After we left the top of Mount Constitution we headed for a hike in the park to check out the waterfalls.  I should mention that the park had over 20 historical buildings that were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps  in the 30's and 40's.  The stone tower at the top of the mountain was particularly interesting- that is where I took a few of the  scenic shots from the first blog of the area. 

It wasn't a huge waterfall but it was a very nice day for the hike and cool in the forest.

As we headed back to where we were staying, there was a tame deer on the property.  To give you a little history of the property (just skip this section if it is too much information for you).     Over a hundred years ago Seattle shipbuilder Robert Moran built Rosario.  The stress of his shipbuilding business  had taken a toll of  Moran's health and he was given only a few years to live so he purchased 7,000 acres on Orcas Island and began to build his retirement home.    He recovered and lived until 1943 (now you know why retirement is good for you).  The original Moran Mansion offers no accommodations but houses the spa,  the fitness area, the restaurant and the pool area.  Upstairs is a very interesting museum which we explored.  The museum (original mansion built between 1906-1909) features original photographs from the late 1800's and early 1900's, original furnishings and fixtures and an extensive display of the ships built by the Moran Brothers Company.  Moran was actually a photographer  too so it was really interesting looking at his equipment and darkroom area.  The centrepiece of the mansion is the Music Room, featuring a two story 1913 Aeolian pipe organ, a 1900 Steinway grand piano, a Belgian  stain-glass window and two mezzanine libraries overlooking a Tiffany chandelier.  In 1911, Moran offered Washington State thousands of acres which led to Moran State Park becoming one of  Washington's first state parks.  In 1938, Moran sold Rosario to Donal Rheem (the water heater and heat pump people) for $50,000.  Texan Ralph Curtain purchased Rosario from Rheem in 1958 in order to make it into a resort but this failed when his oil wells dried up so he sold the property for $225,000 (half of what he bought it for) to Gil Geiser of Seattle.   Geiser sold a bowling alley and hardware store to open Rosario Resort on April 1, 1960.  Today, Rosario & Spa is listed on the National Register of HIstoric Places.   My mother had stayed in this resort at one time and spoken of it to Wendy which his why we stayed here.  

I got up early the next morning and took some pictures from our balcony which overlooked Cascade  Bay.  Fortunately there was some mist which added interest to the photograph.

I liked how this shot turned out- a very moody look.

I just stood outside the  balcony and watched the boats go by.  

The clouds were moving which made the shots more interesting.  You can see all of the houses on the hills on the left side of the picture.  Imagine how wonderful it would be to wake up to these views every morning.  No wonder Moran recovered from his health issues.

I went a little overboard with all of the photos but since I was up anyhow. . . . . 

Eventually I decided to go exploring.  There were stairs leading from the balcony to this path that I ended up taking to the original  part of the hotel. The sun was up by now and it was turning out to be a beautiful morning.

I came across the pool and tested the water.  It was SO warm- just the way I like it.  I was thinking that this would be a great place to spend the afternoon.  A warm pool with a view is perfect.

Another picture from the grounds of the resort overlooking the bay.

After breakfast we toured the Island.  By now the clouds and mist had rolled in again.

While Wendy and I were  busy taking photos, John and Ralph were doing their favourite thing- drinking coffee.  They even wear  the same colours!  

We came across this one-room school house but unfortunately it wasn't open.

I stopped to take a picture of some farmland on the Island.