trip dates:

trip 1: monday, august 18th through thursday, august 21st

trip 2: wednesday, september 3rd through saturday, september 6th

Through a special arrangement with the owners of the David B, this trip is offered at a substantial discount to Sierra Club members and a portion of your trip fee is returned to the Austin Sierra Club as a donation from the David B.

Join the Austin Sierra Club for a spectacular cruise on a 65-foot boat in the beautiful San Juan Islands. We will start from Bellingham, WA and cruise to the San Juan Islands for four days and three nights of hiking, kayaking and wildlife-watching.

Participants will cruise, hike and kayak while living in comfort in the cabins below deck, enjoying gourmet meals cooked on a wood-burning stove by a master chef.

Birders will love the variety of birds and waterfowl, including bald eagles and murres, in the area and we will have a chance of spotting some of the resident Orca pods, seals and/or a dolphin or two.

Best of all, you will be one of only SIX passengers on board and the boat will be at the disposal and direction of the passengers; it will take us where we want to go in the islands. There are two similar 4-day cruises available this year, one at the beginning and one at the end of the Austin Sierra Club Olympic Peninsula trip (see information about that trip at OLYMPIC PENINSULA), so that people going on that trip can either come early or stay late and extend their Pacific Northwest experience without having to book an additional plane reservation.

trip logistics

Dates:

Trip 1: Monday, August 18th through Thursday, August 21st

Trip 2: Wednesday, September 3rd through Saturday, September 6th

Cost:

$690 per person for Sierra Club Members, based on double occupancy of the cabins. This is a Members Only cruise and your trip cost includes a donation to the Austin Sierra Club. Note that this cost does not include air fare to Bellingham. You should budget for round-trip air fare and probably either one or two night's stay at a hotel in Bellingham unless you can find flights that will get you to Bellingham very early the morning of the trip and/or depart late the evening we return to port (departure is about 9 am, arrival back in port around 5 pm). There are also shuttle connections between SEATAC airport and Bellingham (see the travel section below for details) that will allow you to avoid the cost of a flight to Bellingham.

Trip leaders: [click on the name to go to biographical information]

• Boat Captain: Jeffrey D. Smith, Owner, Northwest Navigation Co., Inc.
• Boat Cook/mate: Christine K. Smith, Owner, Northwest Navigation Co., Inc.
• Hike/Kayak coordinator: Chuck Byrd, Austin Sierra Club outings leader. Contact: [(512) 292-6985 or ]

calculating cost/refund policy..

Trip cost: $690/person (Sierra Club members) - double occupancy

You must submit a $200 deposit per person to reserve a space on this trip. Deposits can be mailed immediately and will be accepted until the trip is filled.

Mail deposits to:

Northwest Navigation, Inc.
PO Box 1431
Bellingham, WA 98227
Attn: Christine

Trips are sold on a first come first serve basis. Please note that rates are per person double occupancy and do not include transportation to and from the boat.

Payments:
A deposit of $200 guarantees reservation.
• For this trip we are having people pay in full 30 days prior to the trip. That date is July 18/August 4th, 2008.
Cancellations / Refunds:
Per person cancellation charges
• 90 days or longer prior to departure -100% refund
• 89-60 days prior to departure -75% refund
• 60-31 days prior to departure - 50% refund
• 30-0 days prior to departure - 0% refund
Travel / cancellation insurance:
Travel and trip insurance is advised to protect yourself if you must cancel your trip. Please contact your travel agent or please visit www.insuremytrip.com for more information about travel insurance.
Travel to Canada:
If you are planning to go on a trip to the Gulf Islands, Inside Passage or Desolation Sound you will be required to bring your passport. Furthermore 30 days prior to departure you will need to furnish us with your passport number. These cruises travel through Canada and both US and Canadian governments require proof of citizenship.
Please be aware that Canada may restrict entry to passengers who have been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). If this may be an issue please call our reservations office for options.
Passports and Visas:
If to are traveling from abroad or you are not a U.S. citizen, please consult your consulate to determine if you will need a visa to enter into the U.S. or Canada (if traveling to or through Canada). To enter into the U.S. you will need to have a passport.
Smoking:
The David B is a smoke-free vessel. Passengers who wish to smoke can do so ashore.
Cell Phones:
For the courtesy of other passengers we will allow cell phones to be used only on the back deck of the boat, ashore or in your stateroom. Whole boat charters are exempt from this policy.
Children:
Children above the age of 16 are welcome aboard any of our trips when accompanied by a parent of legal guardian. If your child is traveling to Canada with only one parent a notarized letter authorizing the traveling parent to enter Canada with the child is required for entry. Please call us ahead of time before reserving space if you will be traveling with children.
Tipping:
Tipping is encouraged. Depending upon your experience a 3 – 15% tip is suggested.
Health / Medical:
Passengers must be able to judge their level of physical fitness. While trips aboard the David B are not physically demanding they do require a level of fitness to participate in hiking and kayaking. The captain has the right to judge if a passenger is putting his or herself in danger by participating in an activity that is too strenuous for that particular passenger. Northwest Navigation Co., Inc. is not held liable and does not refund money for anyone unable to participate in an activity because of this judgment.
Medical problems that could have implications on the trip must be made known to the captain before the passenger sail aboard the David B. Northwest Navigation Co., Inc. and our affiliates are not responsible for any special arrangements or medical costs made by passengers who are unable to complete a trip.
Please contact us with any questions you have regarding our policies.

Toll Free 877-670-7863
360-201-8184

Trip cost covers:

• meals
• bedding / accommodations on the boat
• kayak gear and kayaks
• all the forest service fees, dock fees etc. are covered as part of the cost. (The big cruise lines don’t usually include all the fees and taxes in their published prices)
• crew services

Cost DOES NOT cover:

• transportation to the boat or from the boat in Bellingham
• alcohol
• note: Chuck will provide a modest amount of wine for enjoyment with the meals. BYO hard stuff to taste.

RESERVATION: Payment of the trip deposit establishes your reservation. The trip is limited to 6 participants.

Monday, August 18th - DAY ONE - Bellingham to Sucia Island [see #19 on the MAP below]

Wednesday, September 3rd - DAY ONE - Bellingham to Sucia Island

• 9:00 am - Board David B inSqualicum Harbor, Bellingham, WA.
• 9:00 - 10:00 am - Meet and Greet and Safety
• 10:00 - 1:30 pm - Underway to Sucia Island (lunch served underway)
• 2:00 pm - David B anchored at Echo Bay [see MAP INSET below]
• 2:30 - 5:00 pm - Kayaking around Sucia Island
• 5:00 - 6:00 pm - Appetizers
• 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Dinner
• 7:30 - 9:00 - Shore Excursion

Board the David B at 9:00 am in Bellingham. Passengers are given time to stow their belongings before gathering with the crew for an orientation of the boat and safety meeting. Approximately 10:00 am the boat will leave the harbor and cruise through Bellingham Bay and Rosario Strait to Sucia Island State Park. Once anchored at Sucia the crew helps everyone into the kayaks for a 2.5 hr paddle around parts of Sucia Island. Sucia Island has an interesting geological and historical past that will be shared with the passengers through the crew's knowledge of the area.

After returning from kayaking, passengers will be served appetizers and at 6:00 pm the crew will serve dinner. If anyone would like a walk on the beach after dinner, the crew will take people ashore.

Tuesday, August 19th - Day TWO - Sucia Island to Stuart Island [see #20 on the MAP below]

Thursday, September 4th - Day TWO - Sucia Island to Stuart Island

• 6:00am – Coffee, tea and muffins.
• 7:00 - 8:00 am - Breakfast
• 8:00 - 11:00 am - Guided walk to Fossil Bay and Shallow Bay [see MAP INSET below]
• 11:00 - 1:00 pm - Underway to Jones Island - Lunch served
• 1:00 - 4:00 pm - Kayak around Jones Island and Yellow Island [see #8 on the MAP below]
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm - Underway from Jones Island to Stuart Island [see #20 on the MAP below]
• 5:00 - 6:00 pm - Appetizers
• 6:00 - 7:30 pm - Dinner
• 7:30 - 8:30 pm - Shore excursion

The first full day starts with coffee and muffins at 6:00 am. Breakfast is served at 7:00 am and everyone is encouraged to go on a guided walk around Sucia Island. Native plants, a sunken forest and fossils are some of the highlights of Sucia Island. After everyone returns from the walk, the boat gets underway from Sucia Island to another state park called Jones Island. From Jones, we'll put the kayaks in the water and folks will have a chance to paddle around Jones Island and then over to Yellow Island for a shore excursion. Yellow Island is owned by the Nature Conservancy and often has a caretaker available for interpretation. If the caretaker is away, interpretive signs are posted along the way. When the kayakers have returned from paddling, the David B gets underway again and cruises over to Stuart Island. We arrive in time for dinner. After dinner, anyone wishing to go ashore will be taken ashore and then picked up at a specified time.

Wednesday, August 20th - Day THREE - Stuart Island to San Juan Island [see #7 on the MAP below]

Friday, September 5th - Day THREE - Stuart Island to San Juan Island

• 6:00 am - Coffee, tea and pastries
• 7:00-8:00 am - Breakfast served
• 8:00-12:00 noon - Hike to Turn Point Lighthouse
• 12:00-1:30 pm - Lunch and cruise to Roche Harbor [see #6 on the MAP below]
• 1:30 - 3:30 pm - Visit Roche Harbor
• 3:30 - 5:30 pm - Kayak Mosquito Pass to Garrison Bay [see #7 on the MAP below]
• 5:30 - 6:30 pm - Appetizers
• 6:30 - 8:00 pm - Dinner served

After breakfast the crew will take everyone ashore for a walk to the Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island. This is a 5-mile round trip walk with a 250-foot gain in elevation and is an easy walk. For folks not wishing to walk 5 miles, there are alternative walks on the island, including a 1 1/3 mile round trip walk to the historic schoolhouse. The David B will raise anchor after lunch and head over to San Juan Island and Roche Harbor. While at Roche people and visit the McMillin Mausoleum or the Outdoor Sculpture Garden. We will spend about an hour in Roche Harbor before putting the kayaks in the water for an easy paddle through Mosquito Pass to Garrison Bay.

Thursday, August 21st - Day FOUR - San Juan Island to Bellingham

Saturday, September 6th - Day FOUR - San Juan Island to Bellingham

• 6:00 am - Coffee and Pastries
• 7:00- 8:00 am - Breakfast
• 8:00 - 11:00 am - Hike up Mt. Young and visit English Camp [see Garrison Bay, #7 on the MAP below]
• 11:00 - 11:30 am - Underway and Lunch
• 11:30 - 5:00 pm - Cruise through the San Juan Islands and return to Bellingham

[click on the photo to the right for a full-size view of the vista]

On day four there will be time for people to take a hike in the morning to the top of Mt. Young. This is a 3-mile round trip with a 650 foot elevation gain. It is an easy walk on a well-maintained trail. Once everyone is back on the boat, lunch will be served and then we will head back through the islands to Bellingham. We will choose our route depending upon the location of the orca whales and with time permitting we will try to spend time with the whales. The boat returns to Bellingham at approximately 5:00 pm.

what to bring...

The David B is equipped with kayak gear for all of our passengers. If you have your own kayak that you will be bringing please let us know ahead of time. We supply All bedding and towels for our passengers. If there are any questions you might have about what to bring don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-877-670-7863 or .

A note on CAMERA EQUIPMENT:

Boat trips are notoriously hard on cameras. The abrupt changes from sea level to higher elevations combined with cold, windy, rainy weather and frequent fog or marine layer humidity are a challenge for any delicate electronic equipment, including regular and digital cameras. On the other hand, you don't want to leave your good camera behind and miss shots of some of the most beautiful scenery in the US. Here is my advice: leave the really expensive large-format camera at home and bring a serviceable inexpensive camera or even a disposable for snapshots. If you cannot bear to leave your good camera at home, bring along a large ziploc bag or a kayak dry bag for storage. Collect the packets or cylinders of silica gel (the ones that come in vitamin bottles or packed with new cameras for shipping and which say "do not eat") and pack them in the bag to absorb humidity. Keep your camera equipment in the closed bag when you are not using it and check the inside of the bag frequently for water vapor. Also remember that your batteries will not function at full capacity or efficiency when it is very cold. Lots of photographers carry their cameras INSIDE their jackets so that when they need to use the camera the batteries will not be sluggish. - Chuck

weather

Weather in the San Juans, even in the summer, can be brisk. Bright clear days in the low or even mid-70's are common, but so are days in the 50's and rain is always possible. (See the WHAT TO BRING section above).

Here are links to current weather conditions in three cities:

(use the BACK button on your browser to return to this page after viewing the weather)

Weather in Seattle

Weather in Friday Harbor (San Juan Island)

Weather in Bellingham

Check the weather and the forecast regularly beginning about a week before the trip and keep checking for unusual weather trends in the predictions. BE PREPARED.

meals

All meals aboard are prepared on the wood-burning stove in Christine's galley. She is pretty much of a wood-stove wizard, as you will discover once aboard. One of her specialties is pastries made from scratch and all of her meals are nutritious and healthy with wonderful soup and pasta dishes that are always a hit. Please let Christine know if you have special food considerations that she needs to take into account.

Here is a photo of the galley on the David B. I am frequently amazed at the wonders that Christine is able to produce on her wood-burin stove.

[CLICK on the photo for an enlarged view of the galley.]

Christine has provided a SAMPLE MENU of meals for a 7-day Alaska trip of the type offered here. Click on this link: SAMPLE to view the menu and see more food photos.

map

a note about Orcas..

The Salish Sea (a recent designation for the region north of Tumwater, WA and south of Johnstone Strait, British Columbia - the region is also frequently referred to as Puget Sound in the US and the Georgia Basin in British Columbia) is home to three RESIDENT PODS of Orcas. In addition, occasional TRANSIENT PODS of Orcas pass through the area on their trips to and from the open waters of the Pacific.

While there is never a sure-fire guarantee that you will see Orcas on any given trip into the San Juan Islands, the odds are pretty good (about 50/50 in August/September), so be on the lookout, especially as we cruise through the home waters of J POD, the resident pod closest to the San Juans.

Here is a site that identifies the individuals in each of the three resident pods in the Salish Sea (individuals are identified by unique dorsal fin shapes and patterns):

http://www.whalemuseum.org/programs/orcadoption/whalelist.html

And here is a site that shows the most recent sightings on a map of the area:

http://orcas.mapmate.com/maps/242

Resident Orcas are considered endangered (although this is contested) and strict rules govern the way boats can approach them and how close they can get. One of the advantages of being on a small boat is that we can change course to cruise by Orca pods if they are sighted nearby as we cruise the islands.