La Conner to Hope Island and Back

On the way to Hope Island.

Rainbow Bridge at the south end of La Conner.

La Conner from the Swinomish Channel.

Taking the tidal current south, we depart the La Conner marina to head to nearby Hope Island for five days. The weather is cool, but okay, so we decide not to head out too far, plus Bobby has another medical appointment in a week.

Only a few boats are at Hope Island when we arrive, so we pick up a mooring ball and enjoy the quiet. The hike around the island is not well marked in spots and can turn into somewhat of an adventure if you do not pay attention. We did a lot of reading cuddled up in fleece. On Sunday, we catch the tidal current and head back to La Conner marina.

Stuart Island, Orcas Island, and Shaw Island

S/V Wanderin' Star anchored in Massacre Bay, West Sound, Orcas Island.

Jenny's mom and Bobby in cockpit of S/V Kocoa in Reid Harbor, Stuart Island.

Bobby returning with crabs after checking the crab pot in Reid Harbor.

We continue to buddy boat with Jenny's parents (S/V Kocoa). After departing delightful Roche Harbor on the north end of San Juan Island, we make the quick trip back to Stuart Island. This time we stay in Reid Harbor at the marine park dock. The state park is on a narrow finger of land with Reid Harbor on the west side and Prevost Harbor to the east. Reid Harbor is usually more protected than Prevost Harbor, and thus warmer. Due to the cooler summer this year, Jenny's parents are able to tolerate the warmer Reid Harbor side of the park. From here, S/V Kocoa departs the San Juan Islands for a 2-3 day return to Seattle.

"The Star" heads to the Massacre Bay, West Sound, on Orcas Island. In between rain showers, Jenny kayaks and Bobby completes a few boat chores. Through light rain on 9 August (Monday), we cruise over to East Sound, past Rosario Resort, to the end of the sound. This sound is exposed to wind funneling up the waterway, and with the deteriorating summer weather, we decided to head back to Blind Bay, Shaw Island. There is a small store by the ferry landing at Blind Bay we dinghy to for a few fresh grocery items. Harbor seals and their pups are using rocks (just outside the west end of the bay, making it the side not to exit the bay!) exposed at low tides to hang out.

Garrison Bay and Roche Harbor, San Juan Island

Bobby and the Hotel de Haro at Roche Harbor, San Juan Island.
The old lime kilns at Roche Harbor.

View of Roche Harbor Marina from gardens of Hotel de Haro.

Afterglow Vista Mausoleum at Roche Harbor.

Bobby's favorite position - reading at anchor.

English Camp Encampment Day of Victorian times.

Jenny and her mom with birthday cake, Garrison Bay.

English Camp and Garrison Bay.

View from atop Young Hill, English Camp Park.

S/V Kocoa and S/V Wanderin' Star buddy anchored in Garrison Bay.

Wednesday, 28 July, S/V Wanderin' Star and Jenny's parents' boat, S/V Kocoa leave Friday Harbor and head around the north end of San Juan Island to anchor in Garrison Bay. San Juan Island was the site of "The Pig War" between Britain and the United States 1860-1872. The English and Americans were arguing over the border between Canada and the United States, with the British claiming the boundary ran south of San Juan Islands. Both sides had settlers on the island, one side's pig got into someone's garden on the other side and was shot - leading to much male posturing and both sides setting up military camps until the matter was settled some years later. At Garrison Bay, the English established their camp in a state of permanence on a prime spot of real estate. The Americans threw up a fort on the southern end of the island and remained living and drilling under harsh conditions (drinking problems were an issue - imagine that!). Possibly, being assigned at American Camp may have been better than fighting in the Civil War.

A recently completed trail through public and private land allows one to travel off-road between English Camp Park at Garrison Bay to Roche Harbor. Jenny enjoyed running this trail and hiking the park trails, especially up Young Hill for a panoramic view of the island and Vancouver Island, Canada. On Saturday (31 July), English Camp had an Encampment Day with folks recreating how people lived at the time the Camp was an active military post.

On Monday, 2 August, both boats move to the marina at Roche Harbor to catch up on laundry and restock groceries. Roche Harbor is a small resort town where a family company processed lime years ago. We hike through the Sculpture Garden in a field, and to Afterglow Vista (lime company family's mausoleum). The grounds in front of the old hotel is a lovely garden adding to the picturesque beauty of this port. Two days are all we need at a marina dock to be ready to move on...