After a few hours of motoring we were finally arriving at the San Juans. Our first stop was Matia Island. We entered Rolfe Cove shortly after 6PM. With only two buoys and a 128ft dock available we knew our chances were slim to none being able to spend the night here. We tried anyways. I was not comfortable anchoring with three boats and countless eyes watching. This was not going to go well.
After much yelling back and forth, The Skipper recalled reading about another private cove nearby. So we rounded Eagle Point to head south towards the southwest tip of Matia. HUGE MISTAKE. Once we got there we naively thought sure, why not? This no name cove was probably less than 150ft wide. Don’t quote me on that though. When we finally dropped the hook and waited….Lutris slowly started moving backwards….uh oh. I’m sure there were a few bad words echoing off the water and the entire San Juans heard us but we somehow managed to pull the hook and started moving out of the no name cove. All this in a matter of minutes. I felt like my life flashed before me. By the way, if you are going to Matia Island you are NOT allowed to anchor anywhere but Rolfe Cove. I repeat, NOT allowed.
The Skipper got us out of there in no time and we had no other choice but to head towards Sucia for the night. At this time the sun was starting to set and we were all hangry. On our way there I was praying to the heavens for an available buoy. Anything to avoid another anchoring fiasco.
Thankfully the heavens smiled upon us and we spotted an open buoy. I’ve never plucked up a ball so fast in my life. Meltdown, avoided.
Once our blood sugar levels were back to normal we took a little dingy tour of Echo Bay, our new home for the next few days.
I was in awe. So much so that I had already forgotten about the fiasco at Matia Island. Our first night we spied eagles and otters.
Little did I know what was actually in store for us.
Follow along as we explore Sucia and Patos Island.
Fair winds,
City Girl
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