I was in WA this past week, flying into Bellingham from LAX on Allegiant. Non-stop, 2 hr 20 min. It musta been the first week of truly excellent weather this spring. Very nice! Warmish and mostly clear! Scoping out potential cruising destinations near there leaving from Blaine, or arriving there.
Turns out, there appears more to the area than non-locals might appreciate. Of course there is a harbor (Drayton) with a marina, plus a boat yard with haul out. I did not see a fuel dock, but there are pump-out sites. Drayton Harbor has water deep enough for anchoring through the tidal cycles although there is extensive uncovering of mudflats toward shore at low tide. Nevertheless, I did notice a couple of sailboats riding the hook over a few cycles and that appeared to be fine. With fairly light winds and sunny warm afternoons lingering until 2100, it was an inviting scene. Beautiful views to the west. One can see the “Peace Arch” at the border from the marina and there is a nice park there as well.
A few miles west lies Point Roberts Marina (see sunset view over the Point) which evidently has been totally isolated with the closure of the border, but when reopened looks to be a viable (resort) destination. Around Birch Point lies Birch Bay-a very pretty place which appears to offer anchoring in 10 to 20 ft with shelter from directions other than west and southwest. Might want to check "The Guide" b/f committing. Of course, SW of Blaine about 20-25 n.mi. lies the Sucia Islands "archipelago" and Echo Bay, a very scenic and popular boating destination of the San Juans.
The "Boardwalk" at Blaine, tiny as it is, offers nice views (see sunset), plus a couple of quaint restaurants which are now open. One where I got my first-ever grilled sardine sandwich! Another, the Railway Cafe, where I got morning oatmeal and coffee (but not very early!), sitting on a nice covered porch with a view over the harbor. Free street parking. And very low key. There's more. It could be a nice stop or departure for folks cruising the east side of the Rosario Strait (or its northward "continuation" which actually out of the strait), where I'm told is less foggy than westerly of it.
Turns out, there appears more to the area than non-locals might appreciate. Of course there is a harbor (Drayton) with a marina, plus a boat yard with haul out. I did not see a fuel dock, but there are pump-out sites. Drayton Harbor has water deep enough for anchoring through the tidal cycles although there is extensive uncovering of mudflats toward shore at low tide. Nevertheless, I did notice a couple of sailboats riding the hook over a few cycles and that appeared to be fine. With fairly light winds and sunny warm afternoons lingering until 2100, it was an inviting scene. Beautiful views to the west. One can see the “Peace Arch” at the border from the marina and there is a nice park there as well.
A few miles west lies Point Roberts Marina (see sunset view over the Point) which evidently has been totally isolated with the closure of the border, but when reopened looks to be a viable (resort) destination. Around Birch Point lies Birch Bay-a very pretty place which appears to offer anchoring in 10 to 20 ft with shelter from directions other than west and southwest. Might want to check "The Guide" b/f committing. Of course, SW of Blaine about 20-25 n.mi. lies the Sucia Islands "archipelago" and Echo Bay, a very scenic and popular boating destination of the San Juans.
The "Boardwalk" at Blaine, tiny as it is, offers nice views (see sunset), plus a couple of quaint restaurants which are now open. One where I got my first-ever grilled sardine sandwich! Another, the Railway Cafe, where I got morning oatmeal and coffee (but not very early!), sitting on a nice covered porch with a view over the harbor. Free street parking. And very low key. There's more. It could be a nice stop or departure for folks cruising the east side of the Rosario Strait (or its northward "continuation" which actually out of the strait), where I'm told is less foggy than westerly of it.
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