Philip and Darren travel to Orcas Island

The San Juan Islands – far from being the tropical isles the name might describe, this archipelago in the northwest corner of Washington state is a long way from Florida – real-life Free Willy country.

The conditions are persistently cold and wet. You are surrounded by deep waters and strong currents on all sides. You will need long pants, layers, and closed toed shoes.  I probably wouldn't go here on my own – O.K., if I'm being honest I would not leave the backyard on my own – but I am going to a guaranteed-epic wedding  for two of my best friends – and I am going along with another one of my best friends.

Traveling for the first time since the global pandemic made me feel euphoric. It's hard to remember days and weeks of the last two years because so many of days and weeks were the same.

I've known Phillip for a long time. We've played music together. We've traveled together – mostly with Patrick, who always has us going on some weird adventure. So when Patrick told us that he was finally going to get married to his fiancé, Pleasance, we were like ... sure ... we'll go ... even if it is in the farthest reaches of America from where I live, Orcas Island, Washington.