Anchorage: Matia Island

Now that Puget Sound has broken its 100-day streak of rain & clouds and even had an over-70-degree-day, The Admiral and I finally had a chance to start our boating season  over Memorial Day weekend.

Our first stop was a new anchorage for us: Matia Island. Apparently no one agrees on how to pronounce it, so we don't know if it's (May-sha) or (Ma-Tea-a). Regardless, it is part of the San Juan National Wildlife Refuge and is packed with birds, particularly the old forest in the center of the island. Speaking of old forest, here's the Admiral standing inside a particularly old cedar.

We anchored Southwest of Rolfe Cove in a smaller cove that we had all to ourselves. Our entertainment for the evening was a young seal that was clearly playing - rather than fishing - by corkscrewing through the water and jumping out of the water like a dolphin.

Overall we highly recommend this island, though beware that Rolfe and the smaller cove are exposed to North winds, which we had a-plenty overnight. Perhaps a really long shore tie would have put our bow into the wind?