Reid Harbor

If you're wondering how the hay gets delivered on the island, your questions are answered! Here's the barge complete with truck and haystack delivering food for the cattle on the island. There are no utilities on the island, other than those made by the owners (generators, solar, wind, etc.)


At our anchorage near Gossip Island, Mamma Deer encourages her babies to swim the narrow channel to the island and off they go across!

Friday Harbor to Stuart Island

Friday Harbor and it's time to look after the necessities - laundry, water up, pump-out and fill up the larder. We are directed three blocks up the hill in town for the laundry so off we go toting our togs -- the bonus is that it is right behind our favorite cafe for breakfast!

We spent a relaxing day in town and at the dock overnight. The next day, off we go north up San Juan Channel past Spieden Island to Stuart Island.

Shiver me timbers -- on the way up the channel we encounter a pirate ship. Where is Solomon when we need him??

Fortunately, they were a friendly lot -- we found out that they are here to re-enact the landing of the Royal Marines at English Camp at Garrison Bay in 1860.

Once safely past, we are treated to the wild-life on Spieden Island. The flora and fauna of the island are both quite remarkable.


We made our way through Spieden Channel up to Reid Harbor on Stuart Island and anchored between the tip of Stuart and Gossip Island. You can see the white shell beach on Gossip. A pretty background for our evening!

Fisherman's Cove, Lopez Island

A grey day with forecast of a thunderstorm and we make our way over to Fisherman's Cove at Lopez for Sunday morning. We walked to town (about 3/4 mile) and arrived in time to attend church service at the Lopez Community Church. It was full to over-flowing and I got to sing a familiar Lutheran tune -- Beautiful Savior as well as a hymn sung to Bach's Ode to Joy. There was also a praise choir -- Jocelyn take note -- complete with words of songs on the powerpoint projection screen. The pastor was young and energetic and the sermon was more of a bible study (again complete with projection and bullets of importance) on John 18:1-8


A fresh cod boat looking quite sprightly in Fisherman's Cove, Lopez Island

The skies were looking dark so we grabbed a couple of lattes and walked back to up the anchor and get ourselves tucked into Friday Harbor -- which is where we are today -- doing laundry, filling water, etc. etc.

Love to all of you and more as we reach another internet site. This week we plan to re-explore English Camp and Roche Harbor and perhaps slip over to Victoria.

Indian Cove, Shaw Island

Evening time at anchor on Shaw Island. A wonderful state marine park and the sandiest beach we've seen in the San Juans. We spent a warm afternoon -- high 80's and a windy evening at anchor in this beautiful bay while watching the traffic string up and down Harney Channel.

Dad configures his touch to the new speakers and enjoys a symphony of sounds.

From Market to Mountains and Indian Cove

Radishes and raspberries -- plump and juicy!


Traversing Harney Pass, Mount Baker breaks through and sparkles.

Our anchor mates practise their sailboarding skills while at Indian Cove.

Market Day -- Eastsound, Orcas Island

A cute little customer at the market! We're gonna get us one of them come October!!

A gorgeous display of produce -- Will would be impressed!

We loaded up our basket with fresh vegs and enjoyed the music, smells, sights and sounds of a bustling Saturday morning market.

Who knew onions could look so beautiful!

Adios Olga, Hello Eastsound!

Dad enjoys a chocolate ice-cream as we leave Olga and head out to Rudd Bay -- close to Eastsound on Orcas.

Acappella anchored in Rudd Bay, Eastsound, Orcas Island. Our dinghy trip takes us to the bustling community of Eastsound, the major commercial area on Orcas Island. It's about the size of Ganges on Saltspring Island and has many services for the tourist and boaters. We spent the night on the hook in Rudd Cove and took the dinghy over to town in the morning. Breakfast and internet consumed enough time to spend before the Saturday morning market opened.

The Episcopal Church annex has a labyrinth on the lawn overlooking the sound. Stay tuned for scumptious pictures of the market!