All, the runway still has considerable snow full length, especially on the west side.  What is exposed grass is soft.  Here is a report from our neighbor Vince –

Right now runway is snow and mud.  Expecting some sun but the evening cold makes frosh heaves.  So muddy.
If you land mid field going west your better off.  My advice is wait and I'll fill you in on condition of runway.

Thanks, Randy, for sharing these pictures.  It looks fantastic to me, I wish I was there for the storm.

Hey Owners, one of our new neighbors is looking into insurance and that got me thinking that I should ask around and see what you all have found out.  I have my place insured thru USAA but it was a pretty big hassle to get them to insure it.  Our properties are so unique that insurance is expensive and tough to find.

So, do any of you have any good leads?  Cooperative insurance companies, good agents?

If you do I’d sure appreciate an email at

insuranceinfo@stuartisland.org

Thanks, Greg

Hello Everyone, and Happy New Year!  I was just up on island for a couple days, and although the runway looks great, it is really wet from all the rain, and it is slippery.  Be careful with the winds and deer (and elk!) and try to stay on the more firm part of the runway.  When I was there there were big puddles in the usual places, especially on the west end of the runway.  Please take a moment to walk the runway and squish out any ruts that you might leave upon landing.

The whole community really took a beating from the recent wind storms.  There are some trees down, tons of debris blown all around.  The high tides, along with the winds, pushed the salt water up and over the berm on the Johns Pass beach.  After walking around some, I didn’t see any major structural damage anywhere, but I of course didn’t walk everything.  Denny told me that the water got so high that some people in the San Juans lost propane tanks and hot tubs to the high water.

Our dock on Prevost broke loose from part of its anchor system, and it swung at a 20 degree angle to the northwest.  Luckily some neighbors were around and took the time to reattach – see the pictures below.  Thanks Rhys, Randy and Chris for getting it secured again.

Hey Everyone,

The runway will be closed all day on December 4, 2018.  Please plan accordingly.

Thanks

I met a guy over at Oak Harbor – he flies for Point to Point Air.  I’m always looking for another option for our neighbors to use to get up to the island.

They have a couple Cessna 172s, and will fly you from Seattle up to Stuart for $140.  I haven’t used them, if you have any experience with them let us know.

Maybe they can help you, or your guests, get up to our island.

From Charlene…. (thanks Charlene)

____________

Double Take?????  Your eyes are not deceiving you!!!

Yes, there are two elk on Stuart Island.  This bull was seen and captured on photo by Eve Rudd running across the runway.  Later she and Randy saw a cow (female elk – ha) too.

Fish & Wildlife have been notified of their presence on Stuart.  Apparently, some elk swim from one island to the next in the San Juans.  It is suspected that this pair “illegally” crossed the border from Canada and without the proper NEXUS credentials as a pre-screened traveler – ha.

The San Juan County Sheriff, along with Fish & Wildlife plan to monitor the travels of this bull & cow.  FYI – Both enforcement authorities stated it would be a violation to shoot an elk on Stuart.  You may, however, shoot pictures to share.

It will be interesting to see how the local deer population respond to these interlopers.

_________

So there you go, Elk on Stuart.  I’m still not sure it’s not Bill and George in an Elk suit – Halloween is coming up..

I had a long conversation today with our friend and one time neighbor Scott Munro.  He told me the sad news that his wife Kat passed away last weekend.

Scott and Kat recently moved to the Florida Atlantic coast, just south of Jacksonville, from Rhode Island.  They were beginning to get settled into the retirement lifestyle.  I don’t have any details, but she passed away very quickly last Saturday.

Keep Kat, Scott and their families in your prayers.

I took some info that Scott included on his Facebook page, with his permission –

Click here to read his post about Kat

Hi- Here’s next year’s bookclub selections (attached). I’ll also post one in the mail shack. Happy Reading everyone!

I got this message from Harbor Propane..