Yesterday morning we did some boat projects (oil and oil filter change, fuel filter change) and then around noon we headed up to Fossil Bay on Sucia Island. We had about 20+ knots of wind from the north and some chop, but it was a pretty day to be out on the boat. We stopped at Matia Cove (on Matia Island) to check it out as a possible anchorage, and though it was pretty, we opted to continue on over to Sucia (for some increased hiking options). It was pretty cold out by the time we arrived (around 4pm) so we just hung at the boat and later made dinner (chicken piccata over zucchini noodles), and watched a couple more episodes of Black Mirror (Season 3…we’ve seen up to Episode 4 now). It rained most of the night and until this afternoon, so we just stayed cozy on Airship and worked.
Once it stopped raining, we dinghied to shore and then hiked over to Echo Bay and around out to the point. Even gray and cold, it’s still beautiful here.
Maybe because they’re all wet from the rain, but the bark on the madrone trees is just electric today!
We thought we might head back to Cypress Island today, but we’re staying put. It’s nice here, and we’re getting a lot of work done (and there are otters!). We’re the only boat on a mooring ball here…there were two boats at the dock last night (one sailboat, one Nordic Tug 37) and today only the Nordic Tug remains….a pretty quiet Halloween!
Ahhhh, magical. It’s truly special when you have these, usually crowded, anchorages to yourself. That’s the beauty of winter cruising. Wonderful pictures, thanks.
Thanks Gary! And yes, since we’ve spent our first two boating summers heading up the Inside Passage to AK, we don’t know the San Juans in the summer (but we can certainly imagine). We’re fortunate up here to be able to keep boating all year long!
We were in Echo Bay on Sunday and saw you on the AIS. We have the catamaran Mokimak out of Bellingham. I have followed your trip to Alaska this year.
Hi Jon…we hiked over to Echo Bay on Monday but you were gone by then (no boats at all in there when we got there). We’ll keep an eye out for you…and if you see us again, feel free to stop and say hi! Thanks for following along with us to Alaska! We’ll be doing it again in 2017! 🙂
We had to get back to the marina to close up the boat for the winter. It is our plan to take MokiMak up to Alaska this year.. Your photos are amazing.
Aw, thank you so much!! We’ll hope to run into you up in Alaska then!