Places to go and things to do in the San Juan's - I'm making a go to list!

My best places list is my - Go to List

If you have been following my rants, you know I realized long ago that our best times in the San Juans have been when I allowed things to just unfold from a very loose agenda.  That means, I set aside some time, go prepared for anything, and let it happen. But I do think about what I want to accomplish.  My partial list below, except for biking Shaw, is mostly made up of places and things we have done before.  If I remember, I will post a follow-up of what we really end up doing.  I already know one of my daughters may get involved, and likes biking so we'll see what really happens!

My To-Go List for 2015

and some notes

(not in order of importance)

Bike Shaw Island

1. try to avoid usual rolly anchoring overnight at Odlin Park if possible
1. Indian Cove for anchoring or ask to stay at store float by ferry dock
2. Indian Cove may be great place for dinghy sailing and hauling bikes ashore but there's no dock.

Get over to Victoria (not all that important, but always a good time)

1. visit museum 3-4 hrs
1. Almost forgot, they used to have free Wednesday mornings
2. hang out for one or two days watching street performers
3. dinghy sail around the inner harbor dodging taxis and planes 
4. order a tray full of those little glasses of beer somewhere
5. find Gracepoint filming location while biking shoreline roads
6. snoop around the Empress gardens
7. don't go to Butchart Garden (went two years ago)
8. explore the estuary

Go Orca watching off Lime kiln (this has been on many past lists, but gets bumped or heavy weather)

1. drift with current in Haro Strait  alongside San Juan Island 
2. maybe do this on way to Victoria
3. visit Smallpox Bay
4. have breakfast at the Lime Kiln Cafe at Roche Harbor 
5. visit English Camp after breakfast                                          

  Hike Eagle Bluff on Cypress  (high on list, probably do this list first, only 2hrs from Squalicum))

1. only after July 15th closure, if time, anchor at Cypress Head and hike to airstrip, if more time, run down to Deepwater Bay and watch salmon jump.
2. swing by Doe Island to see if the dock is fixed yet.
3. swing by Blakely's for my usual
4. while in Cypress area, try to find park at S. end of Lummi Isl.
5. Spending night at Cypress Head or Pelican Beach is OK

Plan two nights at Jones (whats another word for plan?)

1. shoot hike pictorial for posting on this site
1. include reopened west loop trail, and hike center trail to end.
2. pet some deer and have campfires
3. high on list, because I really missed kicking back here last year.
1. avoid backing over dinghy painter again

Strongly consider a romantic dinner at Friday Harbor

1. anchor out and use money saved for splurging
2. not the pizza place up the hill either!
3. dinghy over to Turn Island for a picnic hike, but don't spend night.
4. go to whale museum before Orca watching makes good sense
1. some years ago they told us where the Orcas were recently sighted.

Plan to put in at Squalicum Harbor for free parking

1. eat dinner at that great buffet uptown
2. visit with Bill for breakfast before casting off
3. Try to arrive on a Monday to miss crowds

more notes:

Don't forget free hot showers at Lopez Village

1. Maybe stop by Lopez Village after a week for a shower, and fudge recharge, or bike over from Odlin Park
1. Anchoring off Lopez is very rolly, and shallow, but the walk and dinghy ride is short.
1. Saturday Market is a good reason to stop by on Saturday 
2. I think my daughter is planning for Aug 1st. arrival, but I don't know where.
1. She did mention getting bike camping reservations at Odlin Park
2. I might suggest we consider a bike ride to top of Mt Constitution from Olga or county dock. (this could be a fantastic or horrible idea, and Linda wont go)
1. Update on daughter: she has suggested  meeting  on Orcas somewhere, she wants to ride her bike (with camping gear) from Anacortes.

Even with going to Victoria, this is only about a week, we may have to slow down some, I would like to spend about 10 days (I think) I will come back to this post and make updates/changes as my July cast off date approaches. I am really looking forward to this cruise, I have a cast off date of late July, so the hard work is already done.  That's right, setting the date is the hard work!

There you have it, 

my barely thought out list of places to go, 
and things to do in the San Juan's this summer.
I truly hope some of you benefit. 

We ended up here?
This is the Eastsound dock where we came to get a new battery and pick up Ryan and Kiraney after they rode bikes over from Anacortes.

We never made it to Shaw for bicycling, but it is on my next "to go list"
We also never saw any whales, but didn't try very hard either.