Lopez Island Recap
Full moon setting over the Salish Sea, image by Debbie Guyol
Eleven writers, three spouses, one adult daughter and two teachers convened on Lopez Island the first week in March for a writing workshop.
It was an eventful week full of unexpected drama but we survived and wow, did we have fun.
All but one student and husband (and they are the lucky ones who live on the island) drove north from the Portland, Oregon area. Most of us ran into inclement weather in the form of a drenching rain that made the road hard to see.
But once we reached Anacortes, a town on Puget Sound that is the gateway to the San Juans, the weather cleared and we enjoyed trips to the local market for food for our opening night party and take-out pizza at the Ship Harbor Inn.
Great spot—mere feet from the ferry terminal, with great views, spacious rooms, and a decent breakfast.
It was a cold wait in the ferry line. You’re not supposed to idle at the terminal. Don’t tell anyone, but we did turn the car on to warm ourselves up a few times.
The boat ride was rainy and cold and windy but spectacular all the same.
And then we arrived on Lopez and the glorious Edenwild Inn. That night we had an opening get-together at our student’s house and excitement after we returned to our rooms.
One of the oldest houses on the island burned that night. It was a house built from a Sears kit.
The house was built from a Sears kit
Sunday morning our workshop began. We gathered every morning from 9:30 to 12:30 and worked hard, commenting on others’ work, talking about the books we’d assigned to read (Lucy By The Sea and Salt On Your Tongue) and doing in-class writing assignments.
In all that writing and reading and discussing we worked up an appetite and inn owner Anthony obliged us with wonderful lunches. (A note about Anthony: he and his wife Crystal have seven kids, run the inn and a farm on the island. Plus Crystal is the office manager for the island medical clinic. Awe-inspiring all around.)
When not writing, we shopped at the marvelous local shops: bookstore and gift store, and sampled island cuisine. And—walked and hiked and drove around the island. So many gorgeous places to see, and a view of the water is never far away.
On Thursday night we got drama but first we enjoyed a delicious lasagna dinner at our local student’s home. The drama came when one of our writers had a medical emergency.
Fun fact #1: six EMTs showed up.
Fun Fact #2: one-third of the island residents are trained as EMTs.
Fun Fact #3: Our student was fine, albeit a bit embarrassed.
Alas, our island sojourn came to an end on Friday but we are already planning to return next year.
Keep your eyes on this website to learn more—this year we sold out quickly.
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