San Juan Islands Part II this Summer


July 16, 2020

After swim practice kids, Kimo and I headed up to the boat. Just as we stowed everything Andy pulled up with another round of stuff to unpack. Off the dock by 3:30 and spent the night at Spencer Spit.  It is beautiful out and it is opening weekend of crab season.  Immediately dropped the pots and requested lots of crab from the seafood gods.  Kimo's first trip here and we went exploring just long enough to let the crabs climb in.  We pulled the pots and did well, almost our limit.  Another round and a few more nice ones.  We had a great crab dinner and sat around picking the crab for the rest of the night...much easier to store that way. 


July 17, 2020
Skull Island, WA
Boys did an early round of crabbing.  We got our limit of 15 and headed to Skull Island. We are down to one motor and hope to get what is needed to repair in West Sound.   The day pretty much was chill.  Set anchor, Saylor and Hudson took Kimo on the tube played on the beach while teaching him to swim.  I stayed back and cooked crab...lots of crab. Andy got the goop to fix the boat and we hope it works.  Will know more after it dries in 24 hours.  We picked sooooo much crab my hands hurt, but we got it all done.  We must have at least 12 pounds of picked crab meat.  They said 7:00.  With dessert on the line the family knows how to move it.  Hudson jumped on the tube and we pulled him the entire way there.  We pulled up to the dock and had Saylor run ahead.  The guy closed and locked the doors in her face.  I showed up just after and gave him a pitiful look and explained our cold boat ride there just for ice cream.  He was not thrilled but did invite us to grab our ice cream.  We had barbecue for dinner, ate our ice cream and we were all tired so off to bed.
6:40 and I called the store at ferry dock to see how late they will be staying open.
 

July 18, 2020
Stuart Island, San Juans

Up and it is another beautiful day.  Hudson took Kimo for a hike and then we had breakfast.  Crab with our eggs of course.   Water was calm and the kids had a great time tubing. Kimo had his first adventure of tubing too. 
He sat in the middle of them.  He whined a few times.  We are not sure if it was a happy or a get me off of this thing kind of whine.
Time to check the engine repair.   Unfortunately, it did not hold.  Trying again and will know more in another 24 hours.  That means no hot water and dishes piling up. 
Off to Deer Harbor for our traditional ice cream and french fries.  Everyone is wearing masks (due to Covid) and no more than 3 people in the store at a time.  I am glad they are taking it seriously.  Number are going up in Seattle.  After our treat we went to the beach for Kimo and Hudson to play.  We had a nice time and he loved running around like a crazy puppy.  Unfortunately, it was too much fun and too much time and I got a good burn on my back. 
Pulled in Stewart Island around 6:00 and set anchor in Prevost Harbor.  We inflated to floaties, pulled out chips and salsa and made sangria.  It was a perfect happy hour! 





  Kimo is starting to settle into the boating thing. He jumped on the tube by himself.  Kids joined him and took him for a paddle around the cove.  The three crazy Lemkes (I won't name names) jumped in the water and we all got a solar shower. 
Crab rolls for dinner and finished off the evening with a couple rounds of Uno.  The mosquitoes came for a party, so we quickly shut the windows and hatches and called it a day. 

July 19, 2020
Reid Harbor, Stuart Island, WA
After a night of bugs, we thought it might be nice to move locations this morning.  We went around the corner, a quick 30 minutes to Reid Harbor.  Incredibly beautiful and busy.  Seems like everywhere we go this season there are many boats.  We think everyone wanting to get away from Seattle and Covid.  Inflated the floaties and had a nice breakfast with crab and mimosas. 
Kids, Andy and Kimo went for a hike to the light house.  They were gone for two hours and had a nice walk, just over four miles. 
Time for a crab roll for lunch! We had a nice float and fell asleep out there.  Out for a round of tubbing near Spiden Island.  I guess lots of animals were cross bread here by a rich dude that loved to hunt once upon a time.  We don’t normally have any luck spotting animals, but today we did! There were two critters that looked like a half deer and half cow.  Must research more when we get home. 
It is happy hour and pina coladas today! Another sun shower and we all sat on the bow and took in the last bit of sun before it sat. 

July 20, 2020
Garrison Bay, San Juan Island WA

A gorgeous morning that included mimosas, eggs, and more crab! Pulled up anchor and headed over to Garrison Bay on San Juan Island.  Dropped the hook and headed into Roche Harbor so the kids could hit the tennis ball around a bit.  It was hot, but they hit for a while.  Kimo found some other dogs and played a lot.  Nice to tire him out for the moment. 
Headed over to the grocery store for a few things and had to get the traditional items at the cafe (fries, clam chowder and ice cream). Everyone was wearing masks and 6 feet apart.  Took everything to go and ate on the dingy on the way back to Another Whim. 
Ended up with a late lunch of another crab roll on the back deck.  It was so hot! Made a sangria, dipped in the water and time to float.  These are peaceful moments during a stressful time for the world.  I'm so grateful for them and our time together. Kids took Kimo jumped on a float and paddled over to the shore for some adventure. 




July 21, 2020
Garrison Bay, San Juan Island

Staying in the same place for two nights makes for a much easier day. This morning we went to Roche Harbor to eat a little benni and play a little tenni as we like to say. :-) It was nice to have the morning off from cooking and from crab!  After some time on the court we went to the store and bought some pints of ice cream for the cruise back to the boat.  So fun to look at the houses along the way.  The one with the helicopter in the front yard, the other one sitting on it's own golf course are good incentives for the kids to work hard in school and life. 
Lunch time and it was the finish line for the crab.  We polished it off and we are done!! Never, ever thought I would be tired of crab.  Boys went for a hike and made it to the top of a hill that gave them a beautiful view of the area. 
Andy's goal is to use up all the bottles of alcohol on the boat that have a little bit in them so every day it is another crazy drink at happy hour.  A nice float with a mama and baby seal hanging out with us.  It is hot so Kimo loves to get on the float and get a breeze on the water.  He is definitely settling into the boat life. 
Taco Tuesday! We had a great dinner of carnitas tacos, a beautiful sunset and wonderful family time. 
The stars are amazing! We got to see the comet again.  I think it is even better tonight than before.

July 22, 2020
Spencer Spit, Lopez Island
Pulled anchor and back to Spencer Spit.  We are going to leave Another Whim here and head back to Anacortes early.   Kids have Ladder Cross on Thursday and Friday, so they want to be back for that.  After, we will take the dingy back up to the boat and continue the vacation.  Hoping the solar panels keep the fridge running and everything stays cold. 

July 24, 2020
Anacortes to Spencer Spit, Lopez Island
We got lucky.  It was a medium chop.  I got a good spray several times, but with the sun out it is fine.  45 minutes later we were able to see the boat.  She is still there! Next question, is our fridge still cold?  Success! We have safe food!
It is a beautiful night and it is Andy's birthday.  We had a tasty dinner of salmon, steak, potatoes, carrots, and marinated garlic mushrooms.  A nice sun set too. 

July 25, 2020
Judd Bay, Orcas Island
Boys took Kimo to shore and then checked the crab pots.  At least eight big 7+ inch crabs.  Cannot believe we are having more crab, but also can't pass up fresh crab. 
We set up on the back deck for lunch.  Another thing we cannot pass up, an amazing view.  As we were picking crab and chillin' three planes in formation flew overhead.  We gave them big thank you waves, and they came back again for another round.  So fun!
Set anchor at Buck Bay for an afternoon float and the night.  First, off to East Sound by dingy to Brown Bear Bakery. We called ahead and had them reserve our favorite dessert, Gianduja tart.  One of the best desserts ever!
Back to the boat and it is too breeze and lumpy, so we move to a cove up by East Sound, Judd Bay.  We have always wanted to stay here but it is out of the way, so we haven't.  We set anchor and it is calm water, warm and beautiful.  We had chips, salsa and beer on the float.  Always a nice time out on our float and peaceful.
Ate dinner and enjoying the evening when we noticed the water was like glass and the sun hasn't set just yet.  Kids put on their wetsuits and we went for an end of the evening tube. Must have been about 8:00, but it was perfect. 

July 26, 2020
Enjoyed a quiet morning and then a two-hour cruise to Eagle Harbor, Cypress Island.  It is a pretty moorage.  There is a beautiful view of Mt. Baker in the distance.  More adventures and floating time before headed back home. 

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