Parks Bay, Stuart Island to Deer Harbor, Orcas Island, to Jones Island, July 4
I have one ritual that I dearly love and was reluctant to give up when we moved to the boat…my quiet time with my morning coffee and reading. Chris had promised I could continue this habit and I was looking forward to drinking my coffee, reading, gazing at the beautiful scenery around me, listening to the birds and feeling the wind on my face.
This morning was my first chance to enjoy this ritual. (Imbed link to coffee in Musings) The coffee tasted wonderful, the view was beautiful, but instead of birds the morning provided a beautiful dance of Dragonflies, many flying as doubles. We were surrounded by them and as I read and sipped my coffee, they would flitter into the cockpit, alight on a cushion, the railing and even my knee.
This morning was my first chance to enjoy this ritual. (Imbed link to coffee in Musings) The coffee tasted wonderful, the view was beautiful, but instead of birds the morning provided a beautiful dance of Dragonflies, many flying as doubles. We were surrounded by them and as I read and sipped my coffee, they would flitter into the cockpit, alight on a cushion, the railing and even my knee.
Chris recalled from previous visits to the San Juan’s that Deer Harbor on Orcas Island celebrated 4th of July on the 5th so as not to conflict with Friday Harbor. We had chanced upon this celebration a few years prior and wanted to repeat seeing and hearing the fireworks in this location. Deer Harbor has a cliff of granite rock soaring well over 100’ above the water. The sound of the fireworks reverberate against this rock and make for a very dramatic fireworks display and sound. We wanted to get there plenty early to get a great anchorage to watch the fireworks.
As is often the case when you go sailing and want to be in a specific place as a specific time, there no wind, and strong currents against the direction we wanted to go…so we would be motoring to Deer Harbor. We arrived shortly after lunch and the harbor was abuzz with people and activity. The boaters were energized, very friendly and helpful as we tied up to the temporary dock to get the lay of the harbor and figure out a good place to anchor.
As is often the case when you go sailing and want to be in a specific place as a specific time, there no wind, and strong currents against the direction we wanted to go…so we would be motoring to Deer Harbor. We arrived shortly after lunch and the harbor was abuzz with people and activity. The boaters were energized, very friendly and helpful as we tied up to the temporary dock to get the lay of the harbor and figure out a good place to anchor.
I liked the harbor a lot. It was small and friendly and most of the buildings were on the docks overhanging the harbor. Behind us was a fishing boat that was cooking prawns and selling them to the crowd. I’m allergic to seafood, but Chris got some for lunch and said they were wonderful.
We were hoping to meet up with the “Rhodies” Rally, but watching the fireworks in Deer Harbor was preventing us from doing so. The Rhodies are a group of Northwest boat owners of the Rhodes 22 that we know who get together annually for a sail together around the San Juan Islands. We had been with them in the past a couple of times, but our plans this year were preventing us. Chris had a phone number for one of the participants and Deer Harbor had cell coverage; he tried to contact the participant but could only leave a message. Meanwhile, with cell coverage, I checked my emails looking in particular for any bills that needed paying.
Chris recalled the Rhodies were supposed to be on Jones Island that night, so we decided to set sail for the north side of Jones Island to try to meet up with the Rally. There is a lovely park on this side of Jones Island and we tied up to a pier to spend the night. Unfortunately there were no Rhodies there.
Playing around in the water with the dinghy sounded like a lot of fun, but when we went to inflate it, there was a leak. Thankfully we had a decent repair kit and the dock provided a good surface to make the patch. Chris emptied out the lazerette to get the repair kit. Isn’t it always to story that what you want is at the bottom of the storage area? He made the repairs, but curing time prevented us from being able to dinghy around the bay.
Sea Kayaking has become a very popular sport in the Pacific Northwest. Here on Jones Island there was a large group of folks putting in their Kayaks and touring the island. And people think our boat is small!
I must admit they look like they are having fun and enjoying themselves. I’ll have to build up my upper body muscles before I can do that!
We cooked dinner on the dock; a rare treat not to have to compensate for a rocking boat. The other boaters on the dock had come prepared for the holiday weekend and brought out their steaks and barbecues. Boy they smelled good. Living on a tiny boat without refrigeration, precludes eating much fresh meat.
Sea Kayaking has become a very popular sport in the Pacific Northwest. Here on Jones Island there was a large group of folks putting in their Kayaks and touring the island. And people think our boat is small!
I must admit they look like they are having fun and enjoying themselves. I’ll have to build up my upper body muscles before I can do that!
We cooked dinner on the dock; a rare treat not to have to compensate for a rocking boat. The other boaters on the dock had come prepared for the holiday weekend and brought out their steaks and barbecues. Boy they smelled good. Living on a tiny boat without refrigeration, precludes eating much fresh meat.
Boaters are a friendly group as a whole and we made a great acquaintance with a couple of men from Salt Spring Island in the Gulf Islands of Canada. They lived on Southie Bay on the northern part of the island. The gentlemen said, “Only in Canada would the northern most point on an island be called Southie.”
Sleeping tied up to the dock has its benefits and distractions. Chris is able to get a good night sleep without worrying about the anchor dragging or the winds changing directions, however there isn’t the gentle rocking I so enjoy. One of the distractions of being tied up to the dock is if the wind comes from a contrary direction, the boat can do a lot of rolling. It was a night with lots of rolling.
Sleeping tied up to the dock has its benefits and distractions. Chris is able to get a good night sleep without worrying about the anchor dragging or the winds changing directions, however there isn’t the gentle rocking I so enjoy. One of the distractions of being tied up to the dock is if the wind comes from a contrary direction, the boat can do a lot of rolling. It was a night with lots of rolling.