San Juan Shakedown Cruise

If you've read recent posts (Chuckanut Day Cruise and Girl's Night Out) you know we're enjoying our new boat, but the weather has prevented us from really giving it a shakedown cruise. But last weekend brought partly sunny skies with minimal wind (we're power cruisers and love calm seas).

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We left our slip in Squalicum Harbor, stopped by nearby Hilton Harbor Marina for gas, then headed out to the San Juan Islands. Island hopping is a favourite boater pastime here in the Pacific Northwest. We started out heading west towards Lopez Island, but our circuitous route put is so close to Anacortes on Fidalgo Island that we decided to stop and check it out. Deep shipping channels gets everything from tiny boats to huge tankers through the shallow waters.

To guide your way into the Cap Sante Boat Haven marina there are lots of buoys and markers. One of the advantages of boating in the off season is uncrowded facilities. But this marina has lots of room for boats wanting gas and moorage. Today we didn't stop, but it's on our list for a future visit.

Have you been to Anacortes before? What are some things you enjoyed about your visit?

From here we headed northwest to Lopez Island. We've been there before in our airplane, but this will be our first visit by boat. Stop by tomorrow to hear more about it. -- Margy