Yesterday we spent the day (Sunday) on Cypress Island in Eagle Harbor Anchorage and went for a nice 5-mile hike with Maui to the other side of the island, a place called smuggler’s Cove.

Last year when Rachel was training for her ultra-marathon, a long run on Cypress was part of her training plan and she came across a sign about a woman who lived on Cypress in the 1930’s. Ms Zoe Hardy was her name. She built herself cabins and farmed the land by herself. She shooed off strangers and later became ill with cancer. Eventually she refused help and provisions and soon after, disappeared, never to be seen again.

Although this story may seem morbid, it provided some inspiration for Rachel last year… thinking about the challenges of this lifestyle and how much harder things would be, even just 100 years ago.

Zoe Hardy had to have been a badass. And it’s rare to hear stories about women pioneering solo.

Anyway… it was a somewhat rolly night, but we slept ok, and left at 10:30 this morning to get to Bellingham. The ride over wasn’t pleasant. We were fine, just windy and rolly.

Now that we are here, we need to pick up our package (water- maker/desalinator replacement membranes/parts) that we’ve been waiting for all week, and run quite a few errands. My nice Garmin watch went over board earlier this week, (you’re welcome Poseidon) and it’s SUPER important to have the time easily available in this life… So, gotta get a new watch, I think I’ll go to REI.

I think I’ll actually rent a car today, it should be more convenient and cost less than taking lyfts everywhere.

It’s a 15 min bike ride to Enterprise Car Rental, so I’ll do that, and put the fold-up bike in the trunk of the car.

Rachel kneeling with Maui on a rocky beach at Cypress Island with the San Juan Islands in the background

Rachel and Brian selfie on the beach at Smuggler’s Cove on Cypress Island

SV Yahara anchored in Eagle Harbor at Cypress Island with Mount Baker in the background

Salmon dinner with broccoli served in the cockpit of SV Yahara at Eagle Harbor

Historical sign about Mrs. Zoe Hardy at Smuggler’s Cove on Cypress Island

Remains of Zoe Hardy’s collapsed log cabin in the forest on Cypress Island