Crabanese.  We told ourselves we may not find a shady parking spot for Simon.  And even if we did, we likely would not find a place to sit at the Brown.  However we found a lovely shady spot for Simon to nap in the pick-up, with the windows down.  And then we walked into the Brown and had barstools waiting for us.  Praise be.

After we placed our order and were engrossed in watching the British Open, a guy sat down next to me.  I heard him tell somebody he'd lived in Anacortes all his life and Shipwreck Day just keeps getting crazier.  So I asked him what was the population of Anacortes.  He said he believed it was between 10,000 and 12,000.  I told him I had heard 18,000 and he said that was the population of the entire Fidalgo Island.  I'm pretty sure all of them were on the street shopping through each others stuff.  You can't really tell from the pictures, but the street was packed.

Dave and I saw about one half of one of the blocks.  That was enough.  But there was some cool stuff!  Vintage clothing, antiques, as well as the regular used books and as-seen-on-tv-used-once-then-stuck-in-the-back-of-a-cabinet stuff.  Besides we had to get back to Simon who was sound asleep enjoying his shade, breezy nap spot.

Back at the marina the Crabanese were in full swing.  The crab cookers were steaming away and many happy folks filling up freezers.  Of course the local folks were shaking their heads and muttering quite a bit.  We're enjoying watching the show at this point but I'm sure at some point we'll be head waggers as well.

I hope all of your are enjoying the joys of summer wherever you find yourselves during this warm wonderful time of year.