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Jennifer Donogh

Travel Log
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June 28, 2022

Avocado Oil is FAKE!? Making pancakes at Stuart Island.

Sunrise cruise from Sucia to Stuart Island.

Another early morning departure, leaving Sucia Island for Stuart Island. Work, paddling, fun, exploring a new area, and hiking was the plan once we reached our new destination.

Finding out more about our destination.

Thanks to careful planning we cruised through the current to our new location. Unfortunately, the weather forecast had changed. We were expecting wind for sailing, but ended up with another morning of calm. Shane was fine with motoring. The batteries needed to be charged after all and we had a schedule to stick to.

A different sight off of John’s Island.

The ride over gave us another beautiful sunrise. The real fun kicked in once we made it to John’s Passage. It’s a sneaky one that took us a minute to see as we approached from the north. It was a sight to see! The water looked just like the Snoqualmie River with rocks popping up, some rapids and swirly water. Shane navigated it like a champ.

Passing by Gossip and Cemetery Islands. Take a look at some of the island names in the San Juans…

We reached Reid Harbor on Stuart Island when the next adventure came. Pumping out. I feel like a talk about it a lot. Do any other cruisers worry about it as much as I do?

Stuart Island is another Marine State Park, like Sucia. It’s a popular stop for people traveling back and forth between Canada and the United States. Reid Harbor is large, protected and busy. The Pump-out is a convenience and I’m sure some peace of mind for the state that the cruisers there have the opportunity to keep the water clean.

Stuart Island has no electricity. The Pump-out is manual. A first for us! Talk about an upper body workout for me. I’m sure the nearby boats loved our presence there at 7am too. We whispered and there was noise from the pump, so it couldn’t have been that bad.

Manual Pump-out at Stuart Island.

Shortly after we arrived Shane’s buddy, who was anchored nearby came over in an incredible boat, designed by the same person who made the PT Eleven. Shane had met him while paddling the Salish 100 back in 2019.

For the most controversial part of my day… when we provisioned last week, I spent more money than I normally would on a “pure avocado oil.” I like to use oil in frying eggs or in making pancakes; the oil keeps them from sticking my to my stainless steel pans. Avocado oil is supposed to have a mild flavor and high smoke rate. On land I had used coconut oil. Still not my favorite. On the boat I worry about the coconut oil solidifying when the residues get washed off and go down the drain.

I noticed that this avocado oil by Primal Kitchen made the pancakes magically not stick. Not even a little. Either the Costco brand oil I had used in the past was not the real deal or this one. I made a mental note to look it up later in the day.

While I wasn’t able to spend much time looking into it, I did find a summary of a test done by UC Davis. It sounds like most oils that claim to be pure when it comes to avocado are in fact fake. Was this brand the real deal? I don’t know. when we run the inverter next maybe I’ll find out the truth.

Pantry inventory.

After my thought provoking morning, I had the kids assist me in creating a pantry inventory. they listed everything in the food locker beneath our salon seat. They practiced their handwriting, creating a list, reinforcing spelling, sounding out new words, keeping tally, and just being part of a team. Kelly paid more attention to the different foods he hadn’t really interacted with I have stored away. In doing so he found out making hash browns can be pretty easy.

Restaurant time!

He asked if he could make lunch for us and immediately began creating a restaurant with ambient music, nice branding, a cute menu, beverages, and hash browns with sauces.

Kelly making camping hash browns.

Unfortunately his restaurant must be understaffed, because I still did the dishes. Wyatt and I loved the experience.

After lunch the boys and i took the paddleboards to shore. It was eighty degrees out with no wind. We decided to postpone the hike we had thought about doing after seeing the stairs up the mountainside. Instead we explored the campgrounds and beach.

Swim step paddle party.

We spent the rest of the afternoon paddling the harbor. The boys even played on the paddleboards behind the boat as if it was summer.

Why Jenn, it is summer, you might be saying to me. In the NW its not actually summer until after the fourth of July. As I’m writing this the next day its sixty degrees, overcast and windy.

Water time!

As the evening went on Shane dinghied to shore for more water. The kids eventually got out of the water and washed off on our swim step.

A cozy dinner planned, unfortunately on a hot day.

Shane was able to paddle around Johns Island after dinner. By the way, dinners have been getting pretty creative! Savory tempeh, mashed potatoes, peas and cranberry sauce. the kids have still been eating everything I’ve given them!

Shane heading off to paddle after dinner.

Shane read to the boys, I washed my hair, and we got ready for another day on the boat.

Coco Mar before sunset.
TAGS:Stuart Island
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Hot one day – cold the next.
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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1/1
@jenniferdonogh

Liveaboard Life

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Personal Development

What I Use

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G7X Mark II

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LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C 2TB External Hard Drive

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  • Family Winter Update

    January 9, 2023
  • Reality Check: Fall Edition

    October 23, 2022
  • Hippity Hops Through the San Juans

    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
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
View on Instagram |
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

Jennifer Donogh 2022 Video Editing .