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First San Juan Run

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/08/2004 : 11:52:55

We're making our first run to the San Juans this July. Leaving Tacoma 7/9 and returning 7/25. Beside my wife the crew consists of an 11 and 13 year old girls. Long days under sail or motor makes them mutinous so I try not to plan long runs. I thinking about making Roche Harbor a base for a while. Maybe spend 4-5 days getting there, 4-5 days using Roche as a base. Then 4-5 coming back.
I like the idea of having reserved moorage so I don't have to worry about coming in too late for a slip. The crew really likes the idea of a swimming pool. Any comments? Any other reserved docks in the islands with a pool and store within walking distance?

Doug - #1913 Noeta

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2004 : 12:10:07

Aaargh, I personally don't care for Roche. It is (to me) too "preppy cool", boats there just to show off their millions, etc. Plus, it's so crowded sometimes.. I HAVE stopped for fuel, ice cream, etc., or a bit of re-supplying, but then we leave. You can ALWAYS find room to anchor out in Garrison Bay nearby....or somewhere in Reid Harbor on Stuart Island about an hour or so away. A Bruce anchor will cost less than a couple of nights at Roche.

But, if you've got deep pockets and prefer that lifestyle, go for it. I just go to the San Juans to get away from all that bustle. You will have a great time no matter where you go, it's so beautiful....

but I hope you get to some of the quieter, more remote islands, if just for day trips. I suggest Jones Island....it's busy, too, but all park. Get there early in the morning and wait for boats to leave. Anchoring there is a bit limited, but there is a small dock and maybe 10 mooring buoys...I forget, exactly. Look for Orcas along the W. side of San Juan Island. I have run into them near Roche and up by Stuart Island a number of times.

They are a bit far for day trips, depending upon tides, but Sucia and Matia are beautiful parks....again, Sucia is busy, but you can walk trails and explore for days.....Matia has limited space for boats...it's one of my favorites....(Rolf Cove on the NW corner)

Gary B.
Vice Commodore
s/v Encore! #685 SK/SR

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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2004 : 19:42:44

Doug, What we did 4 years ago and with 3 teen agers aboard, was to stay in a major marina every other night. Friday Harbor, Sydney BC, etc. This will allow you to resupply and dump the pooper, also allows the younger crew members the opportunity to stretch their legs in civilization. The odd days were on the hook in a more quiet mode as Gary discribes. We stopped at Roche to check back into the States on our return from Vancouver Island, BC. Gary is 100% correct, major yuppy center. We felt we should be wearing 'whites' to just walk the dock. Don't worry, the kids won't be bored. If you can schedule it, be in Todd Inlet right next to Buchart Gardens on Saturday, great fireworks display on Saturday nights all summer long.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2004 : 20:33:25

If you have a laptop computer with a DVD, it will keep kidz happy in the evenings. Watching "Master and Commander" while at anchor was twice as much fun as in the theater.

Then again, reading a good ghost story by lamplight would be great fun too.

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Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2004 : 20:55:54

Didn't realize Roche was so yupped up. We stayed at Elliot Bay Marina once last year and felt very out of place. Dock boys running out to help us dock, security at the gates and showers, and everyone was dressed way, way better than our rag tag barefoot crew in shorts and T's. Pretty marina, but the feeling and attitude, um, sucked.

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triley
Captain

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USA
251 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2004 : 23:36:34

Master and Commander fuzzies the O'Brian novels so badly! Just take all 10 novels with you--- They might sink the boat, but what the Hey.

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2004 : 23:41:14

One of my fleetmates, Terry Annis, likes a little place up in Canada, not far from where you clear customs at Bedwell Harbor. Trying to remember the name.....dang...but it's on the West Side of N. Pender Island. .....Otter Bay! I think that's it! Might I also recommend the town of Ganges, If you get across the border. Very quaint; a fair amount to do...artsy. Fun for all, i think.

I know, Doug, about the angst created around where to be each night, but if you are not "married" to the idea of being tied to a dock every night, take a dink and try anchoring out. Lots of protected bays may have boats in 'em, but there's almost always room for one more. Have a second anchor for a stern rode, or tie to the shore to prevent swinging. I have gone up there for years, since the girls were babies and appreciate time on shore, but QUIET is why I go, not to be grossed out with yachts with helicopters on the poop deck!

Gary B.
Vice Commodore
s/v Encore! SK/SR #685

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2004 : 00:00:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gary B.
 One of my fleetmates, Terry Annis, likes a little place up in Canada, not far from where you clear customs at Bedwell Harbor. Trying to remember the name.....dang...but it's on the West Side of N. Pender Island. .....Otter Bay! I think that's it! Might I also recommend the town of Ganges, If you get across the border. Very quaint; a fair amount to do...artsy. Fun for all, i think.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I Second that! Otter Bay is very nice, kind of small and cozy, unpretentious, and it even has a small swimming pool (at least it did when I was last there in '02). Ganges is your best-bet to stop for fuel, provisions, and boat supplies like line or extra fenders, etc. Sidney is also good as a supply stop, since it is a sizeable town. Most of the islands are too small to have substantial-sized towns with services like "big" hardware stores or chandleries, Sidney is one of the towns that is big enough to have that kind of services.
Other places I liked were Wallace Island (Conover Cove), Telegraph Harbor, and Montague Harbor. Montague Harbor has a very large anchorage basin, completely protected on all sides from stormy conditions, in addition to the marina. Something about the "feel" of Montague makes me think that you could conceivably bump into Jimmy Buffett on a boat out in the anchorage, if you paddles around in your dinghy introducing yourself and admiring boats. It seems like the kind of place he would like, at least if you could uproot the whole harbor and magically transport it to the Caribbean

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2004 : 01:48:30

Didn't see Buffet, but in Ganges last June, a former guitarist from the New Christie Minstrels (no, not Kenny Rogers!) sat in the cockpit with my two young friends who are quite the guitar players... Had a super time playing folk and nautical favorites. He was really impressed with the talent and repertoire of my friend's two sons...in their early 20s, but man, do they know folk music! It was a hoot. He had his 1968 Gibson, they their baby Taylors they take on the boat. Quite the concert....all free!

Gary B.
Vice Commodore
s/v Encore! #684 SK/SR

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mmac
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2004 : 09:05:18

Gary,
Did guy happen to be named Buzz?

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2004 : 13:38:08

Hi Doug:
Glad to see your heading north with the family. Lots of good information for you. Go up Colvos but you already know that. The current runs north all the time. Most of my legs were 35 to 40 mile days. Kingston is nice for an overnight / showers, good eats,nice local, large lawn area for kite flying. Port Townsend Point Hudson Marina, close to town no long walk, good food, local antique shops, Nifty Fifty icecream parlor. I went through the Port Townsend canal. Watch tides when doing this because its only 75 feet wide and if your fighting the tide it can take a while to pass through. I think you have hade a good choice at Roche. BIG TIP the showers and bathrooms on the back side of the building are way nicer than those on the store side. These bathrooms are one person at a time and have a lot more privacy. Take tons of quarters with you. The store at Roche has everything you will need and is well stocked. A dipping net for the girls would be fun as tiger shrimp populate the area under the docks. Just up the docks walk up the street to the left you will find scooter and bike rentals. The flag cerimony at dusk is a must and the girls will love it, cannon and all.
Whale watching. West side of San Juan Island from Lime Kiln all the way up to Turn Point on Stewart island. Out of all the times we have seen Orca and other porpose this is the best area. Hope you take a good set of binoc's to and watch for Otters in the kelp beds .
British camp is close at Garrison bay. Good holding in mud bottom /small dinghy dock on north shore. Hike to the top of Youngs hill, visit the small cemetary on the way, watch the slide show in the old buildings . The rest of the San Juans is yours for the picking. I enjoyed Spencer spit with its tons of drift wood and dozens of wild rabitts. Nice marsh for birding on the north side and really good crabing on the south side. I have seen boats pass through the narrow water at the end of the spit but we went all the way around the outside of the adjacent island . I think you already have this site but just in case www.nwboating.com great site to use for planing and information. If you would like any info drop me an E mail dgyoung50@msn.com One last big tip get a good current chart they are ((((important))) in the Juans. Oh Check out this months 48 North good artical on one of the islands . BTW if you stop at Blake for the indian show anchoring or picking a buoy is iffy due to ferry wakes. Have a wonderful trip, we are going south sound this year but are throwing in an Alaska cruise in August. See you on the water.

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