Stuart Island is a short hop from the megayachts of Roche Harbor, and a quick step back about 100 years. This is what passes as a road. To where you ask? There are only two signs: one to the schoolhouse and one to the lighthouse. Both are well worth the 5 mile hike to the other side of the island from where we moored at Reid Harbor.
Evidently this schoolhouse won some architectural awards when it was built in the 1980s. Cool. There are no school-aged children on the island now, so it looks to be more of a museum or meeting hall than anything else. They still mow the mini-soccer field next door for some reason.
The little teacher's quarters house next door had some historical information about the early settlers. A rough looking bunch, but you have to be amazed by how hard it must have been back then. It was especially hard for the visiting teachers. They had a poster with sample rules for the [female] teachers (from the early 1900's I hope): 1. No riding in cars with men other than father or brother, 2. No eating ice cream or smoking cigarettes in town, 3. You may not leave the island without the permission of the chairman, 4. No fraternizing with men. One lady hung herself in her father's barn. Maybe she couldn't deal with the rules. Can't even imagine.
Well, this is where you can buy some tourist shwag (and mail them payment). Kind of cool to see that the honor system is still in place somewhere. We passed on the "Pirates of Stuart Island" t-shirts, but it was really tempting.
We made it out to the lighthouse, which was automated in the 70s. This is where we guard against invasion from Canada.
The light is really an afterthought as the tower here is covered with all sorts of cameras and sensors, presumably to watch out for smugglers, which we hear is still an issue up here. The view is incredible, and it's great to see that there isn't some spa-resort set up. Long live the BLM!
Stuart Island is cute and quaint, but a lonely island overall, with a lot of no trespassing signs. We did see one local on THE road. She gave a cautious wave. Not sure we see the appeal of this lifestyle, but to each their own.
Reid Habor is really comfortable and protected, but we felt the need to move on, so we headed out to Garrison Bay on San Juan Island.
This is where the Brits set up a last ditch effort to claim part of the San Juans after the US incorporated the west. They gave in, and now this a park that sports the "largest maple tree in the world." Can't confirm that, but it sure is big.
Next we were back at Roche Harbor for a pit stop and some groceries, then we are back out to Provost Bay to meet Nick's uncle and aunt on their powerboat. So fun to hook up with other travelers. Yes, those are clouds in the background. Weather has turned a little bit cooler with some morning clouds, but we aren't complaining!
And finally, here is the gratuitous Sugar-shot. She still approves of the lifestyle we think.
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