forty days: stuart island
Date: July 5, 2022
Time Start: 1 p.m.
Time Finish: 5:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes
Cruise To: Prevost Harbor, Stuart Island
Engine Hours Start: 1410
Engine Hours Finish: 1414
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny and calm in morning, choppy water for cruising
We're starting a new part of our long cruise as we begin heading toward Canada and the Gulf Islands. Our new batteries are ready, and so are we. Provisions have been restocked, water tank filled, and off we go. And it is a roly poly day on the water, lots of motion! We arrive at Stuart Island with calmer conditions and find a spot on the dock in Prevost Harbor. We are docked in front of another Ranger Tug, the R 23 "Northwestie", and meet Joe and Cindy from Bothell.
Time Start: 1 p.m.
Time Finish: 5:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes
Cruise To: Prevost Harbor, Stuart Island
Engine Hours Start: 1410
Engine Hours Finish: 1414
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny and calm in morning, choppy water for cruising
We're starting a new part of our long cruise as we begin heading toward Canada and the Gulf Islands. Our new batteries are ready, and so are we. Provisions have been restocked, water tank filled, and off we go. And it is a roly poly day on the water, lots of motion! We arrive at Stuart Island with calmer conditions and find a spot on the dock in Prevost Harbor. We are docked in front of another Ranger Tug, the R 23 "Northwestie", and meet Joe and Cindy from Bothell.
There is an impromptu after dinner concert on the dock as Brian, a live aboard on his sailboat from Anacortes, entertains us with his songs.
Date: July 6, 2022
Stuart Island layover day
Weather: Calm, partly cloudy
Morning is beautiful on the dock in Prevost Harbor. A kayak group is preparing to leave. Last night, we met this family from Georgia. The parents and their three grown daughters are here on a kayaking excursion. It is their first time to visit the Pacific Northwest, and they are loving it here. There are several camping sites within access of the dock and beach.
Stuart Island layover day
Weather: Calm, partly cloudy
Morning is beautiful on the dock in Prevost Harbor. A kayak group is preparing to leave. Last night, we met this family from Georgia. The parents and their three grown daughters are here on a kayaking excursion. It is their first time to visit the Pacific Northwest, and they are loving it here. There are several camping sites within access of the dock and beach.
Prevost Harbor has two entrances, but one is too rocky and shallow for boats. We take a ride in the dinghy to check out that end of the harbor and also take a look at the lines in the harbor for mooring. It is not only shallow, but there is also a lot of eel grass. We keep our distance, not wanting to churn up the eel grass with the propeller of our Torqeedo.
It's a short walk from our dock, through the camping area, to the dock of Reid Harbor. Judging by the dinghies lined up on our dock, we aren't the only ones stretching our legs. We take in the views of Reid Harbor and then return to the Prevost dock. We are definitely in the busiest harbor.
One of the best parts of being on a dock is getting to meet and chat with other boaters. We all have so much to share, so many stories to tell. And, not too surprising, we have yet another couple here on a Ranger Tug, Devan and Rita from Kirkland, on their RT 23 "Off Course". They keep their boat in Edmonds. Fun couple!
Dinner is almost gourmet. We have leftover crab from Similk Bay, and crab melts with coleslaw are on the menu. Not too shabby.
Date: July 7, 2022
Stuart Island layover morning
Weather: Wet a.m, then clearing
It rained overnight! The dock is wet this morning, but the day is clearing. Dan opts to go for a walk through the forest to the schoolhouse while I opt to stay aboard. I'm glad I did. The usual changes on the dock take place, and we have not one, not two, but three Fluid Motion boats that get rafted together right behind us. "Alexandra", an R 29 from Anacortes, is tied to the dock. Her captain is Lars who hails from Stockholm, and his wife is also along. Rafted to him is "Red Raven", an R 27 like ours, from Coupeville. Curt and Tracey are aboard. Finally, on the outside, is a Cutwater 30 "DeMaris" with Kathy and Harry from Stanwood. It's quite the party on the dock, a mini rendezvous! Devan and Rita are still here as well, but Jim and Cindy left earlier and the three rafted boats have taken up their space.
Date: July 7, 2022
Stuart Island layover morning
Weather: Wet a.m, then clearing
It rained overnight! The dock is wet this morning, but the day is clearing. Dan opts to go for a walk through the forest to the schoolhouse while I opt to stay aboard. I'm glad I did. The usual changes on the dock take place, and we have not one, not two, but three Fluid Motion boats that get rafted together right behind us. "Alexandra", an R 29 from Anacortes, is tied to the dock. Her captain is Lars who hails from Stockholm, and his wife is also along. Rafted to him is "Red Raven", an R 27 like ours, from Coupeville. Curt and Tracey are aboard. Finally, on the outside, is a Cutwater 30 "DeMaris" with Kathy and Harry from Stanwood. It's quite the party on the dock, a mini rendezvous! Devan and Rita are still here as well, but Jim and Cindy left earlier and the three rafted boats have taken up their space.
Devan and Rita are heading home. We really hope to see them on the water again!
Dan returns from his walk with his own set of photos taken along the trail and at the school. It all still looks the same as in our previous visits, right down to the treasure chest and clothesline of T-shirts for sale.