What's there to do in Friday Harbor? - How about going to another island, or two, or three - For Free!

Foot passenger holding area at Friday Harbor (strongly resembles a corral )

Walking bikes on ferry seemed prudent

First island

     We arrived in Friday Harbor for the 4th of July celebration on the 2nd and so had a few days to kill.  With our floating motel safely tucked into a slip, we rested easy Saturday night. The 26 mile run from Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham was uneventful partly due to catching some decent currents and a sunny rest stop at Blakely's.  Sunday morning arrived with coffee, bagels and cream cheese, and then  we walked our bikes over to the ferry terminal and caught the 8:30 AM ferry to Shaw Island.

     After a stopover on Orcas, the four of us and one Labradoodle walked off at Shaw Landing.  The ride is free as is all inter island foot and bicycle traffic, so we simply checked east/west schedules to make sure we had a ride back to Friday that afternoon and headed out with full water bottles and a handful of granola bars.

Second island  

  The ferry ride was a welcome break from driving our own boat and the view from the high deck is great.  On Shaw, we took pity on our four legged member and limited our ride to the county park at Indian Cove, a distance of around four miles round trip.  Much further dog trotting I suspect.  The road is paved and hugs the water around most of Blind Bay before turning inland at the community center and shooting straight over the small hill to the east side and Indian Cove.  The wooded campground was full as expected, and kayaks were strewn about above high water amongst the driftwood.  We rested, beach combed, and then headed back to Shaw Landing after about an hour.

 (FYI, you can make camping reservations up to 90 days in advance at all three San Juan county parks at https://secure.itinio.com/sanjuan/  or google San Juan County Parks) or try clicking here >>San Juan County Parks (3) 
     While waiting for our ferry ride back to Friday we sat around the cozy little picnic area eating ice cream purchased at the Shaw Landing General Store.  All in all it was a resoundingly relaxing laid back morning.

     Getting back to Friday Harbor before 2 PM left us with much of the day still ahead of us, and since they unload foot passengers before the cars, we were back on the promenade  minutes after the ramp went down.

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King Tides and Minus Tides

     High and low tides are a fundamental part of life in the San Juan Islands and beyond. They occur in a predictable pattern, much like night follows day. However, a few times each year, the alignment of the sun and moon causes extreme tidal conditions known as king tides and minus tides.

     As the names suggest, these tides are significantly higher or lower than normal. When we study a NOAA tide forecast for a specific location, we typically see times and heights such as 7.5 feet at 9:04 am, followed by a low tide of 2.5 feet at 3:02 pm, approximately six hours later. By doing some simple math, we can see that the tide will fall (range) five feet between high and low tide. This is our usual scenario, although the times shift by about fifty-four minutes later each day.

     However, as the sun and moon's positions approach perfect alignment, the tides become more pronounced, resulting in king tides and minus tides. For instance, a high tide might reach +10.5 feet, while a low tide might drop to -3 feet, creating a nearly 14-foot range over a six-hour period. These figures are not hypothetical; they are taken directly from the NOAA website.

Minus tide in July at Jones Island

     For a cruiser in the San Juans, considering where and how you anchor or tie to a float becomes even more important during these extreme tides. Your favorite dock might be sitting in the weeds at low tide, or your anchor rode might be too short at high tide. Careful planning of your passage becomes crucial. A pass or headland you routinely transit might have five-foot or higher standing waves and an eight+ mph current during these times.

      Familiarizing yourself with the "rule of twelfths" rule of twelfth's is a useful way to prepare for and estimate water levels at your chosen anchorage. While knowing the speed of the current in advance won't make your boat any faster, it could help you adjust your plans to avoid the worst of the conditions.

     All cruising requires vigilance and preparation but during king and minus tides a little extra knowledge will assure you have a safe passage.