By John Owen

The Beacon

One route from the Kingston ferry terminal to Port Townsend takes you south of Chimacum through Beaver Valley.

If you blink twice you might miss the small sign that identifies "Egg and I Road."

Betty MacDonald and her husband once managed a chicken farm at that location around 1930. Her humorous memoirs were published under the title "The Egg and I" and were so popular Hollywood purchased movie rights for a film of the same name.

Subsequent films featuring the MacDonalds' colorful neighbors were released under "Ma and Pa Kettletitles.

Entering Port Townsend we passed what we swore must have been a third generation Kettle.

He had long hair, a long beard spotted with tobacco stains; a hillbilly hat and he managed to balance an outsized guitar on the handlebars of anancient bicycle. And a wide grin was etched across his face.

He seemed to be made for Port Townsend. And Port Townsend seemed designed for him, a home for eccentrics, artists, musicians, the ancestors of the maritime pioneers who occupied the uptown mansions, and for the present-day merchants, boosters and civic fathers who organize festivals like the Wooden Boat extravaganza which annually lures some 200 new and antique sailing craft and upwards of 25,000 visitors.

We were among their number and wished that we might return for the Port Townsend Film Festival, the Victorian Festival, the Rhody Festival or the jazz or country blues concert in town and at Fort Worden.

We returned home along Beaver Valley and eventually through Poulsbo. Their annual Viking Festival reflects the same enthusiastic civic involvement and sense of history.

But then on the ferry home from that excursion last month we began to count our personal blessings. A lot of visitors shared our ride to Edmonds; some to cruise the custom car show lining Main Street and surrounding avenues. Others were here for the Bird Fest, which enjoyed its most successful weekend during a revised, September run.

There is no doubt in my mind that Edmonds hosts one of the oldest and certainly the most enjoyable of all Northwest arts festivals.

Bellevuehas more, and higher priced arts on display. But, the artists and art-lovers are crammed into a concrete parking garage while in Edmonds crowds enjoy green grass, almost-guaranteed sunshine, free musical performances and lots of finger food.

Another of my personal favorites is the Jazz Connection over the Memorial Day Weekend, because it brings to downtown the top musicians and vocalists from area schools that frequently win national acclaim.

We have a Waterfront festival, which features a few of the boats eventually headed for Port Townsend.

We have Edmonds In Bloom, a Fourth of July parade and evening celebration.

We can enjoy outstanding national artists appearing at Edmonds Center for the Arts.

We have the Taste of Edmonds and Write on the Sound, just one of a few dozen events or classes offered at the Anderson Center.

We have summer concerts in City Park and a Saturday market linked to the fountain and downtown shops.

Incidentally, that's where I often buy my eggs, from free-run chickens raised on a ranch much like those tended by the MacDonalds plus Ma and Pa Kettle, along Egg and I Road.

Recently when I ordered a dozen extra-large at the Edmonds Saturday market I found two yolks in one egg.

It doesn't get much better than that.