Three pleasant campgrounds invite the visitor to linger a while. Two are commercial enterprises and the other is a state park. All are on the western and northern shores of the lake. Nice grassy spots with level shaded parking suit the RV-er or tenter to a "T". Hookups are available, as are rest room and shower facilities. A small store with snackbar serves campers during the summer season.

Where is this place? Well, it's up in the foothills of the Cascade mountains, just a few miles north of Winthrop. Take Washington route 20 west from Okanagan about 40 miles. Or if you're coming from the west, take Highway 20 east from Burlington. Turn off I-5, just 35 miles south of Bellingham.

Winthrop is a neat place to visit and not just because it's the closest town to Pearrygin Lake. It's a revived mining town with a western flavor. Tourism is the main industry these days. It's a quaint place that's very popular. There are numerous interesting shops and eateries along the wooden sidewalks. Narrow streets and limited parking can quickly become congested, so the best way to tour the place is on foot. It's great fun to wander about, perhaps while working on an ice cream cone, and just browse. Even the other folks strolling through town are interesting to watch. Notice how many out of state license plates you see.

But for us the main attraction is Pearrygin Lake. It's not very big, barely two miles long and a half mile wide. Reeds and lily pads fills the shallows at the east end. That's where the fish can be seen jumping in early morning and around sunset. Wild otters cruise the shore line, especially near the campground on the west end. It's great fun to watch them cavort, sometimes four or five together just feet from the bank. We sat on the dock and were entertained by otters for an hour or more.

Only a fishermen regretted the otter's presence. While we enjoyed their antics the little critters managed to steal his freshly caught trout from a stringer tied to the dock. Boy, was he burned. We thought it was hilarious.