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Jennifer Donogh

Travel Log
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April 5, 2022

Our Family Visits Cypress Island in the San Juan Islands

Our family of four visit Cypress Island, part of the San Juan Islands in the Puget Sound. Our boat is a 41ft motorsailer that we completed the purchase of in mid-August 2021. This is our third outing, jumping off to the islands from Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.

We experience our first story day on the boat, prior to heading out for the weekend. A small craft advisory in the evening kept us at the slip until the next morning. At the time we thought it was pretty windy. Port Townsend would teach us that was nothing.

A beautiful, busy day out on the water, heading towards Cypress Island.

We’re headed off to Cypress Island – aptly named for it’s juniper trees mistaken for cypress trees by Captain Vancouver. Vancouver explained in his log that the island was “principally composed of high rocky mountains and steep perpendicular cliffs.”  

Today it’s managed by the department of natural resources. There are a limited number of mooring buoys around the island, all managed by DNR. The island is the largest relatively undeveloped publicly owned island in the San Juan Islands.

Our oldest son, Kelly takes the lead on our way over to check out “Elephant Rock” off of Pelican Beach.

We felt pretty secluded at Pelican Beach behind elephant rock. We saw that boaters have named it little cabo as it resembles a miniature Arch. 

Shane is working towards his goal of circumnavigating all named islands of the Puget Sound. While we’re there he checks Cypress Island off his list and we get to explore land while we’re there.

We explore the easier Duck Lake Loop to see some of the island sights.

The deep coral reds, greens, and teal blue colors are so beautiful here. The weather is pretty moody the entire weekend. It would pour rain for a bit and then the clouds would separate and the sun would come out repeatedly. The light from the storminess added to the effect of how bright the colors were.

We enjoyed the variety of scenes just within the vicinity of our moorage.

The kids had fun playing along the rocks seeing what creatures lived near shore. We’re excited to go back to Cypress Island this summer to hike more of the trails, maybe anchoring over in Eagle Harbor next time?

Coco Mar off the coast of Pelican Beach.

We moved over to a mooring buoy at Smuggler’s cove to spend the morning on. Shane and the boys went for a dinghy ride to check out Smuggler’s Cove Trail while I made lunch. I was able to go paddling after lunch, which was fun.

In the next video we head to every boater’s favorite destination in the San Juan Islands – Sucia, where we spend a couple days exploring, and paddling.

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Visiting the San Juan Island Boaters Love the Most
Hi, I’m Jennifer Donogh,

Hi, I’m Jennifer Donogh,

the Cruise Director for our 41' ketch sailboat. We're traveling a lot, so creating healthy routines is a priority for me. Plus, planning fun excursions, meals, and onboard activities for our family of 4.

Current Location

Current Location
San Juan Islands

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Summer squished into a winter vlog tour of our day off the boat on the island 📹 on the YouTube at YouTube.com/theDonoghs 🔗 in bio.
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Summer squished into a winter vlog tour of our day off the boat on the island 📹 on the YouTube at YouTube.com/theDonoghs 🔗 in bio.
7 days ago
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@jenniferdonogh

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  • Family Winter Update

    January 9, 2023
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    October 23, 2022
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    August 5, 2022

Follow Along @JenniferDonogh

Summer squished into a winter vlog tour of our day off the boat on the island 📹 on the YouTube at YouTube.com/theDonoghs 🔗 in bio.
jenniferdonogh
jenniferdonogh
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Follow
Summer squished into a winter vlog tour of our day off the boat on the island 📹 on the YouTube at YouTube.com/theDonoghs 🔗 in bio.
7 days ago
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1/6
Don’t rock the boat, baby 😘

“Recents” from February - it was a busy one! Kelly is in a drama production here on island. The kids have been climbing (and Shane). Shane has been sailing, paddling, sauna-ing, and working on the boat (and working). We’ve made a lot of local friends and new boat buddies! Homeschool was mainly done off the boat this month with a lot of time exploring our out of this world surroundings.

Grammy and Grampy came to visit. Friday Harbor is a favorite boating destination for them, but their first time staying with us! 

The family traveled to the mainland for a boat part once and bundled it with a Trader Joe’s stop and to see Ant Man (we loved it). 

It sounds like March is going to live up to its name and we’re ready for it.
jenniferdonogh
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Don’t rock the boat, baby 😘 “Recents” from February - it was a busy one! Kelly is in a drama production here on island. The kids have been climbing (and Shane). Shane has been sailing, paddling, sauna-ing, and working on the boat (and working). We’ve made a lot of local friends and new boat buddies! Homeschool was mainly done off the boat this month with a lot of time exploring our out of this world surroundings. Grammy and Grampy came to visit. Friday Harbor is a favorite boating destination for them, but their first time staying with us! The family traveled to the mainland for a boat part once and bundled it with a Trader Joe’s stop and to see Ant Man (we loved it). It sounds like March is going to live up to its name and we’re ready for it.
2 weeks ago
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2/6
Neptune in his natural environment 🔱

Shane’s instincts are to go where the wind is — mine tell me to hide 😋

📸 by Wy
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Neptune in his natural environment 🔱 Shane’s instincts are to go where the wind is — mine tell me to hide 😋 📸 by Wy
1 month ago
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3/6
Another adventure on the island! It's so beautiful here. 

Winter is the time to be here — ferries, hotels, and rental cars are more affordable. Plus, there’s a quarter of the people.

If you can be patient with ferry cancellations/changes, odd restaurant hours, some windy bits, a little rain here and there (this is the sunshine belt though), the odd snow storm — then winter is 👌 😋
Another adventure on the island! It's so beautiful here. 

Winter is the time to be here — ferries, hotels, and rental cars are more affordable. Plus, there’s a quarter of the people.

If you can be patient with ferry cancellations/changes, odd restaurant hours, some windy bits, a little rain here and there (this is the sunshine belt though), the odd snow storm — then winter is 👌 😋
Another adventure on the island! It's so beautiful here. 

Winter is the time to be here — ferries, hotels, and rental cars are more affordable. Plus, there’s a quarter of the people.

If you can be patient with ferry cancellations/changes, odd restaurant hours, some windy bits, a little rain here and there (this is the sunshine belt though), the odd snow storm — then winter is 👌 😋
Another adventure on the island! It's so beautiful here. 

Winter is the time to be here — ferries, hotels, and rental cars are more affordable. Plus, there’s a quarter of the people.

If you can be patient with ferry cancellations/changes, odd restaurant hours, some windy bits, a little rain here and there (this is the sunshine belt though), the odd snow storm — then winter is 👌 😋
Another adventure on the island! It's so beautiful here. 

Winter is the time to be here — ferries, hotels, and rental cars are more affordable. Plus, there’s a quarter of the people.

If you can be patient with ferry cancellations/changes, odd restaurant hours, some windy bits, a little rain here and there (this is the sunshine belt though), the odd snow storm — then winter is 👌 😋
Another adventure on the island! It's so beautiful here. 

Winter is the time to be here — ferries, hotels, and rental cars are more affordable. Plus, there’s a quarter of the people.

If you can be patient with ferry cancellations/changes, odd restaurant hours, some windy bits, a little rain here and there (this is the sunshine belt though), the odd snow storm — then winter is 👌 😋
Another adventure on the island! It's so beautiful here. 

Winter is the time to be here — ferries, hotels, and rental cars are more affordable. Plus, there’s a quarter of the people.

If you can be patient with ferry cancellations/changes, odd restaurant hours, some windy bits, a little rain here and there (this is the sunshine belt though), the odd snow storm — then winter is 👌 😋
jenniferdonogh
jenniferdonogh
•
Follow
Another adventure on the island! It's so beautiful here. Winter is the time to be here — ferries, hotels, and rental cars are more affordable. Plus, there’s a quarter of the people. If you can be patient with ferry cancellations/changes, odd restaurant hours, some windy bits, a little rain here and there (this is the sunshine belt though), the odd snow storm — then winter is 👌 😋
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/6
V A L E N T I N E ‘ S  D A Y

Coco Mar is all setup for Valentine’s Day! Last year Wyatt and I did a doodle challenge for February that Kelly and Shane are joining us in this year. We’re also going to watch some rom coms! 

#valentinesday #boatlife #liveaboard
jenniferdonogh
jenniferdonogh
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V A L E N T I N E ‘ S D A Y Coco Mar is all setup for Valentine’s Day! Last year Wyatt and I did a doodle challenge for February that Kelly and Shane are joining us in this year. We’re also going to watch some rom coms! #valentinesday #boatlife #liveaboard
2 months ago
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5/6
You know it gets windy there with the gnarled trees and grass like that 😋

The boys and I tried to hike around here last June when we anchored in Griffin Bay. I had to call Shane to pick us up early in the dinghy because my eyes were too swollen and itchy to keep going. Oh well! We had a mostly dry hike this time and the views were beautiful. Especially on the west side overlooking Victoria.
jenniferdonogh
jenniferdonogh
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You know it gets windy there with the gnarled trees and grass like that 😋 The boys and I tried to hike around here last June when we anchored in Griffin Bay. I had to call Shane to pick us up early in the dinghy because my eyes were too swollen and itchy to keep going. Oh well! We had a mostly dry hike this time and the views were beautiful. Especially on the west side overlooking Victoria.
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/6

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