SAN JUAN CRUISE
September 11th to 27th, 2009
Sounder & El Amuleto cruised to Friday Harbor. The gang got their wish and caught their limits and feasted. Sounder arriving on the Friday connected with the commodore of the San Juan Yacht Club who have a clubhouse in Friday Harbor and met with their club for happy hour. Jordan presented their commodore with a burgee for their clubhouse. Friday Harbor is a very busy port with ferries, commercial and pleasure traffic that must be very crazy in the heat of the summer. On this day, close to fall, it was busy enough. Sounder did a side trip to Fisherman’s Marina on Lopez island which was to be one of our stops. A shallow winding entry into the bay and when we visited it wasn’t busy at all.
The crabbing fleet joined up in Friday Harbor on Sunday to stay 2 days. Outdoor markets, restaurants and shops aplenty in this thriving harbour town. The best day was Monday when the SBYC bowling league played 10 pin at the local bowling alley. Close scores for all (Kerry has the results) and the next day a lot of sore unused muscles! Thoughts of an annual SBYC bowling outing with appropriate trophy.

Tuesday brought fair winds and more sunshine to leave Friday Harbor for another pristine anchorage. John’s Island was on the itinerary, specifically the North end but park repairs rendered the cove too busy for our fleet and all continued on the Sucia Island, north of Orcas Island. Sucia is an amalgam of many fine anchorages we can find in the south; including sandy beaches, rocky & shale covered shores, multiple coves with fine anchorage, mooring buoys and docks, shoreline & forest walks and great kayaking. Lots to keep the fleet busy for our three day stay which by the way is the maximum allowed by Washington State Park in any one spot. Easy to get around on Sucia, you would just move to another one of her bays. All the parks we were in were well maintained with composting outhouses and water available as well. Sounder did a day trip by dinghy to nearby Patos Island where there is an unmanned historical lighthouse practically on the US/Canada border. Great views of Washington, up the strait, over to Saturna and down the San Juans from both Sucia and this island.

A farewell to Sucia took us back across the border to Canada and a check-in at customs in Bedwell Harbour. A night on the Poet’s Cove docks and a hot shower was welcomed by all. The weather held sunny but the winds were starting to kick up as the fleet left the following day for Montague Harbour, the start of this wonderful cruise. The San Juan fleet met up with Thetis, Baja Rosa and Nakatia on the docks for a farewell happy hour.


Kerry at the San Juan Saturday market.

Sucia Island sunset.

Sucia Island beaches.

Patos Island light station, a short walk from the bay
and a short dinghy ride from Sucia.