South Puget Sound – Sailing Vessel Serenity

South Puget Sound: Boston Harbor Marina

Boston Harbor Marina sounds like a place in Massachusetts of my home. I half expected it to be pronounced and I will spell it phonetically, bawston hahbah. That is me with a half gone Boston accent occasionally slipping out. Although you won’t find a replica of the USS Constitution (like at Boston Harbor, MA) this marina is second friendliest in the area after Westbay Marina. Marina employees are friendly and kind. They have a fuel dock where Westbay does not have fuel. Boston Harbor fuel dock is around the left side of the marina looking from the sound. Keep slow towards the left of the marina and you will find the fuel station on a back dock.

DSCN1366 — Image of the vessel Pterodactyl at Boston Harbor Marina. Personally I think its looking fantastic and amazing. The small shack beyond is the fuel dock for the marina.

Once the Serenity was in trouble outside the marina. My anchor was dragging. Marina employees and good Samaritans pulled me away from potentially hitting another boat. I was sick in the hospital at the time and could not attend my boat until the next day. So I am eternally greatful to this marina and the nice people here.

The strong point of this marina is their convienace store. It is well stocked as well as offering seasonal local seafood fresh. Most times they offer hot clam chowder. There are chairs and tables outside on the docks to eat on. You will find locals here available for conversation and willing to answer questions.

Native Americans offload a fresh catch of the day at Boston Harbor Marina, 2016. The steelhead were caught off Squaxin Island Indian Reservation.

Each year on the 3rd of July they offer a spectacular fireworks display as a prequel celebration of Independance day. Many yachts and boats of all types drop their hook just outside the marina because the fireworks are set off on a big barge right on the South Sound. Its like a big boating party! Now I am not a man who drinks but if you are you would have fun at this event. Those who are not into that kind of partying scene can bring their own boat and drop the hook a little far from the main group to enjoy the fireworks. The first video I made and put on YouTube was of the 2016 3rd of July fireworks display. The sound quality was poor due to the wind. My camera neither takes good pictures at night. So I will not link to it at this time. If you really love fireworks send me an email and I will send you the link.

There is also a small lighthouse on the point that makes up the shelter of the harbor. It creates a nostalgic historical feel of the marina. A park and beach with nature trails is a short distance beyond. The marina rents paddleboards and kayaks. One could find a lot to explore and get great exercise.

In summary this is a great marina to refuel and enjoy a cold drink on a hot day. The marina’s proximity to Hope Island State Park makes it a possible kayak trip for the fit athletic types. I hope you will visit this marina in the future. I bet you will appreciate it as much as I have.

South Puget Sound: Hope Island State Park

Latitude: 47º 11′ 7.8″ N (47.1855)
Longitude: 122º 56′ 0.99″ W (-122.933)

DSCN1096 — SV Serenity sails toward Hope Island Marine State Park. Photography by Kenny Howard

Hope Island Marine State Park is a treasure for Olympia and Mason County residents to explore and discover. This is the first Island State Park that I landed and explored extensively from 2016 to present. I have been on this Island several times and enjoy its peaceful beauty and majestic trees. There are campsites you can use at night and day use picnic tables to have a lunch and meditation.

My favorite thing to do in the sound so far is hunting for good crab. This past year crabbing season was closed but when open I always set a pot or two off of this island. The catch has not disappointed so far. In fact, I have great success finding them each time I pull up my simple hoop traps. I like using the hoop traps because it is impossible for a crab to become entangled and forgotten. The crab can get away anytime until you are attending to the trap and pull it up. Other traps may be set and if the tide or current takes your trap away all the crabs caught will die. So its something to consider when crabbing. A hoop trap it’s not really a trap in a set position. It’s only a trap when you pull the trap up. Below is the first crab I caught in the sound. It had only one claw and covered in barnacles so I thought I would return him to its natural habitat. I would also like to thank my neighbor Colleen Murray for donating the crab traps which she had not been able to use. As a perk she gets an occasional fresh crab!

A crab in a hoop trap — A Crab in a Hoop Trap

Hope Island Marine Park has trails to explore. There are three environs to discover- old growth forest, salt marsh, and over one mile of beach. The trails and two park service employed to answer questions and maintain a fruit orchard. I am sure they do much more than this and you can talk with them about their duties when you visit. The impression I got with them about their work was they loved what they do and are exceedingly happy. The next time I travel there I will ask for a video interview. They are interesting people!

My friend Celeste went one afternoon to the Island with me on the Serenity. She found it a great place to meditate. It is all so peaceful and tranquil. The beach in some places is made from pulverized seashells from years of harvesting shellfish when it served as a major source of food for that native population. The Squaxin Island Indian tribe own the nearby island named after themselves. They have a lot of resources preserved on this island. One day at nearby Boston Harbor I watched a boat dock from this tribe and they had a huge catch of salmon they caught off their island. When you are meditating you can imagine what life was like back then with no city buildings and lots of nature living all around you.

So if you are near this Island I recommend this place to you. Stop in for a visit and bring a friend. But most of all leave your worries behind. Hope Island will help you melt all your troubles away. Thank you so much for reading my blog. If you like the story please give me a like and subscribe to my blog at my home page. Thanks!

South Puget Sound: Westbay Marina

Westbay Marina is located on 2100 West Bay Drive in Olympia and advertised as a most friendly marina in the area. As a resident here going on my third year I have to agree, it is very friendly. They also have a new website which you can find here. (Westbay Marina Website) Buying and maintaining my first big boat was pretty intimidating for an old fart with new ideas. But this marina, its staff and community here were very helpful. I feel the staff has gone the extra mile to make Westbay a friendly fair priced marina. Therefore, I recommend Westbay Marina to everyone.

Most visitors who come to Westbay come for the great restaurant we enjoy here called Tugboat Annie’s. The next thing popular here is the the rentals of kayaks. For only $20 you can rent a kayak and go exploring. My favorite place to explore nearby is Priest Point Park. This park gives access to beach and mud flats, preserves the Olympia waterline and wildlife of a mud flat environment. Unfortunately this part of the sound, Budds Bay, is polluted and closed to shell-fishing.

A Sea Lion baths lazily in the sun at Westbay Marina — A Sea Lion Baths Lazily in the Sun at Westbay Marina

The great blue heron is a big bird found though-out the sound. Its my favorite sight for wildlife in the sound. There are a few of them perched on select trees near the marina and within Priest Point Park. The bird has a huge wing span and a funny throaty squawk. The great blue heron gives the capitol of our great state a wildlife friendly feeling. With the capitol dome in the background and the heron soaring and squawking about I find incredible to find them in one view.

Indeed our capitol politics are quite progressive. Pacific Northwest Bulkworks is cleaning a contaminated waterline and raising areas that will suffer rising ocean-levels that global warming is causing. I am not crazy about all the noise made by the barges and massive earth moving machines. Dropping huge boulders onto metal and concrete barges makes a lot of noise disturbing the tranquil peace one can seek at the marina. However I believe the project is a much needed development for all residents of Olympia. At least we have a city that is being proactive and taking initiative on a clean environment. Besides there are more peaceful places in the South Sound to enjoy peace and tranquility.

I hope you will check my home page and subscribe. That way you will get an email when I write my next posts. I will begin to cover all the Island State Parks available only to those willing to sail, power, or paddle to them. Thank you so much for reading my blog and feel free to comment below.