Synergy at Sea: Dec 30, 2009

We headed out on the boat for an extended holiday trip, leaving Wednesday Dec. 30 at 2:20PM with no specific destination in mind. We often do this and discuss our possible destinations while en-route. We are headed in the general direction of Fisherman Bay/Turn Island/Parks Bay. But as we are cruising we decide to postpone Turn Island for a few days as we are picking up our friends the Dalton's at Friday Harbor on Jan 2, which is right next to Turn Island. We can see it on Jan 2.

Being passed by a WA State Ferry on the way to Jones Island

We poke our bow into the north bay at Jones Island and much to our surprise the dock is still there. It is usually removed for the winter so it won't get damaged by the storms. There is only one boat on the dock and no boats on any of the mooring buoys. We have found our destination! We tie up to the dock and get settled in. The sailboat next to us is beautiful and has a lone occupant; a school teach from Seattle who is out for about a week during Christmas vacation. He is leaving tomorrow AM heading back to Seattle.

Beautiful boat at Jones Island dock.

Map of Jones Island showing the North Bay

Lucky us! Nobody else on the dock for New Years Eve.

A stormy but quiet night alone - this is perfect winter boating.

It is supposed to be VERY windy the next few days, but the wind will be from the south, and our little bay opens to the north. We go for some hikes around the island; it is a great island with the kids. A nice trail loops around the west end. It is VERY windy. I can get cell coverage in some places so I check the winds and it's blowing about 40 knots all around us. I don't think we are seeing more than 3-4 knots in the north bay though. It was a great choice. I also email the Dalton's to confirm our pickup in a few days at Friday Harbor. We take our cat Zappa on one of the hikes. This cat is amazing. He is really more like a dog. He follows us for what has to be a mile through the woods. Never leaving our sight, yet exploring as he goes. It's got to be an interresting life for him; checking out the ocean beaches, seeing all kinds of birds and seals, taking walks through the woods, exploring other people's boats, and yes, getting sea-sick every now and then when we end up in some rough weather.

Taking Zappa for a walk on the island.

(look, in the tree; it's a bird, it's a plane, it's super-kitty...)

Zappa taking a cat-nap after his island explorations.

We leave Jones Island and head over to Turn Island State Park where we will wait for the ferry bringing our friends the Dalton's. Then we will motor over and pick them up at the Friday Harbor fuel dock. In the meantime, we've never been to Turn Island before, but have been curious about it for a while now. It's a nice, small island, with a bunch of campsites. It looks like a nice place for camping and kayaking. We'll have to come back someday.

Synergy on a buoy at Turn Island Marine State Park

We pick up the Dalton's and motor over to Garrison Bay for a few days of hiking around the state park. It is great fun to bring friends along. The Dalton's have their own boat, but it's not equiped for winter cruising as it has no good heat source inside - yet. The kids all have a blast exploring English Camp, and on our hike up Young Hill.