Looks like Mark & Chris are going to miss their own Shindig this year.

They'll be bush flying in Alaska for a month, and visiting their favorite chef Kate who's landed a summertime gig at a fishing lodge in the Katmai Preserve.

So see y'all next year in July for Shak Shindig '09.

What's the Shindig all about?

A good place + good food + good friends =

a good time.

We understand, you're a very busy person with way too many things to do - and we're talking an entire Saturday away from your already too-full schedule.

Well, in a way, that's the point.

Think for a second, when was the last time you let yourself stack rocks on a beach...


take a ride down a country road...


fly a glider in a meadow... take a nap in a hammock... toss a waterballoon from a treehouse... eat a whole mess of crab...


dress up Island Formal style... catch up with old friends...


That's what it's all about.

Shak Shindig 2007
July 14, noonish to sixish.

Come Early. Stay Late. Bring a friend.
Bring a Smile.

Kids & puppies always welcome.

Campfires and roasted marshmallows

Come early, stay late, pitch a tent or sleep out under the stars.

We know how you feel - it's just so darn nice up there on the islands, sometimes a day trip just isn't long enough. So you're more than welcome to stay the night. Don't worry, we'll arrange transportation for you.



If you're staying over, remember to bring these things: sleeping bag, a tent (if it looks like rain), some breakfast, and some extra snacks. Friday dinner is potluck, Saturday breakfast you're on your own, on Sunday we may have leftovers from the Shindig. So, plan your meals accordingly.

One last note: if you'd like to stay over and would prefer less rustic accommodations, give Sandy & Gordon a call. They have an apartment above the General Store and a wonderful cabin that they rent out. Alma's Country Store: (360) 375-6090

Getting to the Shindig

* Be sure to RSVP to save your spot on the boat *

The Island Express has been chartered to bring you to the Shindig. The boat leaves from the Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes at B-dock. Parking is located right across from the harbor office (check the links, look at the maps, and park in one of the 72-hour lots).

Please be there at 10:30 am for an on-time sailing at 11:00 am.

The Island Express will take you on a lovely little ride and deposit you at the Decatur Shores dock in Read's Bay on the south west side of Decatur Island. Your route might look something like this: linky.

The Island Express will return to Decatur at 6:00 pm to take you back to Anacortes and the real world all relaxed and happy after a shindiggity day.

Shak Shindig 2007

It's never too early to start planning for the next Shak Shindig.
So pull out your calendars and mark the date:

July 14, 2007

See you on the island.
cb + mark

PHOTOS POSTED

What a great Shindig!! Thanks everyone for coming and extra-special thanks for those of you who've shared your photos with us.



We've posted many of the photos at Webshots and if that link doesn't work you can find them here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/552772091RRpeLL

Even more are posted on Picassa and if clicking that doesn't work, cut and paste this into your browser:
http://picasaweb.google.com/HappiestFlying/ShakShindig2006

Thanks Kate!

The star of Shak Shindig 2006 was Kate Wheaton!
The Seasonal Palate provided all the excellent food
and she'll be back next year - we can't wait!!

MARK & CHRIS HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING...

and are on their way to gettin' down and shindiggity.

Please send text messages to their cell phones if you need to get in touch.

See you at the Shindig!

What to bring to the shindig...

A smile and a friend.
A folding chair.
An umbrella if it looks like rain, or sun!
Sunblock and bug spray just in case.
A wetsuit and snorkel gear if you're feeling brave.
A sense of adventure.
Kids and puppies welcome.

If you're staying over bring these too:
Breakfast for whatever morning you wake up.
Snacks for whatever extra day you're staying.
Sleeping bag.
Tent if it looks like rain.
A favorite beverage for sippin' around a campfire.

Facilities at The Shak are Deluxe Primitive which means we've got:
Food and drinks for Saturday.
A fancy loo in the woods.
Tasty well water.
Propane stoves for cookin.
A big fire pit for cooking and roasting marshmallows and telling tall tales
A generator for power if absolutely necessary

Come Early - Stay Late

I know how you feel... how can you possibly leave the islands at the end of the day? You just finally started to settle in and already it's time to go...

Well, ya might as well stay. You can bring a tent and pitch it in the backyard or out in the meadow if you like. Or forget the tent - crash in the treehouse or a hammock.

Shak Shindig 2006
come early, stay late - shindig style
Saturday July 15 noonish to sixish and beyond
Decatur Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA
Be there or be squared

Let us know if you'd like to stay over & we'll arrange transport for ya.

Cruise to the Shindig

Meet the lovely and talented Jen Jones. Jen will be your cruise director aboard the Island Express on the trip to Decatur Island for Shak Shindig 2006. Light refreshments will be served on your cruise through the scenic San Juan Islands. The ship sets sail at 10:30am on Saturday morning from Annacortes and will return to shore at 8:00pm that same evening. Space is limited so reserve your spot now. Please RSVP to shindiggity@gmail.com so we can send you all the details on where to be at what time so you can catch that boat.

Shak Shindig 2006
Saturday July 15 from noonish to sixish
transportation provided
Decatur Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA
Be there or be squared.

Hope to see you there! Mark & Chris

Vectors for Aviators

For those who are happiest flying, vectors to the Shindig are provided below. If you haven't got a plane and you haven't got wings but you think you'd like to fly anyway, please contact us and we'll see what we can do to help free you from your gravitational constraints. RSVP to shindiggity@gmail.com sooner rather than later.

DSCA Airfield homepage: http://members.doubleknot.com/dsca/airfield.htm
AirNav info: http://www.airnav.com/airport/WN07

WN07 is a grass airstrip with a meadow to the south and a hill to the north.
Airfield elevation is approximately 40' MSL. Right Pattern for runway 33.
San Juan Islands common traffic frequency is 128.25
Runway lighting is 5 clicks on 122.8
Guest parking is at the north end of the runway.

Be advised that it is a one-way strip landing north with a prevailing tailwind from the south, so make your go-around decision early if it's windy.

and keep an eye out for deer and bunnies who like to party on the runway.

oh, so yummy...

Oh and did we tell you about the food??
This year Kate's catering company will be cookin' up a storm!
(allowing Chris to finally kick back and relax)


Shak Shindig 2006

Saturday July 15 from noonish to sixish
food and beverages provided
Decatur Island, Puget Sound, Washington, USA
Be there or be squared

Hope to see you there!
Mark & Chris

an Island Formal affair

It's never to early to start thinking about what to wear to the Shak Shindig... and we know you've been planning your Island Formal best ever since you set your peepers on these folks...

Hope to see you there!

coming soon: Shak Shindig 2006

The Next annual (sorry, lost count already)
Shak Shindig
will be Saturday, July 15, 2006

Be there or be squared!

noon to 6pm
come early - stay late
transportation provided
food and beverages provided
bring yer own tent if you're stayin' over
more info soon...

it all started with an idea...

Some years ago we bought a patch of land on Decatur Island and we camped there spring, summer, fall and winter. After which we were very wet.

So we decided to make a little shelter and invited our friends to help. They did and thus the Shak was built. The first Shak Shindig was in 2000 (give or take a year, I'm not too good with dates) and has continued every year since on the second Saturday after the 4th of July.