Prevost Harbor to Friday Harbor
/We enjoyed a relaxed morning and started the process of packing in anticipation of the end of our cruise. Leaving Prevost Harbor, we took a run past Jones Island in hopes that the weather will be suitable for anchoring or maybe we can find a spot on the small dock.
The wind was up as we approached Jones Island, and we found there was just enough space open on the dock for Alaskan Dream. Jones is of our favorite walks in the San Juan Islands, and today the Southwest trail did not disappoint. We enjoyed great views of sailboats with their spinnakers deployed enjoying the favorable winds.
Of the hundreds of sailboats we see every year, these two actually were using their sails
With the wind out of Northwest, it would've been a great day to anchor in the South Cove but you need to be prepared to dinghy to the beach. As we made ready Alaskan Dream for departure, a large Bayliner made its way into the cove at Jones. When we told them, via the radio, that were we were getting ready to leave, they were thrilled at this new-found opportunity to tie up at the docks.
One of many great views from Jones Island
Karen had the helm to Friday Harbor as I made pork sandwiches with chutney for lunch. Karen wasn't happy about dodging all the traffic along the route, but as we have slip reservations in Friday Harbor, we were confident that we didn't need to “race the fleet” to get a berth. The harbormaster assigned us a side tie on the inside of breakwater Delta. That’s our favorite spot, as being on the inside, you get great protection from ferry wake.
We started to walk to town by dropping off trash and paid our moorage at the Marina Office. Karen and I did a little souvenir shopping for friends and family back home. Walking around town, we turned a corner and lo and behold we saw the Sea Shepherd store. Apparently this is now the US headquarters of the Sea Shepherd organization, and its leader Paul Watson calls Friday Harbor home when he is not out trying to stop whaling in the Southern Oceans. We always find their exploits on the TV to be something between amusing and miraculous in that most on board the vessel are not mariners. Nevertheless, they somehow manage to survive a never ending succession of calamities.
Beer and salmon dip were snacks before dinner, then chili and drop biscuits accompaied by great wine .Before sunset, we went for another walk around the docks and ran into the crew of Vintage, a 49 down-galley Grand Banks. We had met them earlier in the year at the Grand Banks rendezvous at Roche Harbor. They thought they recognized us, but were confused because we were not on our boat , OceanFlyer. They invited us onboard and we talked for a while, catching up on each of our travels. The top of the evening was a little more packing and an early turn-in in anticipation of the 5:30 wake-up call. Tomorrow will be our last day of cruising for the summer.