A Family Boating Trip to the San Juan and Gulf Islands
Included are Pictures and how-to Tips
The pictures were taken by Phil and brother Dave, Sauer
My family and I have been sailing the San Juan & Gulf Islands for 40 years.
More recently my brother, Dave & I sail together.
Along the way countless others have joined me, especially during the years we lived and taught on Orcas Island.
Day 1
We also fuel at
their dock. ($53 to sling round trip and $5 /day parking)
Then,
depending on tides, we head north to Cyprus or Clark or even Matia Islands
(get a buoy).
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The
next morning, we head on into our great favorite, Sucia.
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We
often spend a night at Fossil Bay if we can get a spot on the dock (buoys
are also available).
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The next day we move to Shallow bay and anchor in the north end (buoys here
too, but no dock). Shallow Bay has much to offer being the center of the island.
It
has the warmest swimming, and beautiful sandy beaches, miles of hiking and
The China Caves which all provide hours of entertainment for the whole family.
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From there
you may want to take a 30-40 min walk down along Echo Bay to Ewing Bay
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A side trip from here might include a ride to Patos Island 3 niles north.
There you can visit the Historic Lighthouse made famous by the book,"A Light
On The Island", Helen Gildden.
Your kids would really enjoy it too, since it chronicals the adventures of
the children of the lightkeeper, 1900-1910.
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When we leave Sucia we usually stop at West Beach Resort on Orcas Island (it is only a few feet deep at the dock at low tide).
There is fuel, ice and a few groceries. This is a nice family resort where they have a camp fire each evening with popcorn and stories.
Buoys are usually available for $18.
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This is a great island for hiking, and on-shore camping where there are almost
always sites available.
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A walk to the old school is an easy 30 minute hike. Go up and across the island
and find a trail that goes north.
Keep left until you come to the 100 stairs, don’t go down, but back
up 100 ft and take a trail up to the right.
Here you walk the ridge, to the School. There won’t be any one there,
but you can visit the small museum or borrow books from the library.
There is also a wide selection of very nice Tee Shirts. There is a sign "Leave
No Money".
Instead, when you take one, there is an envelope and an IOU in the bag. Then
you get home you write a check and send it back.
If you continue on that same trail for 1 ˝ miles more you get to the light
house.
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Or
go back and after dinner take a dinghy to the county dock (1 mile north of
your dock) and hike to "Whale Watching Point",
30 min (turn left 150 yards beyond the top of the hill) or go on to the Light
House, another 30 min.
If you happen to get to the light house during the day (10-4 most days), you
can tour the old Lightkeeper’s elaborate home built in the 1800’s
and now restored.
Also, don’t miss the most beautiful out-house we have ever seen.
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At
this point you have a choice, go directly to Bedwell Harbor or take a side
trip to Sydney and Victoria on Vancouver Island. Either way the next stop
is in Canada.
To enter Canada: Everyone aboard will need at least a Passport Card.
When there, the skipper only, gets out and sees, or makes a call to Customs
(no later than 8 pm).
The skipper should have all the passports and your boat number or name available.
It is also a good idea to have
a copy of the boat
registration and title (though Canadians rarely ask for it, American Customs
always will).
If
you choose Sydney and Victoria, go to the beautiful Port Sydney Marina right
in the middle of Sydney's Waterfront Park.
Customs is right on the outer end of the G dock.
Next call 250.655.3711 or they answer in VHF something like 68. This is really
a top notch marina, with all the amenities.
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There are many restaurants, several supermarkets, even a West Marine, all
within walking distance.
If you walk down Main Street to fifth, there is a nice bus that takes you
to downtown Victoria hourly, where you may feel you are in Europe.
There are many attractions and museums as you walk around the Inner Harbor.
The beautiful Empress Hotel is the center.
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If
you have a few hours, the Royal BC Museum is a real treat for the whole family.
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In the evening you may want to visit Butchart Gardens on the way back from
Victoria.
This is also a world class attraction. Beautiful
lighting and fireworks highlight the evening.
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After a stay in the city, you may want to stop at quiet Royal Cove on Portland
Island Provincial Park 45 minutes north (you do get occasional waves from
a passing ferry).
It is a wonderful little cove on the northwest point of Portland. You anchor
and tie a line to hooks on the banks. There is a dinghy dock and many trails.
Trails go through the center of the island to Princess Bay (another anchorage),
or you can walk all the way around the outside of the island.
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