A no screens, no news winter weekend escape!

If there were ever a time to get away on Aeolus to remote islands that are millions of miles away it was this weekend. With the recent election and all the drama of doom, we knew it was the perfect time to do what Wendell Berry called entering the "peace of wild things".

We took a family friend and headed out for the three day weekend to favorite places. Departing Anacortes on Friday morning we had calm seas and no wind, so we motored our way all the way to Reid Harbor on Stuart Island. No sooner had we arrived than we were walking the trails, enjoying the  smells, and going feral.

On Stuart, in winter, with whales in the distance. Happy Boys!

We all slept like the dead that night, even our teenage guest who normally stays up late was asleep by 9:30 with no screens to keep him awake and a day of activity to tire him out. Getting 9.5 hours of sleep a night is the recommendation I heard today from a school therapist, and we certainly get that and more when aboard Aeolus!

On Saturday we had a lazy morning while some rain swept by. We didn't leave the boat for our walk until around 11, hoping for the mid-day clearing that often happens. There was a wall of fog covering the peak when we headed out, and yet I was hopeful.

Sure enough, as we approached the summit, the fog was being filtered by light and we burst out onto the top in a gorgeous sky and direct sunlight. The skies had cleared just for us, or so we thought. We all commented that the mountain loves us and knew we were coming, so shed the blanket of fog for us to get the warmth and views we so desired.

You tell me, is she an angel? 

It was magnificent in every way.

And then we saw Orcas!

Yes, looking out toward Canada, we spotted a pod of Orcas spouting and jumping and without a single boat on the water to harass them.

The smells, the light, the physical experience of walking...talking under the winter skies.



That afternoon we left Reid and headed over to Jones to explore and shorten our trip the next day. I put both reefs into the main and rigged my jacklines before heading out, as we had seen the wind and heard the forecast for 25-30 knots. Sure enough, we headed out and had the most beautiful beam reach right over to Spieden Island. Once in the lee of Spieden, we had to motor our way to Jones.

The Madrone berries seem extra red and abundant this year

Jones was as wonderful as always and we had her to ourselves. We stayed on shore until it was fully dark, and without headlamps or lights of any type. They all played hide and seek, and I sat by the shore watching the waves roll in and out.

Another sublime evening.

On Sunday we took Aeolus back to Friday Harbor where we have decided to return.

Another great winter trip. Go, Go, Go!

A keeper Dungy, and 11 red rock crabs!