Boating around the San Juans - Part Three

Here's the final installment of our boating jaunts around the San Juans. On August 4th Captain F wanted to go from Anacortes to Seattle and back; I wasn't too keen on this idea because we were getting too late of a start, the lingering forest fire haze was obstructing the scenic views of the mountains, and it would be a very long ride - and remember, I don't like long boat rides. Nevertheless, I joined Captain F and we started heading south through the Strait of Juan de Fuca along the western shores of Whidbey Island. By the way, Whidbey happens to be a very long island - 62 miles to be exact. I love Whidbey and have spent many hours exploring it on foot and by car. However, most of the western part of the island is a bit boring from a boater's and photographer's perspective. This is mostly what you'll see...

When we got to the tip of the island, called Possession Point, our plans changed. We noticed two boaters just off the point waving the distress signal. Captain F, being ever so vigilant, announced that we had to go see what was going on with them, and so we did. Seems that their motor had conked out (not a good thing); apparently they had been trying to catch the attention of passing boaters for four hours! Well, we towed them slowly back to their home base (their boat was a lot bigger than Bad Boy). Needless to say, they were extremely grateful that we had taken the time to stop and help. This hour long delay meant that I was able to talk the captain out of continuing our journey towards Seattle and instead start heading back home along the eastern side of Whidbey.

Here's Cultus Bay, where we towed the stranded boaters...

Here's a small village along the eastern shore...

And another beautiful, but hazy sunset...

On August 8th we put Bad Boy in the water for the last time. We meandered around the islands and just stopped wherever we felt like it. The weather was glorious and the sky photogenic.

Here's Bad Boy heading forth...

We found some really interesting tidal action and had to stop to play around in it for a while...

Then we explored James Island, a marine park...

Here's the other side of it...

I hopped off and checked it out since we'd like to try camping here next summer...

It's a popular destination with boaters...

These seagulls found a nice spot to hang out...

Then we headed over to Blakely Island,

which is privately owned and has its own landing strip...

It has a very clean and pretty marina for its residents...

Here's a nice home with a view...

Some of the boats in the marina...

Our final stop was at Deer Harbor, which is on the southwestern tip of Orcas...

Looks like these yachties had a busy day...

A seaplane prepared for departure...

And we headed back to Fidalgo Island...

The boating season in the San Juans is over for Bad Boy and Captain F, but hopefully we'll all be back up here again next summer.