Jones Island North, to Jones Island South to Parks Bay, July 5
We had not had the time to hike the island the previous afternoon. It is a lovely walk with beautiful view of the surrounding waters, and we planned to get up and take the hike this morning. However, the rockiness of the night before had increased and Chris didn’t feel the boat was safe tied up to the dock. We decided to move around to the south side of the island, anchor, dinghy ashore and take the hike from there.
The bay on the south side of the island is rather small with several rock outcrops that make anchoring challenging if the ideal anchorages are taken, as was the case. Chris did some extensive depth soundings by slowly motoring around the area of the bay available for anchoring. He was trying to get an accurate lay of the bottom so we could anchor safely. We motored back and forth in lines and circles. We must have looked like idiots. Satisfied he understood the ground, he threw out the anchor line to the horror of one of the boaters anchored. She called to us to let us know that the water was shallow. Chris assured her that he had done the soundings and we would be fine.
After securing the bow anchor, he took a second anchor and rowed out to a rock outcrop to our stern, wrapped the line around the rocks, secured the anchor in the rocks and returned to the boat. Even on the south side with the boat tied up this way, it was rather rocky.
Again we needed ice, (yes, the cooler only keeps crushed ice for 2 days, and no block ice had been available) and it was time to do laundry the next day. Friday Harbor was the closest and best place to get these things done. By now it was fairly late in the day and we decided we really didn’t have time to go ashore and take a hike. We decided to head to Parks Bay again, spend the night and get an early start to Friday Harbor the next day.
So, Chris rowed out to the rocks, we hauled in the anchor and line, raised the bow anchor and headed to Parks Bay. We found a lovely spot at the back of the bay, anchor and had a pleasant dinner under the stars.
After securing the bow anchor, he took a second anchor and rowed out to a rock outcrop to our stern, wrapped the line around the rocks, secured the anchor in the rocks and returned to the boat. Even on the south side with the boat tied up this way, it was rather rocky.
Again we needed ice, (yes, the cooler only keeps crushed ice for 2 days, and no block ice had been available) and it was time to do laundry the next day. Friday Harbor was the closest and best place to get these things done. By now it was fairly late in the day and we decided we really didn’t have time to go ashore and take a hike. We decided to head to Parks Bay again, spend the night and get an early start to Friday Harbor the next day.
So, Chris rowed out to the rocks, we hauled in the anchor and line, raised the bow anchor and headed to Parks Bay. We found a lovely spot at the back of the bay, anchor and had a pleasant dinner under the stars.
That evening we had another serious conversation about the amount of things on the boat, and decided it was time purge again for the 4th time. On this tiny boat, stuff gets in the way of daily life and things you just think you can’t live without in the beginning, become more of a hindrance rather than something you enjoy.