Working hard, here

It's not all beer and skittles being a travel writer, you know. Yesterday we had such a full programme that we had to get up too early to have breakfast at the hotel, and were so busy that not only did we not find time to have it later, we didn't manage to fit in lunch either. So it was a good thing that we had a complimentary meal at the Tulalip Casino and Resort, where our waitress looked after us so well, and was so friendly, that we didn't mind she had no idea where New Zealand was (on the other hand, she wasn't clear about Australia either, so that was sort of pleasing).

Being a frugal sort, all those pokies and craps and card tables we had to walk past to get to the restaurant were no temptation at all, though I did for form's sake throw away $1 on the Lucky Meerkat machine. Don't ask me how it worked, I just pressed buttons till all the money was gone and I could get up and go away again. I got a lot more satisfaction from the Bill Exchange machine, where if you put in a $100 note and pushed a button, it would set off a lot of thrilling whirring inside, after which it spat out five $20 bills. All the fun and none of the loss!

Today it was another early, empty-stomach start to drive up to Anacortes to catch the ferry to San Juan Island. Glossy pewter sea, blue mountains, green islands, and every so often a seal carving a V through the water. (We also mysteriously lost an hour: neither of us can explain how. Island time, I suppose.) Then Friday Harbor, a lovely apartment looking over the Sound, and a leisurely drive around the island hoping to spot some of the resident orcas, but missing out, so far.

This is a relaxed place, all about taking it easy, so that's what we're going to do for the next day. Ok, so there are a few skittles now and then.