‘The Point’

The large area making up Birch Bay sees lots of activity during settled weather

After our visit to Eastsound, the Landon’s returned to Anacortes for another week of work on the Waggoner Guide, ‘burning the candle at both ends’ as they say.  Perhaps our blog readers wondered what happened to us.  We’re happy to report that we are back burning engine hours instead.  It’s all part of the on-going combination of work and play.  Heading north, we passed Lummi Island transiting Hale Passage and pulled into Birch Bay to take a look.  Finding anchorage in Birch Bay is not a problem due to its huge size, nearly 2 nautical miles across.  Excellent anchorage depths vary from 50 feet to 12 feet with a drying tidal area at the head of the bay.  Crabbing is also good, evidenced by the numerous crab pots in the area.  This grand bay, which includes a protected private marina and the town of Birch Bay, is exposed to the Strait of Georgia and northwest, west, and southwest winds.  This is one of those places to anchor and enjoy only in settled weather.  Continuing on, we arrived at Point Roberts, a fascinating place with a unique history.  Point Roberts, just south of Vancouver B.C., lies at the southern end of a Peninsula. 

Point Roberts Marina

When the negotiated border between Canada and the United States was established in 1846 at the 49^th Parallel, a small piece of land on the tip of the peninsula fell below this line, becoming part of the U.S.  This small piece, 4.9 square miles to be exact, extends into the Strait of Georgia, isolated from the lower 48 states. Prospectors headed north during the Fraser River Gold Rush; but when that ended, ‘The Point’ was made a military reserve and later became a popular hiding place for smugglers.  In 1894, a group of Icelandic families came to the area to clear land for farming and build log homes.  The military reserve was canceled in the early 1900’s.  These farmers, no longer considered squatters, were given homesteader rights. 

Remains of a previous cannery on Point Roberts (looking north)

Others soon came here to work and live, including fishermen and workers for the canneries that sprang up.  Today, mostly retirees live at Point Roberts enjoying an island-like life style.  Although residents must endure the inconvenience of crossing the check point at the Boundary Bay Border between Point Roberts, WA and Tsawwassen, B.C., they cherish this unique seaside setting with sandy beaches and four different ocean-side parks.  There’s even an award-winning golf course. 

Looking south across the Strait of Georgia, San Juan's in the distance

The various parks can be reached easily by bicycle.  Bicycle rentals are available through Pedal Pushers Bike Rentals who will deliver bikes to the marina.  Boaters find Point Roberts to be a unique destination within easy reach from the San Juan’s, weather permitting.  The well protected marina basin offers transient moorage in unoccupied slips, reservations are required.  Boaters should be aware that silting has occurred over the years near the ends of the breakwaters; swing wide around the breakwaters, keeping a mid-channel course. 

Breakwater entrance leading to the marina basin at Point Roberts

When entering through the breakwater, we calculated 5 feet of water at zero tide.  As reported by the Point Roberts Marina, the entrance will be dredged starting in October of 2017 and will be less of a concern for boaters in the 2018 boating season.

The large man-made marina basin at Point Roberts

Point Roberts Marina was the vision of Egidio Trasolini, who began the process of dredging out a basin in 1976 which is still one of the largest man-made marinas in the Pacific Northwest. 

Compass Rose Bar & Grill at Point Roberts Marina

In addition to enjoying the lovely nearby parks, boaters won’t want to miss the cute Compass Rose Bar & Grill at the marina, open from 11 am to 9 pm (closed on Tuesdays).  We chose the eggplant-cheese sandwich and a refreshing glass of lemonade while watching all the harbor activity from the restaurant patio. 

Seaside homes at Point Roberts, marina entrance in distance