AdventuresNW
by Lance Ekhart
I’ve been poking around the San Juan Islands with my sailboat for 12 years and I keep coming back to three little islands in the group: Matia, Sucia and Patos. Their fantastic sandstone formations perched above narrow and precipitous ledges compel me to find a way to access them, often a risky endeavor by dinghy, rewarding me only at the confluence of high tide, calm waters and a glorious “golden hour”. The enticement frequently leads to frustration, though, as the few mooring buoys on Matia and Patos are usually taken in the summer months, encouraging me to discover the peaceful seclusion of being alone there in the off season.
Lance Ekhart is best known for his extreme sailing adventures but his longtime interest in photography has been rekindled in the San Juan Islands. His writing and photography has appeared in publications including 48North, Wooden Boat Magazine, and Nautical Quarterly, and his photography has been featured in numerous galleries around the Pacific Northwest. He can usually be found philosophizing and contemplating the universe aboard his boat, Elenoa in Anacortes, WA.
Visit Lance’s website.
