Many
moons and several magnificent sunsets had passed when I finally embarked on the
grand adventure of planning a summer trip to the enchanting San Juan Islands.
However, fate had a different plan in store for me. Due to circumstances, we
found ourselves without a vessel. We were at Yellowstone National Park, gazing
at the late spring snows. Time was slipping away, and our planned departure
date to the San Juan’s was fast approaching, yet we were still boatless. A
thousand miles away from home in a campground full of bears, I resorted to
browsing Craigslist on my laptop while clutching my cell phone in hand. It was
then that I stumbled upon a boat for sale posting that caught my attention.
To
my surprise, the boat in question was of the type I had previously owned. The
price was right, and a surge of confidence swept over me. I made a daring
decision to promise to buy it sight unseen upon our return in two weeks.
However, there was a hitch. The seller had just embarked on their own vacation
and would not be back for another three weeks. Oh, dear! That meant they would
only be back a week before our planned departure for the San Juans. Time seemed
to be playing a cruel game with our hopes.
Fast
forward three weeks later, and I found myself standing at the seller's
doorstep, armed with cash and eager to drive away with our trusted vessel for
the San Juan Islands. Back at home with our new boat and trailer, time was
short, and I could only manage a few essential tasks. I diligently checked and
greased the bearings, stepped and un-stepped the mast, and on the eve of our
departure, I hurriedly took her for a test run in the river to gauge the
motor's performance. As fate would have it, the 7.5 Honda motor ran smoothly
for ten minutes before suddenly quitting. I drifted back towards the ramp in semi-darkness.
Moments before hauling her out, I tried the motor once more, and lo and behold,
it roared back to life. Quite perplexing, indeed.
Undeterred
by this glitch, we embarked on our journey to Anacortes the following day. Upon
launching at Twin Bridges on the Swinomish Channel, the motor graced us with
its smooth-running presence just long enough to steer us away from the dock and
set a course for Padilla Bay before surrendering once more. Still undeterred,
we continued our voyage under sail, finally anchoring at Pelican Beach on
Cypress Island. There, we reveled in the joys of a magnificent beach fire
before retiring for the night. Throughout the evening, my mind couldn't help
but wonder if the motor would start the next morning and if the capricious
currents and winds would carry us to our next destination at Matia or Sucia.
But
enough of my ramblings. We spent a glorious week in the San Juan Islands, and
to our relief, the motor never faltered again. It proved to be a reliable
workhorse that faithfully served us on several more boating expeditions in the
years to come. The initial mystery of its temporary failure remained unresolved.
As soon as we returned home, with plenty of summer still ahead, I wasted no
time in placing a Craigslist ad to sell the boat. I recouped my entire
investment, and as a bonus, I held onto the now trusty Honda outboard for many
years afterward.
Reflecting
upon this adventure, it became evident to me that setting a firm departure date
was the catalyst that made the trip possible. Of course, we took a gamble with
an unknown boat, motor, and rigging. However, I had the foresight to equip ourselves
with basic essential gear: PFD’s, a bucket, a portable GPS, a handheld radio, a
cell phone, and a paper chart. I had done my homework and discovered that the
boat ramp offered long-term parking for a modest fee of $8 per day. With all
the pieces falling into place, we made our dream of a San Juan vacation cruise
a reality.
So,
my advice to all you dreamers longing for a San Juan vacation cruise is simple
yet crucial: Mark your calendar this instant. Purchase a paper chart or just a map and
proudly display it on a wall where it will catch your eye everyday. Trust
me, with these two actions as your guiding stars, everything else will
naturally fall into place. You'll see your dream materialize before your very
eyes.
Easy Itinerary for spur of the moment cruise >Fast track to the San Juans
 |
| Friday Harbor Marina |
