We Picked Cypress Island as Our First Stop in the San Juan Islands – Jim and I are ready to begin our summer’s cruising adventure in the Pacific Northwest, we left Anacortes after three days of launching, provisioning, and organizing. On our first day out, we pointed Kismet’s bow toward Cypress Island, in the San Juan Islands. We have cruised the San Juan’s many times over the years, in three different boats. We have many favorite anchorages and marinas to revisit. However, as you have probably read many times on our blog; we like to mix the old favorites with…

Fourth of July Weekend in Prevost Harbor – the San Juan Islands – We arrived at Stuart Island early in the morning, choosing Prevost Harbor over Reid Harbor for our 3-day stay. The last time we were in the San Juan Islands, we anchored in Reid Harbor. Although at that time, we anchored only one night in Prevost Harbor; it was a means to an end. We were positioning ourselves to cross the border to North Pender Island, Canada, in 2016. Poets Cove – Ranger Tugs/Cutwater Boats Cruise. As luck would have it, there was space at the dock when we arrived in the…

Port of Friday Harbor – Where Friday Begins – Going into the Port of Friday Harbor for a few days means several things for the crew of Kismet. Our arrival is followed by a list of chores we need to take care of while on land. Since we are usually anchoring or docking at marine parks for several weeks at a time, not only do we need to pump out and fill up the water tank, but two weeks of laundry can be quite a daunting task. Besides emptying and filling tanks, we also need to wash the boat, restock the cupboards,…

Jones Island is another Washington Marine State Park – On the recommendation of another boater, we picked Jones Island for a three-day stay, the time limit allotted to boaters at most of these marine parks. We chose the cove on the north side of the island, it’s the one with a boat dock. As luck would have it, there was space for us at the end of the dock. The benefits of having a smaller boat! We grabbed it and spent three days exploring the island and relaxing on the boat. Great trails around the west side of the island…

The next two days included stops at Victim & Rebel Islands, Lopez Island, and Parks Bay – We like to call it a String of One-Night Stands. Usually, this means we are stopping somewhere en route to our destination. Typically, these are not marine parks, so usually no dock or mooring balls to catch, just an option to anchor off private property. There may sometimes be a beach, at low tide,  for walking dogs. On our way back to Friday Harbor, from Jones Island, we first stopped at Victim and Rebel Islands for a one-night stay on the hook. A lovely spot, providing excellent…

English Camp – A Fun Shore Visit When Anchoring in Garrison Bay – While cruising in the San Juan Islands, we always try to make a stop to anchor in Garrison Bay. It’s close to Roche Harbor and is scenic with several hiking trails beyond the historic English Camp. The trail to Westcott Bay and the Westcott Bay Shellfish Company is an easy walk through gnarly treed woods and moss-covered rocks. For those looking for a more challenging hike, there is a trail that meanders up the hill beyond the camp. From there you can take in a stunning overlook…

We’d heard a lot about Hunter Bay from other Tuggers – Hunter Bay is a big open anchorage, not too far from Anacortes. According to reports from local boaters, it’s an excellent spot for crabbing. On our way back to the mainland for a marina stop in Anacortes, before we head to South Sound, we stopped for two nights in Hunter Bay. We had fun watching the dinghies, and small boats, zip back and forth to their crab pots to set or pull in their catches. A lot of happy crabbers in Hunter Bay! We had recently met Bruce and…

Before Heading to Seattle and South Sound, We Stopped in Anacortes for Maintenance Chores and Visit with a Friend – Our return trip to Anacortes was just a quick stop to meet a friend, do laundry, get a pump-out, fill up tanks and get groceries and mail. We were busy during our two-day stay. When we leave Anacortes, we will point Kismet’s bow south, towards Seattle and South Puget Sound. Our itinerary this summer is very loose, having us decide every day if we stay one more night somewhere or skip a spot altogether. I like this kind of cruise.…