Winter week in San Juan and Gulf Islands-A grand tour

We are just back from the most wonderful week of cruising around the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands. The boys had the week off school, and I from work. We had every single anchorage to ourselves...Where were you?

Dramatic light on Russell Island, British Columbia

Where were all the boats from Puget Sound and Canada? The marinas are full, the people haven't died of the plague yet, so why did everyone stay home on both weekends and week between? Why have I seen it this way every winter for over a decade now?

We had Shallow Bay on Sucia Island all to ourselves. And Echo Bay was empty.

We had Reid Harbor all to ourselves, where in summer I routinely count 100 boats.

We had Russell Island near Salt Spring all to ourselves, where I have shared it with 30 other boats in July.

We had Winter Cove on Saturna Island all to ourselves, and it routinely fills with 30 boats in summer.

We had Reef Harbor on Tumbo and Cabbage Islands all to ourselves for two whole days and nights, and in the summer every one of 14 balls is taken and a dozen others anchored nearby.

Why?