Weekend of Festivities



Waterfront Festival - Anacortes

Today we spent the morning at the Waterfront Festival in Anacortes which included music, food, crafts, and a superb collection of Corvettes, both old and new.  Rob, our close and long-time friend arrived the night before to spend part of the weekend with us and take in the festivities.  We so much appreciated his company, he always comes with a smile on his face and a pocket full of humor. 

Checking out the 3D Wood Models

Strolling through the fair, we came upon some 3-D models depicting the ocean floor and land masses for various parts of Puget Sound, Island Groups, and the Coastline.  The models, created by routing out layers of wood to show depth contours had soft colors added to distinguish land and sea.  These eye-catching and intriguing models would make a beautiful collection for any home, boat, or cabin.  Not too much time was spent looking at the jewelry and scarves, however, since Leonard and Rob were making a bee-line for the Corvettes.  I must admit, I enjoyed the cars as well; just about every model, color, and year could be seen in this fine collection. 

Rob and Leonard checking out the Corvettes



Collection of Corvettes - Anacortes Waterfront Festival

 We stopped by the W.T. Preston Snagboat, described in the previous blog posting and Rob, too, found the boat and history to be fascinating. The Saturday Market, located next to the historic train station, was also in full swing at Anacortes.  We purchased some delicious cheese, an olive baguette, and some farm-fresh strawberries for lunch back at the boat; we added a bottle of wine and we were instantaneously transported to Europe, ah!  After we said our goodbye’s to Rob, we motored the boat to Blind Bay where we met our friends Bob and Shino who were out fishing again for the weekend.  They rafted up next to our boat for the evening and had arrived with a bountiful catch of shrimp – another delicious dinner aboard Got d’ Fever!  

Delicious BBQ Shrimp - Compliments of Bob & Shino

We were not lacking in conversation either, as Bob and Shino always come with interesting stories and are another couple that always find the humorous side of things.  We might not be making much progress northward, but we sure are having a good time trying!  With our new schedule, we are aiming for the Broughton Island Group and perhaps beyond for this summer’s cruising destination.

Maritime Heritage

The trip to Portland proved to be fruitful and with another appointment or two, we can make some serious progress northward.  In the meantime we will enjoy cruising the San Juan Islands until my next scheduled trip back to Portland. 

We spent a few days in Anacortes and enjoyed visiting the Maritime Heritage Center which includes the historic 1929/39 Snagboat, Preston.  The rivers of Puget Sound were served by hundreds of steam paddle-wheelers in the late 1800’s.  Because the hulls were easily punctured by submerged stumps and logs, Snag boats were needed to keep the tributaries cleared. 

Three steam powered sternwheelers served as Snag boats for the area, they were the Skagit (1885), the Swinomish (1914), and then the W.T. Preston (1929 and 1939).  The Preston used a 70-foot boom and a 1 ¼-cubic yard clamshell dredging bucket.  Steel “spuds”, fore and aft, were lowered through the hull to anchor her to the bottom.  

Helm Station W. T. Preston 

The crew would locate submerged hazards by sweeping the riverbed with a cable suspended between two skiffs. 

The Preston served the Puget Sound from Olympia to Blaine for more than forty years before she was retired in 1981 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. 

She had used the main reciprocating steam engines, as well as many pumps and other hardware from her 1914 predecessor; and then in 1939, the Army Corps of Engineers made some additions or modifications.  Her replacement, Puget, operates today out of W.T. Preston’s previous dock at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. 


Engine Room - W.T. Preston

We found the Preston Snagboat in Anacortes a worthwhile tour not to be missed.  We also discovered some interesting history, past and present, in the adjacent museum building which houses photos and artifacts. 

Auxiliary Donkey Boiler  - the Preston

We learned that the USA 17 BMW Oracle racing trimaran was built and launched in Anacortes.  Constructed of light durable carbon fiber composite, it reached up to three times that of the wind which powered it. 

Builders and Planners of USA 17

Builders of the craft chose Anacortes as a construction site because of its proximity to the small town of Sedro-Woolley where the firm Janicki Industries provided high-tech tooling or molds needed to create carbon fiber hulls with extremely precise specifications.  She was the fastest and most revolutionary craft for racing at that time.  After attracting worldwide attention for several days while conducting sea trials in Rosario Strait, USA 17 was shipped to San Diego and went on to win the 2010 America’s Cup at Valencia, Spain.               

A Short Respite



Parks Bay

We motored over to Parks Bay on Shaw Island and dropped the hook, a nice quiet place to give my hand some time to heal and wait for the swelling to go down.  Parks Bay is only 2 miles northeast of Friday Harbor but has a remote feel since very few boats come into the bay.  

Parks Bay and Biological Preserve

Most of the land surrounding the anchorage is a Biological Preserve, owned and operated by the University of Washington so going ashore is not allowed.  

Looking northwest from Parks Bay

Fishing in the bay is also restricted to preserve the underwater habitat.  These restrictions, however, make for a very peaceful setting and the bay provides a fabulous view of the sunset.  We spent a couple of nights in Parks Bay enjoying the solitude.  

A Beautiful Sunset, Parks Bay

My hand was nearly back to normal, minus the ring of course.  Then it became apparent that we needed to do some backtracking.  A trip to Portland to help my mother with some follow-up business was needed, so we motored back to Anacortes where I could rent a car for the drive south.  In the meantime Leonard could finish up his dinghy repairs.  Stay tuned for more adventures, both on and off the water.     

Repairs and the Missing Ring

The morning rain quickly dissipated and the bright sun shown over Friday Harbor.  Our friends had departed with their boat after dealing with a discrepancy in oil level readings.  Now it was our turn to take care of some maintenance. 

Work under the Dinghy

Previously in Blind Bay, Leonard had found a rock with his name on it while crossing the channel in the dinghy.  Oh well, the dinghy has accumulated several dings due to its extensive use and our many beach landings in Mexico; it was time to do some patch work along the underside. 

Extra support under the Dinghy

We purchased a fiberglass repair kit and Leonard began the sanding and patching process while the dinghy was supported by the davit; additional supports were placed under the dinghy for stability.  While Leonard was working on the dinghy, I had noticed throughout the morning that my left hand was hurting and quite swollen.  I had remembered swinging a bag of heavy groceries over my shoulder, turning my hand in a twisting motion, ouch!  I guess those antics should be left for someone younger.  Fortunately, the local clinic determined that my hand was only sprained and not broken. 

My wedding ring, however, needed to come off due to the excessive swelling.  It was either that or my finger!  Seems my ring had become tight even before the swelling; apparently fingers get bigger as we age so I didn’t mind it coming off (the ring that is) with the use of a ring-cutter.  I can always get the ring re-sized.  I joked with Leonard that perhaps the ring was getting tighter in more ways than one, ha.  Over the next several days I would need to be careful with my hand, no strenuous line-handling etc. so we anchored in a peaceful cove for some respite.

A Twosome Rendezvous

Blind Bay

After our day-visit to Vendovi, we motored a short 30 minutes to Cypress Island and moored on a DNR Buoy for the night.  A number of boats had already arrived for the evening at Cypress in Eagle Harbor but two moorings were still available.  We had a lovely evening with a beautiful view of “Cone Islands” which lie nearby.  The following morning we headed for Blind Bay, a large scenic anchorage at Shaw Island within close proximity to village shops and grocery stores. 

Orcas Landing

We visited the old country store at Shaw Landing and then took the dinghy across Harney Channel to visit the cute shops at Orcas Landing, both landings are serviced by the Washington State Ferries.  Later that afternoon, our friends Bob and Shino arrived with their boat and rafted up next to us in Blind Bay. 

Rafting in Blind Bay

They had been out fishing and shrimping with their Explorer 2400 SeaSport, a well built and well configured sport fishing boat, very popular in the Pacific Northwest.  Bob and Shino were outfitted with the latest fishing gear, including a large net to haul in the big ones!  Or as Bob likes to joke, scoop up his petite wife.  After making sure our boats were secure and well fendered, we settled in for the evening and had a great visit over dinner aboard Got d’ Fever, pot-luck style. 

A Delicious Breakfast

In the morning we shared a pot-luck breakfast of eggs and spinach, coffeecake, and fruit.  There is something special about a rendezvous with friends by boat, perhaps it’s the party atmosphere, the relaxed attitude, or perhaps the sharing of food, drink and stories, or all of the above. 

Shino Ready to Fish

We certainly had a good time and decided to meet up again the next day at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.  Fortunately, the marina had space for us even though it was over the busy Memorial Day weekend. 

Adding Oil to SeaSport

We found ourselves putting together another pot-luck dinner, this time aboard their SeaSport, and learning more about their recent trip to Spain.  The conversation led to a discussion about other countries and Shino shared with us what it was like growing up in Japan and her visits back home to see family – all very fascinating. 

Departing Blind Bay

Next morning the rain had arrived and it was time to say goodbye to our long-time friends and previous neighbors from Redmond, Washington.      

An Island Gem



Caretakers House, Vendovi Island

After a night’s anchorage at Saddlebag Island, we motored over to Anacortes for groceries and had dinner with our long-time friends Bruce and Pam who have a beautiful home in the area.  It was great to see them again and hear about their plans to visit La Paz, Mexico with their new motorhome this coming fall. 



Got d' Fever at Guest Dock, Vendovi Island

After a couple of nights in Anacortes we motored north to the beautiful Island of Vendovi, located between Guemes and Lummi Islands south of Bellingham Bay.  This 217 acre island is now open to the public (May through September) thanks to the San Juan Preservation Trust which purchased the island in 2010 from the Fluke family. 


Caretakers House

Boaters can tie up to the day-use dock and explore the island trails, grasslands, and beaches.  Unlike Saddlebag Island, the trails on Vendovi are well maintained with good signage and the views are outstanding.  Our friends Shawn and Heather serve as caretakers and live on the John Fluke homestead just upland from the dock.  How many people get paid to live in an island paradise, what a great job! 

Sawmill Shed

You do have to be willing to work hard, however, and use some old-fashioned life skills like obtaining water from a well, running a generator for electrical power, and enjoying the bounty of a well-kept garden. A pump is used to draw water into two large storage tanks, which can also be used for fire suppression.  Shawn and Heather gave us a nice tour of the outbuildings, machinery, and equipment, including the old farm sawmill as well as directing us to the site that once served as the Fluke cemetery.   

Several Gardens throughout the Property

After hiking the trails through the beautiful forest out to the meadows and beaches, we joined Shawn and Heather for drinks and snacks at the picnic tables near the boat dock overlooking the sea. 

Trails through the Forest

The island is indeed a special place and boaters can learn more about the island in Shawn’s and Heather’s new guidebook for the San Juan Islands. 

Fungi in the Forest

Shawn and Heather are also authors of the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Mexico guidebooks. 

Beach and Native American Camping Grounds, Vendovi Island

The Short Cut



Swinomish Channel

We departed Coupeville late morning on May 20^th, rounding Strawberry Point on Whidbey Island and headed north for the Swinomish Channel.  The Swinomish is a partly natural channel and partly dredged channel eleven miles long that connects Skagit Bay to the south and Padilla Bay to the north. 


Rainbow Bridge and La Conner

This protected channel is used by pleasure boats as a shortcut to Anacortes and the San Juan Islands.  To maintain navigable depths through these mud flats, the channel must be dredged every three years. 

Although not exposed like the open sea, it can still be rather unnerving since the channel is very narrow, especially when meeting traffic from the other direction!  Boaters must pay close attention to the channel markers and range markers, staying within the boundaries and be mindful of wind and current that can sweep a boat off course. 


Nearing Anacortes and Saddlebag Island

Completed in 1937, the Army Corps of Engineers used dredging and diking to create this navigable channel.  A sharp bend around a high outcropping must be initiated just before reaching Rainbow Bridge and the adorable village of La Conner located on the east side of the channel; the Swinomish Indian Reservation lies to the west.  The channel route is very scenic with lots of Eagles, Herons, and other wildlife; Java kept peering through the hawse to survey the scene.  We soon reached the northern end of the channel, passing under the SR20 Bridge and through the last of the mud flats approaching Anacortes, our old familiar cruising grounds and jumping-off point for the San Juan Islands. 

Anchorage at Saddlebag Island

We decided to spend the first night at anchor rather than at the marina so we motored to nearby Saddlebag Island and dropped the hook.  It was time to get out the kayaks for a first of the season. 

Nice Views from Saddlebag Island

After cleaning off the winter accumulation of green, we paddled around the small island, then went ashore and walked the marine park trails. 

Hiking the Trails, Saddlebag Island

Java went with us of course, excited to rejuvenate her hunting instincts. 

Got d' Fever at anchor, Saddlebag Island