Logbook Days 58, 59
and 60
7/07/2004 - 7/09/2004
San Juan Parks
Back in the US we relaxed at some of our favorite San
Juan stops.
7/7/2004
Poets Cove to Jones Island
After a couple of early morning showers we left Bedwell for the
US. It was a smooth run across the border to Stuart, through tight Johns
passage and to Roche Harbor to clear customs. There was person in
the office here. I presented all my documents including passports
and birth certificates and the agent proceeded to type and type, no
doubt having to once again create an entry for the first time in their
database. She asked about our purchases, beef and chicken, tobacco
and citrus products. Having given all the right answers we head
out to the dock. I thought she was going to board and inspect, but
she simply asked Dawn a few of the same questions, seeing if our answers
matched, then she gave us our clearance number and wished us a good day.
Now back into the US we went to the fuel dock to
re-stock for our next 3 days out. After everything was filled and
emptied, we moved to the main dock to await the results of Dawn and
Nicks shopping trip. Then, loaded anew we
turned east for Jones Island. We pulled into the north bay.
It was quite a bit smaller than I remembered and was already full of a
number of boats. All the buoys were taken and the dock was full.
We decided to shore tie to the south shore. The wind was up a bit.
We dropped the Claw in the middle and backed in. I then took the
shore line to the beach and found a tree. It was quite a struggle
with the wind on the beam to get everything setup and we ended up with
the anchor to far from shore again. Even with 120' of rode out we
couldn't get where we needed to be and were to close to a boat on the
nearby mooring. We're learning,
slowly. Sam and I
set the other anchor closer in using the dinghy and pulled up the first.
This let us fall back to just a few yards from shore in 3' of water.
We were right at low tide for the day so we would have no problems, but
boy did it look close and shallow.
We all went to the beach after
a good, all family effort in which everyone had a part in the anchoring
process. Everyone had a good time combing the gravel beach for
treasures and stretching their legs. Once back for dinner we set out the other anchor for some
extra security during the night as the rocks are so close.
7/8/2004
Jones Island to Fox Cove on Sucia Island
The next morning we pulled up the anchors and headed
for Sucia. We went up Presidents channel just before 10 in a very
light wind. We had planned to sail, but once again ended up
proceeding under power. Once past Point Doughty the seas came up a bit.
We entered Fox cove and selected a mooring. I was worried there
wouldn't be any available but three of the four were empty. Soon after we arrived
the only other boat there left, and we had the whole cove to ourselves.
We selected the SE buoy.
Quickly we dropped the kids at shore so we could
clean up a bit and make lunch. We thought about moving to Shallow
Bay but decided to stay put as having Little Sucia close is very
appealing. We put the motor on the dinghy and
got the boys back for the food, then we turned the dinghy over to them.
This was a first sending them all off alone in a motor
vehicle under the control of captain Sam. They zoomed around the bay
tentatively at first, but were soon doing doughnuts and racing around
the buoys at full speed. Once they returned all smiles I took
them to Little Sucia to build a fort. Abandoned with nothing more
than a radio they were left to explore.
A short while later they
called on the radio saying Nick required medical attention as he has
blood running down both legs. I took snacks and the first aid kit
in and patched him up. Later, Dawn and I both joined them on the
beach and we worked on the framing for the fort as all the driftwood was
quite large.
We left around 4:00pm and noticed on the way that Mike
didn't have his life jacket. He couldn't remember where he left
it. Back at the beach Dawn, Nick and Mike went north and I sent
Sam south to retrace their steps. Mike returned saying they didn't
find it and Sam came back saying he went as far as they had gone and he
didn't find it. I remembered Mike had it when I made the medical
trip, so I knew it had to be around the south point. I left Sam
with the dinghy and went that way, Dawn followed. On the far
opposite side of the island up against the cliff I found it. Dawn
joined me and we radioed for Sam to bring the dinghy and his brothers
around to
pick us up. Since we were half way around already we continued to circumnavigate the island
the rest of the way in the dinghy.
We then stopped by the pay box on the dock in the bay
east across the narrow section of island. Nick and Mike spent some
time climbing on the mushroom rocks worn away by the tidal action and then
we went back to the boat. We put down the crab pot and
prepared to watch the movie 'Miracle'. We caught 3 crabs; 2 Red
Rock and a Dungeness. We made a large pot of water, but it never
would come to a boil on the stove which was low on fuel. We finally moved it out to the
propane kettle on the back and got the crab cooked. We had a late
night and finished the movie at midnight.
7/9/2004
Fox Cove on Sucia Island
The next day we slept late then had a nice French
toast breakfast. I took the boys to the main beach and did some
dishes. Bee's are everywhere. The screened enclosure has
been a must in keeping out the mosquitoes and bees. I picked up
the boys and we went to the island while Dawn napped. Mike got wet
so Sam took him to the boat, then we got some sprinkles so they had to
come get Nick and I. Toward the evening Dawn and I went to get
more water and then we sent the boys to the beach to burn some energy.
It's nice to just tell them to get in the dinghy and go by themselves.
More boats are filling the cove including some lightning daysailers each
with three on board that sailed in and then set up camp. They anchored
out in the shallows. Looks like a camp program to look into for
the kids in the future. Such a nice sunset. A couple power boats had
trouble setting their anchor in the channel between Little Sucia and us.
It was a calm quiet night with a bit of rain in the very early morning.
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