Shaw Island, County Park

On what is expected to be the last nice day for a while, we jumped aboard Aeolus with no particular destination in mind. The sun was shining, and the air had warmed nicely to over 40 degrees, which is no small thing in January. After considering our old favorite of Jones Island, we decided to mix things up and go to County Park on Shaw Island.



The wind is supposed to come up strong tonight and we hoped for enough to sail in during our trip, but on the south side of Shaw there was hardly a wisp. We anchored right off County Park, which is about as easy and nice a place to anchor as you will ever find. The high tide covered most of the beach but you could still tell that it a fine, soft sand beach. A rarity in the San Juans.

We had lunch and walked the short distance across Shaw to Blind Bay, enjoying fine pastoral scenes along the way. Shaw is so quiet, compared to the "hustle and bustle" of San Juan. Oh, the relativity of it all.

While at anchor I hoisted the new anchor riding sail I made this winter and though the wind was light at maybe 10 knots, it did seem to keep Aeolus unusually steady at anchor. I'm encouraged.

A fine winter day, with moments in the sun where it was uncomfortably warm in our down jackets and fleece hats! And being winter here, there is virtually no one else around to share the beautiful days.

This last photo is the view from the picnic shelter toward Aeolus at anchor. Not sure why it looks so dark, as it wasn't.