Deception Pass

Deception Pass is a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island where it connects Skagit Bay, part of Puget Sound, with the Strait of Juan de Fugca.  The Deception Pass area has been home to several Native American tribes for thousands of years.  The first Europeans to see the area was in 1790 when the Manuel Quimper Expedition came through the area.  Later on June 3, 1792 a group of sailors led by Joseph Whidbey, part of the Vancouver Expedition, found and mapped Deception Pass.  George Vancouver, head of the Vancouver Expedition, gave the name, Deception Pass, because it had misled him into thinking Whidbey Island was a peninsula.  The deception was Deception Pass is a dramatic seascape where tidal flow and whirlpools beneath the twin bridges move quickly.  During the low tides the swift current can lead to standing waves, large whirlpools and rolling eddies.  During high tide standing waves and Cat 2 and 3 rapids exist.  The bridge was built in 1935 but before the bridge was built a ferry service would be used to go from Fidalgo to Whidbey and back.  
Deception Pass is still deceiving.  We were there during low tide so we saw the whirlpools, several of them but did not see the rapids.  The rapids are so good that Kayakers come out to challenge Deception Pass.  Just at the end of the land in Deception Pass there is an island called Deception Island.  That island use to be used by pirates that smuggled Chinese laborers into the U.S.    To me, Deception Pass was intriguing.  I wish I had a boat so I could travel through the pass.  Watching from above on the bridge we watched boat after boat work through the pass.  Entering from the Puget Sound side it looked like the  boat was being pushed to it's starboard side the whole way through the pass.  The land around Deception Pass is beautiful and full of trees.  Lots of different types of trees and there were a lot of trails that could be hiked some leading  to the water and others through the forests to other parts of Deception Pass.  I was proud of Tim for walking the entire bridge with me which was a challenge for him since he is afraid of heights.  Shadow seemed to enjoy it and kept sticking his head through the bridge rails to look down at the water.  It was a beautiful area and the water and landscape on both sides of the bridge was post card material.  Thanks Art for the tip!