![\"Sinclair_Post_Office-SassyGranny.com-1024\"](\"http:\/\/debgarland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Sinclair_Post_Office-SassyGranny.com-1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: www.sassygranny.com<\/a><\/h5>\nMy husband and I are amateur radio operators. We\u2019ve made many friends across the airwaves, some close to home and others around the world. One of these friends lived on Sinclair Island and invited us for a visit. We anchored in front of his property and met on the beach. He gave us a tour of his small cabin where he lived full-time, keeping himself busy doing high tech work. I remember how surprised I was at the juxtaposition of seeing him operate several computers powered by a generator while living a primitive island lifestyle. Of course, telecommuting is now commonplace.<\/p>\n
![\"Ham_Radio-wikimediacommons-1024\"](\"http:\/\/debgarland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Ham_Radio-wikimediacommons-1024-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/h5>\n
Sinclair Island, like Cypress Island, is administered by Skagit County. Located a 30-minute speedboat ride north of Anacortes, the private island has approximately 40 homes among the 70 property owners and a grassy airstrip. However, once access is restored on public land, there are a few dirt county roads to walk and the small village of Urban on the southwest end to visit. If you own a boat, fishing is reported to be excellent on Sinclair\u2019s northern side.<\/p>\n
![\"Sinclair_Island-1024\"](\"http:\/\/debgarland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Sinclair_Island-1024-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/h5>\n
The island is\u00a0named for Arthur Sinclair, captain of the General Pike<\/em> during a naval battle of the War of 1812. On the southeast corner of the island exists 35 acres of land donated by Mary Leach and owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. An overgrown path from the beach leads uphill to her old homestead where a disintegrating cabin, orchards, a field, and her grave stone remain. She wrote\u00a0Cottonwood Collection, a book about the history of Sinclair Island.\u00a0Another former resident was notorious smuggler, Larry Kelly, who bought a large portion of the island in his wife\u2019s name to avoid detection by authorities. He smuggled many things, but in particular, he transported Chinese workers and opium from Canada to the United States. His northwest shore property allowed him to keep an eye on customs vessels.<\/p>\n\u00a0![\"Sinclair_Island-chart-1024\"](\"http:\/\/debgarland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Sinclair_Island-chart-1024-300x300.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/h5>\n
Let’s say a prayer for the residents of Sinclair Island that their dock would be replaced soon, shall we?<\/p>\n
Thank you for reading!<\/p>\n
Blessings,<\/p>\n
Deb<\/p>\n
![\"350px-San_Juan_Islands_map\"](\"http:\/\/debgarland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/350px-San_Juan_Islands_map-273x300.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Not everyone desires to live on an isolated island, but it may surprise you that islanders have their limits. In 2012, a fierce January storm swept away a major portion of Sinclair Island\u2019s public county dock, leaving its U.S. Post … Continue reading
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/h5>\n
Sinclair Island, like Cypress Island, is administered by Skagit County. Located a 30-minute speedboat ride north of Anacortes, the private island has approximately 40 homes among the 70 property owners and a grassy airstrip. However, once access is restored on public land, there are a few dirt county roads to walk and the small village of Urban on the southwest end to visit. If you own a boat, fishing is reported to be excellent on Sinclair\u2019s northern side.<\/p>\n
The island is\u00a0named for Arthur Sinclair, captain of the General Pike<\/em> during a naval battle of the War of 1812. On the southeast corner of the island exists 35 acres of land donated by Mary Leach and owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. An overgrown path from the beach leads uphill to her old homestead where a disintegrating cabin, orchards, a field, and her grave stone remain. She wrote\u00a0Cottonwood Collection, a book about the history of Sinclair Island.\u00a0Another former resident was notorious smuggler, Larry Kelly, who bought a large portion of the island in his wife\u2019s name to avoid detection by authorities. He smuggled many things, but in particular, he transported Chinese workers and opium from Canada to the United States. His northwest shore property allowed him to keep an eye on customs vessels.<\/p>\n \u00a0 Let’s say a prayer for the residents of Sinclair Island that their dock would be replaced soon, shall we?<\/p>\n Thank you for reading!<\/p>\n Blessings,<\/p>\n Deb<\/p>\n Not everyone desires to live on an isolated island, but it may surprise you that islanders have their limits. In 2012, a fierce January storm swept away a major portion of Sinclair Island\u2019s public county dock, leaving its U.S. Post … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/h5>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/h5>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"