Holly And Alex On Fly Bridge
This summer boating trip will be remembered as the “COVID” trip since this was the first year of travel with the unknown affects of COVID requiring masks and closing the border to Canada. We left Water Dog at a marina in Canada and hired a Canadian captain to bring the boat over from Anglers Anchorage Marina in Brentwood BC where she was kept over winter.
While waiting in Anacortes for the boat to arrive we got a call from the captain that Water Dog was blowing black smoke and could not get much over idle. After having him and his crew dive the bottom for fouling etc we remembered that we had forgotten to have him take the cover off the engine room outside air intakes for winterization, he then was able to resume trip.
July 19, 2020 Reid Harbor
Due to COVID preventing border crossings we had to have a Canadian Captain deliver Water Dog from Canada to Anacortes, WA. We set sail to the Stuart Islands (Reid Harbor) from Anacortes. We met up with our boat buddies Mana Kai and had a couple nice days of walks and hanging out.
Reid Harbor
July 21-22 San Juan Sucia Islands
We then headed to one of our favorite places in the San Juans: the Sucias. Beautiful islands, good anchorage if you tuck behind the entrance to the fairly open bay and great walks for us and the dogs. We try to tuck in but also keep a view of Mt Baker
Grand QTR and Mana Kai were there the first night and we had a happy hour on grand QTR. They took off after one night as Echo Bay was crowded and the more central anchorage area was rolly. We stayed to hang out and hike and kayak.
Sucia Island Anchorage
July 23-25 Bellingham, Wa
Hung out with Darlene and Jeff a bit. Went to farmer’s market an fixed a few things.
July 26-28 Garrison Bay
Twas crowded but good for hiking, got to go for a nice dinner with our boat buddies for Oysters. Good time had by all.
Garrison Bay Anchorage
July 29th MacKaye Harbor
Off to mackaye harbor: a favorite. Somewhat exposed but great hike to Icy point. Dogs can swim and dinghy dock. Good crabbing!
MacKaye Harbor
July 30-31 Hunter Bay
Wanted to try out Watmough bay but too exposed for upcoming wind so we went to tried and true Hunter bay. Met up with Grand QTR and we had happy hour and more good times.
Hunter Bay Anchorage
Aug 1 LaConner Marina
A favorite. Nice town. Can walk dogs around. After several years of visiting found the dog beach. Had dinner with Grand QTR and Mana Kai folks one night.
Water Dog Approaching LaConner
Aug 2 Oak Harbor
Tried out oak harbor for the first time. Military base near marina. Tight docking experience at marina. One guy had to move his boat a bit. Another guy trying to help us tie up almost fell in. We walked the town a bit. Picked up groceries using the bikes.
Aug 2 Oak Harbor
Since we were confined to the San Juad we decided to explore the Hood canal
Aug 3rd Port Gamble
Anchorage. Good beach to land dinghy but no dock. Nice little town with a general store, a bakery and good walking on the grounds. Found some hiking too.
Img 1000749…holly not quite getting the fact that the grass is for doing her business
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Port Gamble
Aug 6-7 Hood Canal
Stopped for two nights at pleasant harbor marina. Road walking only. THye do have a pizza place and bar. Take out only due to Covid.
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August 8-9 Hood Canal Alderbrook Resort and Marina
Anchored one night and at dock another. Nice resort. Has some good hiking and nice vibe. We liked it. Went down the canal with Bob and Claudette on grand QTR. Bob really wanted to go to the end of Hood canal so we took the dinghy’s to the end of hood canal. Just so we could say we did!
Alderbrook Resort And Hood Canal
Aug 10-15 Port Gamble and Kingston
Headed out from hood canl, stopped another night at port gamble. Then went to Kingston. Nice little town, good restaurants, found a good hike. Nice except we had a tight slip! They harbormaster and four other guys helped us get in as it was BLOWING! We liked Kingston though but prefer to be on guest dock.
After Kingston went to Poulsbo. Nice anchorage. Can get view of Mt Rainer. Good town to walk and can walk to head of bay and do Fish Park. We were with Grand QTR.
Nex stop port orchard across from bremington. Still with grand qtr. Plenty of guest dock but BLOWING made it hard. They have nice farmer’s market we hit and a short ferry ride to Bremerton. We explored bremerton but the good museums closed causse of COVID> walked to a safeway for groceires then got a taxi back.
Kingston
Port Orchard had a nice farmers market and short coastal walk. Ferry over to Bremerton.
Port Orchard
Aug 16-17 Quartermaster Harbor/Dockton Park
Heading further south in Puget sound stopped at quartermaster harbor/Dockton park. The dock under construction but if fixed will have good tie up. Used boat ramp as dinghy dock. Good walking. Busy and wavy as boat launch and it was the weekend. Grand QTR went further in and around the corner to a better anchorage (we moved there on day two). They had access to yacht club dock due to their San Diego yacht club membership. So we could get dogs ashore. The anchorage was better but not as good walking for the dogs and us!
Quartermaster Harbor/Dockton Park
August 18-19 Penrose Point State Park – Mayo Cove
Cruised through narrows and hit 13 knots due to incoming tide. Narrows has 4-6 knot currents. Arrived around 2:30 at Mayo Cove and set anchor further out from shore. Nice park to walk in.
The Narrows On Way To Penrose Point State Park
August 20-21st Long Branch Improvement Club Dock
Little private yacht club. Had good view of Mt Rainier when not cloudy. Walked out to McDermitt point which apple maps said was a park but it is private and per owners who chased us off its been private since the depression era. Alex picked at least 2 quarts of black berries. Road walking, not too much but some traffic. Had Blackberrry cobbler for dessert !
August 22-23 Tacoma – Dock Street Marina
Met up with Grand QTR and Mana Kai. Marina right near Tacoma glass museum (but it was closed due to COVID). We all had some good times, a meal and I found Wright park to walk to
Stayed at Dock street marina which was nice because good grass near by
Tacoma Dock Street Marina
August 24–25 Jarrell Cove State Park
Arrived around 11:30am. Cove is small but pretty, outside dock has pump out and one 70 footish space, inside dock is new and likely a few hundred feet both sides but probably shallower. Cove is full of mooring bouy’s very close to each other. Would be hard to anchor. We were going to anchor just outside of cove but a sailboat pulled off the outside dock so we took that space.. The whole gang from Mana Kai, Grand QTR and us walked on the limited trails then checked out the marina store across the cove. Had dinners and brunch and walks.
Jarrell Cove State Park
Jarrell Cove State Park Anchorage
August 26-27 Olympia, Swantown Marina
Off to Olympia! . Arrived at Swantown around 12pm and tied up. Walked with dogs to Capital park and Lake. Checked out the Farmer’s market as well which was nice. Also walked up to Watershed park. In the middle of town near I-5 but very nice walking through woods.
Olympia
August 28–30 Gig Harbor Anchor
Rendezvous and rafted with Mana Kai cause so crowded (canada closed due to covid so everyone in the San Juan’s and Puget Sound
Bainbridge Island Eagle Harbor Anchor
We have always liked Bainbridge harbor. Sometimes can get on the good guest dock but this time so crowded cause COVID keeping all cruisers in WA. We rafted with Mana Kai. Walked the town and some of the trails. Have visited several times but just now found that there is a great each park across the bay so we dinghied over to let the dogs have some fun.
Bainbridge Island Eagle Harbor Anchor
August 31st through September 3rd La Conner Marina (boat haul Sept 3rd)
Headed back to La Conner for the boat haul. Short cruising . When going buy east side of Whidby island the Orcas made an appearance. We were fairly far away but watched them for a bit. Nice ending to a short but fun cruising season.
