For the fourth of July weekend, we chose one of our favorite destinations in the San Juan Islands: Prevost Harbor. This protected harbor lies between Stuart Island and the much smaller Satellite Island off Stewart's Northeast coast. Getting to Prevost Harbor is possible from both ends of Satellite Island, though the Southern entrance is possible only for shallow draft boats like Jenny G.
Stuart Island began its modern history when it received its name from Charles Wilkes during his expedition between 1838 and 1842. The island was named for Frederick D. Stuart, Wilkes' clerk of the expedition. Later, in 1871, after Kaiser Wilhelm settled the “Pig War” between the British and the Americans, the island was surveyed in 1874 and the land that would later become Turn Point Lighthouse was identified and reserved by the U. S. Government. The rest of the island was made available for homesteading.
Things to see and do on Stewart Island include, of course, the beautiful Turn Point Lighthouse walk from the State Park dock between Reid Harbor and Prevost Harbor (6 miles round trip). For this visit, our highlight was the new Louis Borcher museum that has recently opened by the Turn Point Lighthouse Preservation Society. Along the walk, you'll see the island's schoolhouse, which has been closed and reopened over the years as students needed teaching. We understand that this is a K-8 school and that high schoolers must go to neighboring San Juan Island high school to complete their education. While at the school, please check out the honor-system “shop” where great t-shirts, hats, and other items are available for purchase. But don't leave cash....mail it when you get home!
As for the anchorage itself, Prevost Harbor never disappoints. Although the weekend was fairly cloudy, we rowed around the shore of tiny Satellite Island several times. The YMCA's Camp Orkila is on Satellite Island and we wished we were kids again so that we could go to camp there.
Back on the boat, we enjoyed yet another great barbecue dinner and listened to the Prairie Home Companion 4th of July special on the radio. Speaking of radio, Stuart Island is a great place to tune in. Pacific Lutheran University NPR station repeater in Port Angeles (90.3 FM, I think) and Canadian Broadcasting Company station (91.3 FM, I think) out of Victoria come in flawlessly. The reason why I don't know the exact frequencies is our radio has a good-old-fashioned dial, so none of that digital precision for us!
And finally, the bird life in Prevost Harbor was great. Not only did we see a Great Blue Heron in a tree, we experienced the high drama of the evening when a Bald Eagle made several attempts to pluck a baby Canada Goose from the water. He didn't succeed and, if you think those geese are loud in your favorite park, wait until you hear about thirty of them ward off an eagle attack.
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