Finally Leaving!

Leaving the dock

Every year we strive to get away by April 15th for our cruising season. We have not made that target date lately and this year was no exception.

We have been ignoring the 24-foot Sea Ray I bought new in 2000. This year we decided we really should not leave until my boat has been sold. The issue was the MerCruiser engine and outdrive that Don and his sons rebuilt over a few years. We had the engine and lower unit reinstalled into the boat last spring but then we found water intrusion over the winter caused the engine to be ruined. After waiting a month to see if our insurance claim for it would be approved, we found out it was denied.

We then tried to donate the boat but nobody seemed to want to be bothered with it so we sold it on Craigslist in 1 day to a nice guy from Vaughn which is in the northwestern Key Peninsula area. He will replace the engine and get her fixed up for resale.

Goodbye to Crystal Red, my 24 foot SeaRay. She is ready for a new owner.

We left our slip-on Friday May 31st at 11:45 am to start our journey with peace of mind that my little Sea Ray was I good hands. Our trip was to cruise north up the inside (east side) of Whidbey Island up to Hope Island and anchored for the night. We arrived at 7:30 pm. 7 hrs 45 min cruising time.

Hope Island is close to Deception Pass and is a wonderful marine state park in Skagit County with hiking trails and camping. Across from Hope Island is another smaller island named Skagit Island, also a marine park with camping. It is for people arriving by human-powered watercraft. We have taken our dinghy to the island to hike the trail that goes around the island.

Bosun sporting a summer cut on the lookout to protect the boat.

On our way to Anacortes

We left the next morning, Saturday, June 1st at 11:30 timing our time to the tides for Swinomish Channel. We travelled out of Kiket Bay and backtracked to the entrance for Swinomish Channel. It is a very narrow but well-marked channel; you just have to pay attention. We went past La Conner without stopping . I recently went to lunch and shopping there with my girlfriend Yana so we stimulated their economy for this year.

Hope Island to Swinomish Channel past La Conner to Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes.

Passing through La Conner - Lots of commercial crab boats.

Downtown La Conner Waterfront - Lots of restaurants and shops

We continued on to Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes to take advantage of their lower fuel prices. We took 240 gallons (our capacity is 600 gallons). Arrived at our slip at 2:55 after fueling. 3 hrs 25 min cruising time.

Cap Sante is an exceptionally nice, well-run marina. We ended up mooring there for 4 days due to the extreme wind and rainy conditions. There were 8-foot seas out there so you did not see boats leaving the safety of the marina for a couple of days.

Memorial for Seafarers who have lost their lives at sea

Lady of the Sea - Lighting the way for those returning from sea

Cape Sante Marina - Large marina with a very nice walkway to stroll along the water.

Finally on our way to San Juan Islands

On Wednesday June 5th we left Anacortes at 6:10 am heading for John’s Island, a private island just south of Stewart Island. We have a girlfriend, Marita, who has a summer home there. Unfortunately, after tying to her second buoy we suddenly noticed we were drifting towards the rocks on shore. We had to remove our line and head out. Marita had also been delayed telling us she was staying at her place on Friday Harbor until the next day.

We went north to Prevost Harbor on Stewart Island, finding a spot on the dock. We tied up at 10:35 am. Bosun and I took a couple of nice hikes that afternoon. It was sunny with a light wind. Just perfect conditions to complete the day. 4 hrs 25 min cruising time time.

Arriving in Canada