South Puget Sound

bshillam · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: South Puget Sound

The wife and I would like some suggestions for the South Puget sound. We've got about a week or so and thought it would be nice to launch near Olympia however I am not familar with the South Sound. Where to launch and were to stay. We're not big on resorts or fancy places. In fact, it would be nice to spend most of the time on the hook or at a nice small dock. I was thinking it would be nice though to end up in Port Townsend. Isn't that where they have the real popular bakery?

Jazzmanic · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject:

We've been meaning to do the South Sound as well and still haven't made it down there. If you do a search, there is a lot of info on the South Sound. From what I gather, Swantown Marina in Olympia is a good plact to launch and overnight. Jarrell Cove on Hartstine Island is supposed to be nice. Gig Harbor has a classic tavern dockside. Tacoma has nice facilities on Thea Foss waterway. And finally, the bakery you're thinking about is in Poulsbo, which is a nice stop and not as far as Port Townsend.

NORO LIM · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject:

Check out this site for state parks moorage: http://www.parks.wa.gov/boating/moorage/locations/

I would launch either at Swantown Marina (right in Olympia - easy shot off I-5 at Exit 105 - just follow the signs to the Port of Olympia), or at Zittel's Marina (6 or so miles out Johnson Point, N.E. of Olympia - a little harder to find, but might put you immediately closer to places you want to go.)

If you have the time, a day trip up Hammersley Inlet (Check you charts and tide tables!) and then up the east side of Harstene Island to Jarrell Cove, or around the other side to McMicken Island, might be a nice start.

Hope you have a great trip.

bshillam · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:28 am Post subject: Last night,

Yeah I think the South Sound might be our ticket. Last night we were driving up from the Portland area and I-5 was stop and go. Four hours into the drive and we hadn't even covered 100 miles Disgust

we decided to call it a day and turn around. Between having to stop every two hours to feed the new born and the Sh*&^% traffic it was just too much. We wouldn't have even made it to Bellingham until midnight.
It seems as if the whole state of Washington decided over the weekend they needed to be near the ocean and used 101 to get there....Lesson learned.
Anyhow this week is suppose to be a scorcher - too hot to really enjoy ourselves. I think we'll be looking to do some boating next week. Smile

Far West II · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject:

The south sound is thick with good places to camp. This last weekend we camped at McMiken Island State park. The buoys were full by Thursday afternoon but there is good anchorage in the bay between the island and the mainland. It's small but a really quiet place.

At the north end of Harstine Island in Pickering Passage is Jarrel's Cove. It was not as busy here as I thought I thought it would be. The state has maybe a dozen buoys and there are (2) docks to tie up at. The private marina has gas (10% ethanol for $3.33 a gallon!) and some munchies.

At low tide we beached at Hope Island. There's lots to see but the tides got a little nasty, so watch that if you're on the hook, but there are mooring buoys as well.

If you haven't been to Olympia it is easily accessible by boat and there are many bars, restaurants and cool folks. All walking distance from public docks. It's as far south as you can go.

Penrose Point, Eagle Island and Gig Harbor are all worth a visit. Tie up by the ferry terminal in Steilacoom and walk 2 blocks south for a great breakfast.

Enjoy

Craig
253.241.9294

PS- Zittles is great. Boston Harbor and Narrows marinas (near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) also have launches, but Swantown is a very nice facility.