SAN JUAN ISLAND DISCOVERY

WE SPENT A FUN FATHERS DAY weekend on San Juan Island, one of the delightful islands of the archipelago in the Salish Sea between the U.S and Canada.   I found a wonderful music store in the charming town of Friday Harbor and found it full of every sort of musical instrument and Lots of ukuleles, new and vintage.  It's friendly proprietor was busking with a friend at the Saturday Farmers Market just off Spring Street.  I said hello and was invited to visit the store later that afternoon.  What a treat to meet Kirk Fuhrmeister and see his store

The store is in a quaint old building on Spring Street.  (the building used to be Harry King's mortuary) it is surely worth a visit.

Here's Kirk waiting on a customer.  He is a very pleasant guy and has been running this store for twenty plus years and lived on the island for forty.  He is about at retirement age and told me if the right person came along he would sell and go fishing.  If you ever wanted to run a music store in a delightful and picturesque place this might be your chance.  Give Kirk a call, 360 378-5151.  Tell him I sent you.  his web site is sanjuanislandsmusic.com   I just took a look at it and it is really good.  It is clear that this guy is Mr. Music on San Juan Island,  he does it all.   His email is kirkf1@centurytel.net. should you need it.

A wall of banjos and banjo ukes.  he tells me he has about 25 vintage banjo ukes, many of them in their antique and worn cases stacked up and not on display because there is no more room on his walls.  The one hanging over his head in the first photo is a Slingerland from the twenties in absolutely mint condition,  looks like it has never been played.  It sounded great,  I was tempted- who knows what other treasures lurk in that shop.  I had to keep reminding myself that I make ukes, I don't need to buy them.
I showed him the soprano pinecone that I had with me.  He liked it a lot.