Northern Spy
Guru
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2012
- Messages
- 4,092
- Location
- Canada
- Vessel Name
- Northern Spy
- Vessel Make
- Nordic Tug 26
Thank you Marin. Much better.
Obviously Marin's travel in SE Alaska missed the true remote and strikingly beautiful SE.
I realized he left out the number one reason Americans will avoid the Gulf Islands. The use of used oil containers (dark blue preferred) as crab pot floats!
Oh, those ones.Absolutely! That's a great one. I think we've been passing the same set of two blue jugs tied together on the way into Ganges for the past ten years or so.
I have a suggestion that isn't the PNW or the ICW. Consider chartering in Maine on the US east coast. Why? While we don't have scenic mountains, what we do have is hundreds of islands both with quaint fishing villages and uninhabited. Many of the islands are in nature preserves and have trails you can walk. We don't have a lot of marinas, but we do have abundant rental moorings and hundreds of beautiful anchorages. Dining options range from eating on the boat while anchored/moored in a beautiful cove, through eating Maine lobster, steamed corn and blueberry pie while seated at a picnic table to fine dining. We also have a beautiful waterfront national Park (Acadia National Park) with free bus transportation from all of the nearby harbors.
The downside is that there are not a lot of places to charter a powerboat. The best is Bucks Harbor Marine (Buck's Harbor Marine Yacht Charters and Marina - Buck's Harbor Marine) which is right in the middle of the best cruising area. They mostly charter Grand Banks. There are quite a few places to charter a sailboat though. If you want to experience the coast but not worry about the piloting, you can always book a schooner cruise (Maine's Largest Windjammer Fleet: Maine Windjammer Association).
Marin, Why the dislike of Roche?
With the exception of a masive harbor development in Doha, Qatar called "The Pearl," Roche Harbor is the most pretentious, look-down-your-nose place I've been on the planet.
As far as Roche goes, maybe you reap what you sow!
You exit Roche Hbr on the west side. Enter "Mosquito Pass". Follow it almost to where it ends on West side of SJ Island. There is an entrance on the south side of the pass. It goes to " Westcott Bay". Before you actually get into Westcott, there is another entrance on South side of the channel. By water its not much over a mile from Roche. Shallow, quiet. great anchorage. State park, dinghy dock and the English Camp left over from when the English laid claim to the island. Old block house and many of the buildings still standing. The still fly the Union Jack during the summer.Sharp .. or anybody ..
What's there in Garrison Bay?
I've anchored in Nelson Bay (years ago) and don't know much of anything about just south of Roche Harbor.
Fisherman's Bay can have a surprising amount of current. Can make docking tricky. Not a great place to anchor, but I am looking forward to taking our bicycles there. The marinas are pretty good. Lopez is relatively flat and supposed to be a great biking place.Thanks all,
Nice to know there's a good anchorage there especially w the park and dinghy dock. Last time we came through we anchored in Fisherman's Bay. Mooring buoys everywhere. Hard to belive how they can turn a public domain into private facilities. Was going to Spencer Spit but thought about how big and protected Fisherman's Bay seemed to be .. but only found a very small part of the bay usable. And the bottom was covered w some slimy green mud and grass. Don't plan on going back there.
I agree with you about Roche Harbor. Reminds me of Sun Valley in that regard,
[snip].