Kismet Visits Popular Fossil Bay on Sucia Island – San Juan Islands

Sucia Island – First Time Catching a Mooring Ball in Fossil Bay –

Sucia Island, a San Juan favorite of ours, has everything I mentioned in the last post about amenities we find attractive when cruising for lengthy periods of time. The island has four anchorages; Fossil Bay, Fox Cove, Echo Bay, and Shallow Bay, where cruisers can overnight. The popular Fossil Bay has two docks and several mooring balls, or you can go, rogue, and anchor, where there is room. Over the years, we have anchored in all but Echo Bay.

There are many trails for hiking on this beautiful island

The diversity in the landscape is outstanding, with rich dense woods towering over moss-covered rocks and log-strewn shorelines. Sucia’s inner forest is dense with mossy rocks and towering cedar trees. Many trails across the island await the willing hiker. The madrona trees add another dimension to the scenery along the cliffs, sometimes offering caves below. In addition, the island’s coastal trails offer spectacular views of the surrounding islands and the Strait of Georgia.

There is an open field, between Fossil Bay and Fox Cove, open for the visual consumption of each anchorage and adjoining campground. We found a water spigot near one of the two docks; it made for easy transport of water to our boat with our new water jugs. The ability to tote water back to the boat enables us a few extra showers on Kismet.

During our three-day stay, we saw boats come and go, some jockeying for a spot at the dock or to secure a mooring ball. We met a few boaters while dinghying to and from the dock, or onshore during one of our hikes. One night we met Vic and Carol Cox, on a Cutwater Boat. After exchanging some boating history, we left with a bag full of fresh-caught shrimp. Dinner was a feast that night, thanks to the Cox’s.

During our hike through the woods, we heard a commotion in the tree branches above. Several blackbirds were screeching an awful sound and right on cue, we came upon a freshly broken egg (below-right) laying on our path. The shattered egg explained all we needed to know about the sorrowful sound we heard above that day.

Next, we came across this doll. I never had daughters, so I am not sure what model this doll is, but I have to say it was eerie to come across it in the woods. Was it dropped by accident or on purpose? Guess we will never know.