Travel Guide, Itineraries, Maps, Charts, Parks and Camping Cruises. Places to go.
Things to do. Pictures, Reviews, Moorages, Marinas, Boat Ramps and Much More.
ATTENTION!
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3/29/2019
Here's how to get to the Alpaca Ranch and gift shop on San Juan Island
Here is an excellent suggestion for a half day outing. This is what we did. We swung into Garrison Bay, off Mosquito Pass (we were headed for Roche Harbor) and motored right to the little dinghy dock at English Camp. We squeezed in just long enough to unload our bicycles and then moved over fifty feet and anchored, paddling back in the dinghy. So far so good.
Next we peddled to the interpretation center for a two minute look around, but there was nothing new, so we pushed our bikes up the trail and through the parking lot and back onto the trail, until we got to West Valley road and the trail-head to Young Hill. Don't quit on me now, you have only walked 1,900 feet so far.
We padlocked our bikes to the gate and hiked to the top of Young Hill. This is a killer hike and you can do it in under an hour, but bring lots of water. Search this site for Young Hill to see pictures and the hike. You can skip the hike if you want or skip the bike part.
When we got back down from Young Hill we unlocked the bikes and coasted down West Valley road all the way to Krystal Acres Alpaca Ranch and gift shop. Thankfully we coasted the entire way because our legs needed a break.
All total, the distance to Krystal Acres from the dinghy dock is about one mile, so this is not a difficult or long bike ride, in fact, you could make it an easy two mile round trip walk if you don't bicycle.
I know some of you are thinking, but what about the ride back up all the road you just coasted down. It wasn't that steep, we were able to peddle the entire way back. There are no bike lanes or even much of a shoulder but there also isn't much traffic.
That's it, an easy relaxing way to spend the afternoon on shore and when you get back to the boat, you can stay anchored right where you are, or run the 3 1/2 miles over to Roche and get a slip for the night.
krystalacres.com - (360) 378-6125 - The folks there gave me this great picture to show. Visit the gift shop, get some yarn.
2/28/2019
San Juan & Gulf Islands Current Atlas - Strait of Georgia - Haro - Rosario - Juan De Fuca
If your serious about working the San Juan currents to your advantage you will want to purchase this current atlas, produced by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. The Atlas is available at West Marine as well as many retailers for about $30
When cruising, having this information handy can save you time and fuel and make the difference whether you get to your planned destination. For instance a boat heading north up Haro Strait near San Juan Island will get a big boost, however by checking the next several hours one would see that the free ride is going to end soon and the train will come roaring back. As a rule of thumb the currents flow north on a flood tide and south on ebb tides but as you can see, rules have exceptions. This forecast is just before the flood tide reverses and becomes ebb, an apt description would be "confused" The confusion will soon end, get your ticket to ride, its free.
This is what the currents looked like on July 13th at 7:49 am, also July 14th at 8:39 am and July15th at 9:26 am. As you can see, your vessel will get a free ride south just about everywhere, but each day at a slightly different time. When planning your passages and your cruise it would be very helpful to consult the Current Atlas first, a simple free ride one week will be the wrong direction the next week. You may want to choose a different departure date.
While were on subject of currents, picture in your mind these big arrows meeting opposing winds and you should then visualize big, steep (dangerous) waves slamming your boat. Then after a few hours the current changes, and all is well in Camelot once again.
this post should be read if big waves bother you >>>wind-versus-current-and-predicting waves
Lately, I have made it part of my cruising to use as little fuel as possible, one cruise we covered about 120 miles over 8 days and used 6 gallons of gas, and most of the fuel was used battling an opposing current between Jones Island and James Island. Unfortunately my schedule dictated the time.
2/06/2019
Lessons of a lee shore
1/16/2019
Get your Camping, Resort, and Marina Reservations in the San Juans -NOW- before it's too late
Enough with Valentines, by the time you read this, you're either in the dog house, living on your boat, or should be making summer cruise plans. In any case its probably not too late to get that reservation at a campground or marina.
When planning a San Juan cruise you don't need any reservations to have a great vacation, but some people feel better knowing there is an open slip or warm bed waiting their arrival. As a suggestion you might consider making a reservation at a popular stopover for just one or two nights in the middle of your cruise, leaving the rest of your time free to go where the wind blows you, simply staying where you happen to dock or anchor. With a speedy power boat all the San Juan islands and parks are within an easy run no matter where you start or plan to end up. A more sedate pokey sailing type vessel may be somewhat limited how far it can run before the sun sets.
Even if you don't reserve some fancy resort for a stopover visit you can still make a day time visit to Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, Deer Harbor or many others, park that yacht for free, or anchor and dinghy to the dinghy dock, then armed with a fistful of quarters enjoy a wonderful, blissful, rejuvenating, hot shower. You will get back to the boat refreshed and ready to continue your vacation anew.
Hot showers are still free at Lopez Village.
Check it out here >>> Lopez Village Free Hot showers
12/13/2018
How to Secure Your Yacht Like You Want To Keep It Forever
Enough with the rants, every boat needs four or more lines going from the boat to the float. I know, people make exceptions sooner or later, such as, “It was just a five minute stop over to get ice, or the water was so smooth,” that’s fine, you’re the skipper and it’s your call.
Don't forget to have oversize fenders, but even that wont save your boat if you park somewhere you shouldn't.
Ahoy! |
11/09/2018
Deception Island
9/30/2018
Two Perfect, Almost Secret Coves
The problem is that our charts do not show all there is to know.
Lummi Island Campground:
This is a small five site waterfront campground within the 650 plus acre Lummi Island Conservation Area. It is a very hard to find place, the picture posted and my description will be your best resource for finding your way.
For those of you new to the area, Lummi Island is that big land mass blocking your way to just about everywhere when you put in at Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.
The campground is near the south end of Lummi on the east side. Your NOAA based chart will show Smugglers Cove, Inati Bay, Reil Harbor in that order, just south of the small Reil inlet is an even smaller cove. There is no name but your chart should have a little boat symbol which is the icon for a mooring area but don't get your hopes up, this is a dinky little cove that will require a stern tie or anchor to keep you from swinging onto the rocks. You can pull off a 2 to 1 rode lunch stop if your lucky. It is unlikely two boats can coexist unless they raft.
By now you should have figured out this place is perfect for kayakers, but you can squeeze in. The dinghy beach is gravel. Use the campfire rings and composter outhouse. There is even a loop trail to hike.
Look for this sign as you coast along the shore, it is high up on the bluff on the right side of the cove facing somewhat southward.
The pic looks big but from the water the sign is small and easy to miss. |
For spending any time here you will want to tie to shore or drop a stern anchor |
9/10/2018
Excellent Eight Day Cruise Over Labor Day Weekend 2018
Because of a hectic summer with two weddings and a Boston trip we almost stayed home, but just before Labor Day I said lets go or forever wish we had. On the morning of our departure we were battening down and about to hit I-5 north when a neighbor came walking by. He is also a San Juan traveler so we ended up talking for two hours.
Finally heading out, we immediately stopped to fill the trucks 33 gallon tank, next stop besides the usual rest areas was Seattle where we picked up another 29 gallons. It is always a shock to find out we only have a few gallons left when I am hauling 10,000 lbs. Next stop was Winco in Tulalip where we purchased our entire food and beverage supply. No shopping list for us, we just walked the aisles and filled the cart with everything we liked, except we forgot to get a sack of ice for our drinks even though we talked about it in the check out line.
We arrived in Bellingham about two hours before sundown, took the port of Bellingham exit and went straight to Fred Meyers for the forgotten ice. I am thinking, I hope this 30-40 minute delay doesn't bite us, especially after losing 2 hours gabbing at home. (see, no stress for me!)
Splashing the boat and parking in the free lot was a breeze as it always is, but hosing down my salty trailer got me all wet because the water hose is full of holes. ( zero kudos to Squalicum Harbor staff in charge of wash down hoses.)
Staying at the transient dock and paying the tourist per foot fee just didn't interest me this trip, I wanted to get underway. I said to Linda, we have one solid hour of daylight and I can anchor in the dark at Inati Bay if I have to, so off we went. We arrived at Inati Bay on Lummi Island almost exactly at sunset. I set the anchor in fifteen feet, thirty feet from shore, opened the first box of wine and broke out the barbecue as darkness settled around us. I remember looking at the ink black water and the nearby shore cliffs blending together and thinking how anchoring in the dark would have meant dropping the hook a lot further out.
Day 2. Got the coffee dripping first thing. Last night was great, stars were out. Actually slept in a little. We listened to the weather radio for conditions expected if we head for Victoria. Sounds like a go but I'm not sure. With deteriorating conditions expected that evening we might be headed into a gale if the front blows in early, but at this point I am set for going to Victoria.
We up anchor and head south around Lummi so I can get a better picture of the Lummi Island Campground sign (takes two minutes), when we clear the south end and head northwest, I'm staring right at Clark Island, Clark is another on my bucket list of places I need new pictures for my planned updated Cruising Guide. We grab a buoy at Clark and dinghy ashore. I haven't changed my negative opinion of Clark but I did get the pics I wanted. Linda thinks I'm unfairly maligning Clark but I am more convinced than ever that putting a state park in the middle of Rosario Strait is a dumb, bordering on dangerous idea.
8/21/2018
Who owns the Shoreline above and below the high tide line in the San Juan Islands?
For the most part, you may anchor anywhere you want, except vessel navigation channels and marked farms. It doesn't take much common sense to figure out not to anchor in the middle of a boat congested narrow thoroughfare, (marked or not) but some daydreamers will do just that.
Just because it’s legal to anchor doesn't make it a good idea. You can walk most beaches, below the normal high water line, but many properties own the adjacent tidelands and may or may not be marked. Not all shorelines have beaches and so private land will extend to the water’s edge. Most of the dry land (above high water) is private and you will be trespassing if you come ashore and hike into the woods. Some landowners don’t care if you come ashore, and some do. Many will have signs that alert you to their wishes and you should respect their wishes. If it were me I would not anchor off shore from a sign that said no trespassing, why ruffle someone’s feathers by anchoring or walking in their backyard.
7/22/2018
Inconsiderate Boating
Stop, don't read further if you don't want to hear my rants. My current boat leaves a huge wake at times. I know because I can see it and I admit have had a few radio calls chastising me. I also know how to minimize or eliminate my wake entirely and so do all the other skippers out there.
So here's the rub, why are there so many witless morons creating monster wakes where they cause damage? I don't believe for a second that they aren't aware of their wake. I believe they are jerks and inconsiderate asses that don't deserve the privilege of driving a boat.
I'm not saying to drive slow or at no wake speed all the time, I'm saying to pay attention to the damage your wake is doing. Not only are you being an ass but you are liable for damage or injury caused by your negligent driving.
If your wake swamps or rolls a small boat, you are liable. If your wake smashes a moored boat into a float causing damage, you are liable. If your wake capsizes a kayak causing a drowning, you will be held liable and probably go to jail.
If you think this is only true in marked no-wake zones, think again, you are wrong. You are responsible for your wake damage anywhere and everywhere, marked or not. That 200 foot rule many signs and publications tout is not your free pass to be irresponsible, your are still liable for damage your wake causes.
There, I'm done.
7/04/2018
Is a Bag of Beans the best way to insure Boating Pleasures?
This brings me to bean bag chairs and boats. This unnamed world cruiser said that his favorite chair for his boat was a bean bag. A bean bag, you’re kidding, do they still make them? Well, yes they make them and $20 later I had a brand new bean bag chair for my 28 foot sloop. I store it in the v-berth along with bags of sails. My kids quickly learned that it conformed to uneven decks, it could be crammed against shrouds, masts and stanchions, and made uncomfortable cockpit combings a thing of the past. The bean bag chair has become a must have piece of cruising/camping equipment on my boats, and while it’s true, storage is limited, tough decisions have to be made -- the bag-o-beans wins out even if it means leaving the 150 Genoa home.
6/21/2018
The Fastest Way to the San Juans On Your Own Boat Begins in Anacortes at Washington Park or Cap Sante
There are several other places I recommend over these two depending on where I'm going and other plans.
Take a look at this post >> Trailer boat ramps
4/23/2018
Is Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham the best way to get to the San Juan Islands? - YES!
3/10/2018
Victoria Cruise Itinerary and Customs at Roche Harbor
and San Juan Islands Stop Overs
- places to launch and stay on your boat
- distances between stops
- customs and immigration
- alternate planning
- what to expect
- basic boating information
read more
2/23/2018
Wiring shackles with seizing wire
Well when I anchored my day sailor for the summer, I threw together a folding anchor, six feet of chain, some twenty feet of old trucker floating line, an old fender for a float and set the whole thing in about eight feet of water. But first I hooked the chain and rode together with a galvanized shackle. I tightened the shackle pin with a wrench.
My only worry was too much rode and she might swing onto shore at low tide. My little cove is subject to about two feet of tide, no rogue wakes, no current and very little wind.
After about two weeks of coming and going by dinghy, and sailing on and off my poor mans mooring, I was pretty used to and confident my set up was there to stay. Then one afternoon when I showed up I noticed my anchor line was changed. Suspicious, I leaned over the side of the dinghy and yanked to the surface my anchor except it wasn't my folding anchor, it was some cast iron thing I have never seen. I put it back, left my dinghy at the fender float and went sailing, all the time pondering what was going on.
At dusk I came in and switched back to the dinghy, on my way out of the cove I swung by a young chap working on his boat and inquired if he knew anything about my missing anchor and rode.
He said yes, he had noticed my boat was floating free one day and using a spare anchor he put it back where it belonged. I thanked him profusely and brought him a bottle of rum the next day.
The lesson I learned that day was to use seizing wire even for temporary things if failure is unacceptable. I also learned how smart my choice of the quiet cove was for my anchor buoy and that I still had some paying forward credits after all.
FYI - A few days later from the dinghy, I probed the muddy bottom for two hours with my 12 foot boat hook and snagged my gear getting it all back including the shackle and loose pin. I replaced the borrowed anchor and this time I wired the pin, and that's my story.
2/01/2018
Jones Island is the Absolute Best Marine Park in the San Juans - Period
1/05/2018
IDEAS for this summers cruises in the San Juans
Readers remind me that some places I suggest and visit myself are technically not part of the San Juan's. When I look at my list I see only three or four
that are truly San Juan Island's destinations. That's why the web site title includes "Surrounding Area"
Note: these are not ideas I am suggesting for you, they are places I am thinking about for me.
If you are a newbie, you should go to tried and true hot spots like Roche - Friday - Jones - Sucia - La Conner - Deception Pass. Use the search box - it's all there and then some.
If you have been around the San Juan's awhile you may be looking for new ideas, that's what my list is about.
My short list for 2018
- I would like to spend a few days anchored at False Creek in Vancouver (we really enjoyed Granville Island and Stanley Park) (60 miles, one way) - ouch
- Explore West Sound, we haven't entered West Sound for fifteen years. I guess it has been a drive by sound for us. I want to check out the marina and possibly see about making a bike/hike ride to one of the Turtleback Mt trailheads.
- Hike Vendovi Preserve. This little jaunt will happen for sure.
- Visit Lummi Island (we biked it in 2017, it's really flat and easy, I want to do it again)
- Visit Victoria - Last time we had three little kids with us and lots of pea soup fog, just the two of us should be easier if we can avoid any fog.
- Hike Eagle Bluff (closed every year until after July 15)
- Take a shot again at bike hiking up Mt Constitution, probably start at Olga this time
- I am thinking of skipping 4th of July, but Lopez is on my radar if we go anywhere
- maybe go see Nanaimo or some Gulf Island Parks (means a lot of motoring) I doubt this will happen. (we went to Newcastle Park many years ago and had fun, but like Vancouver, it's a lot of motoring) maybe we can ride the current both ways.
- Might want to anchor at Smallpox Bay for a night and do some orca watching.
To see what we ended up doing, click here
12/26/2017
Five Things Everyone Should Know Before Cruising the San Juan Islands
Fun Observations and Frivolous Knowledge for
All Boaters new to the San Juan's (repost)
#1 Hugely fluctuating water levels (tides)
NOAA tide forecasts
San Juan and Gulf Islands Current Atlas
See the ferry approaching the anchored sailboat? |
Sailing in April rain with reefed main |
Fourth of July celebration in the San Juan Islands at Roche Harbor Resort |
12/02/2017
Free Camping in the San Juan Islands
- Pelican Beach on Cypress Island
- Cypress Head on Cypress Island
- Lummi Campground on Lummi Island
- Pt Doughty on Orcas Island
- Griffin Bay on San Juan Island
Griffin Bay free camping |
Cypress Head point creates a nice protected bay with anchor balls and a very dinghy and kayak friendly gravel beach. Trails connecting to the the rest of the island are across the narrow isthmus. |
This free waterfront campground on Cypress Island is very popular with kayakers, power boaters, sail boaters, everyone likes Pelican Beach. It even has ADA compliant composting toilets. The shore is lined with about half a dozen campsites, each with tables and fire rings, directly offshore are anchor buoys. The easy trail up to the top of Eagle Bluff begins at the water edge. To find Pelican Beach simply follow the east side of Cypress Island north about one mile past the Eagle Harbor anchorage. If you run past the end of the island, turn around, you're a quarter mile too far. Here are the coordinates. 48.603400 N, 122.704134 W
That's it for free camping in the San Juan Island area. The Washington DNR has lots more free camping in other areas that are highway accessible.