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First Day - Cypress Island

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Cypress and Sinclair Islands in the middle of picture with Blakely and Obstruction Islands to left

Blow up of northern portion of Cypress Island

Our path for the first day... Bellingham to Cypress Island... The days travels were pretty simple. We made a very leisurely departure from Bellingham (almost noon... hey, we were on vacation!) then not really knowing where we were going that day we just started motoring. As we passed Cypress Island, we saw that there was a buoy available... there are only two now. Every year there seem to be fewer and fewer... I don't know what's going on. Anyway, we had always wanted to make a stop at Cypress Island's Pelican Beach but there are never any buoys available. Normally when that happens, you just drop the anchor. But Pelican Beach isn't a place that you want to anchor. The bottom isn't great, there is a lot of current, you're exposed to northerly winds and there is a lot of chop. So trip after trip, we have patiently waited for there to be a buoy available. Finally we saw one and pounced on it. So this was where we were going to stay tonight.

There is a great hike up to the top of an 840 foot high sheer cliff overlooking the San Juan Islands that starts at Pelican Beach... This was too good of an opportunity to miss so off we went. I even enjoyed it and I don't really like hiking that much. The top of the cliff is called Eagle's Rest and indeed we saw Eagles spiraling above us. We met two very pleasant people from Langley (Whidbey Island) during the hike up. Unfortunately I didn't get their names.

It rained during our stay at Cypress Island. However it was a very pleasant rain. Time after time when we come to the San Juan Islands in July, the weather is perfect. This seems good (and indeed it is) however I do miss getting to see the San Juan Islands (and Canadian Gulf Islands) in their other moods. So for once it was raining and I was grateful.

We spent a very pleasant night at Cypress Island. I hope that in future trips, we will be fortunate enough to get a buoy.


Departing Bellingham		The Bellingham Marina Fuel dock... this placid scene was a far cry from the mayhem that greeted us here upon our return... advice... get there early or be prepared to wait for an hour if not more


My annual picture of the Bellingham Harbor Cam		Looking back at the harbor entrance as we proceed out of the channel


The south end of Lummi Island		Spencer napping


The view of Pelican Beach from our place on the mooring buoy		Jack and Spencer preparing for the trip ashore


Spencer at the top of Eagle's Rest with Obstruction Island just behind his head		Jack


From the left... Blakely, Obstruction and Orcas Islands of the San Juan Island group		Bird of prey (an eagle perhaps) circling over Eagles Rest


Jack in his pirate garb		Donna and Spencer with Toehead Island in the background (through the trees)


Close up of channel between Blakely and Obstruction Islands... we will be going through this pass tomorrow and later again on the last day of our charter		Looking down from Eagles Rest


Jack with me in the back ground		Evidence of glacier activity in the rocks


A rock wall that we had to skirt on our way up		Kerendi on the buoy - such a lovely boat


Me napping		Spence and Jack the following morning... kinda chilly


Donna preparing coffee		Jack with his Game Boy


Coffee's almost done... yay!		Rain... this is a first for the family in our San Juan adventures... it was lovely though


		Leaving the mooring area for our second day's adventures


Eagles Rest from the water as we proceeded towards Obstruction Island		Close up of where we were the day before


Actually sailing! Note the reefed main... I wasn't taking any chances for our first sail hoist. However we shook out this reef right after the picture was taken. Also note Eagles Rest in the background

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