The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
in Port Townsend, Washington
June 26, 2015

Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States. In addition to its natural scenery at the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, the city is also known for the many Victorian buildings remaining from its late 19th-century heyday, numerous annual cultural events, and as a maritime center for independent boat builders and related industries and crafts. The Port Townsend Historic District is a U.S. National Historic Landmark District. Port Townsend was named one of the "top 10 coolest small towns in America" by Budget Travel, FOX news, NBC News and Yahoo Travel.

The bay was originally named "Port Townshend" by Captain George Vancouver (for his friend the Marquis of Townshend) in 1792. It was immediately recognized as a good safe harbor, although strong south winds and poor holding ground often make small craft anchorage problematic off the town's waterfront.

The official European-American settlement of the city of the same name took place on the 24th of April, 1851. American Indian tribes located in what is now Jefferson County in the mid-19th century included the Chimakum (or Chemakum), Hoh (a group of the Quileute), Klallam (or Clallam), Quinault and Twana (the Kilcid band Anglicized: Quilcene).

Port Townsend is also called the "City of Dreams" because of the early speculation that the city would be the largest harbor on the west coast of the United States. It was also dubbed the "Paris of the Pacific Northwest" by Sunset Magazine.

Below: Beautiful bays overlook the intersection of Taylor and Water Streets in historic downtown Port Townsend.

Below: The two RV Gypsies and Ilse Blahak bought lots of cheese and stuff at the Mt. Townsend Creamery. When Ilse asked if the workers if she could combine her order with Lee's so they could get a free tote bag, the lady did NOT allow it. (Her business might go broke if she had a kind heart - after all the free tote bag cost her a lot of money - DUH! - NOT!). Great way not to get repeat customers.

Later, Lee and Ilse enjoyed olive oil tasting at several other shops in the area.

Below: A deer crossed the road in front of the two RV Gypsies' car and wandered through the beautiful yard of a private residence.

Below: The blue building in Port Townsend caught Karen Duquette's eye because of its architectural beauty. The conservative Romanesque style architecture of the Hastings Building makes it a dominant part of the downtown Port Townsend skyline. The magnificent bay windows in the second and third floors give the structure a massive undulating form.

Construction on Elmer H. Fisher's design for the Hastings Building began in 1889 and was completed in 1890. The morning Leader observed in November 1889 that the Hastings Building, still under construction, was conceded by all to be the most elegant building in the city. It went on to enumerate on such progressive features as the two interior staircases, wainscoting of redwood, and the unusually large plate glass to be used on the first floor storefronts.

The McCurdy Building: Horace Winslow McCurdy was a shipbuilder, bridge builder, civic leader, native Washingtonian, and most enduringly a supporter of maritime research and maritime collecting in the Pacific Northwest.