April 25, 2010 - Hunter Bay and Lopez Pass

We manged to get out early on a Friday afternoon for a change.  We pulled Cindy out of school an hour early and we are underway before she would have been getting on the bus to come home.  The weather forecast isn't great with a rainy and somewhat windy day for Saturday.  We head out Deception Pass and over to Lopez Pass to check out a small anchorage we've been curious about for years.  The water isn't bad at all in Rosario Strait and we have an easy crossing; much better than a few weeks ago.  The winds are supposed to be from the SE so we want an anchorage with good protection from SE winds.

It's rough duty running the boat....  Deception Pass coming up

We get to a promising new anchorage at low tide and do a little checking and decide that since we don't know the location we aren't comfortable with a depth of only 3' below the boat.  If there is just one rock we aren't aware of it could spell big trouble for us later.  So, we pull the anchor and head over to Hunter Bay.  There are no boats there, and in fact we haven't really seen any boats today.   At Hunter Bay we drop the anchor and it doesn't get a good bite, in fact it is just dragging across the bottom.  Kathy suggests this would be a good time to try the other anchor.  I agree.  I haul the new anchor to the foredeck and swap them.

Swapping Anchors.

Guess how the new anchor works????  !!!!

This new (used, but new to us) anchor grabs instantly as we back down on it, and pulls the bow of the boat around.  The anchor chain is stretched out in front of us like never before.  This is a good sign, and on the very first time we use it.  A few minutes later the wind shifts and we spin around 180 degrees.  Kathy suggests that maybe we should test the anchor to make sure it will set in the other direction, since some anchor styles don't do well when you shift the pull 180 degrees.  We try backing down in it and once again it is a huge sucess.  The anchor stops us and the chain pulls out straight in front of us.  Yippee!

Now it's time to relax.  The kids are playing with legos and then Kevin starts sorting the UNO deck of cards.  He's learning everything so fast these days, children are amazing. 

Kevin gets the UNO deck sorted out in the galley.

It was a very quiet Friday night.  There is virtually no wind in here, although it is blowing 15-20 knots at Smith Island just a few miles south of us.  We are in a good location.  It is a VERY quiet evening with no wind all night.  It's a little rainy so we just stay inside and play games, color, putter on projects, and Kathy and the kids work on some flamingo decorations for next weekends opening day boat parade.  The theme is "get your flamingo on".   After noon we take a dinghy ride over to the place we wanted to go yesterday and it is a fantastic beach.  It has a little of everything to offer.  There is sand, some skipping rocks, lots of driftwood, and hiking trails.  There is a strong breeze which is making it a little chili.  We hike out to the lighted nav aid and there we find a little geocache canister with goodies from other people.  There are notes, toys, pens and paper.  We hike back over to the beach and walk around the driftwood for a while.  We pick up garbage and make a pile that we will bring back to the boat.  There isn't much garbage/debris here, but there is almost none by the time we are through.

Our "new" little beach.  This is quite a find, and it's close to home!

Picking up garbage on the beach

We head back to the boat for dinner, and to celebrate my birthday.  It's actually tomorrow but Kathy made a cake and wants to start eating it before it starts to go bad.  So, Cindy lights the candles and they all sing me happy brithday.  

Steve is another year older....

It is pretty breezy still, but not at the boat since we have nice protection from the large hill we are anchored near.  By bedtime the wind is basically gone.  No wind all night again which is a welcome relief from the past few trips with windy/wavy nights.  We wake up and decide to go try out that other anchorage with the nice beach, so we pull the anchor before breakfast and move over.  The anchor is quiet hard to get off the bottom and the windlass struggles more than it ever has with the old anchor.  Another good sign that this is a superior anchor (at least in a mud bottom).  The new anchor is a 55 pound Delta anchor.  The old anchor is a 65 pound Furfjord Safety Anchor.....

We motor over while Kathy cooks breakfast and then drop the hook a little further out  Again, a very reasuring grip from the anchor.  After breakfast I take a dinghy ride around Center Island and Trump Island.  I also explore Decatur Island's shoreline a bit.  About 20 years ago my roommate and I were contemplating buying property on either Decatur or Center Island's, and I have often wished we had.  This is one of the best places to have a beach cabin in the San Juans.

After my dinghy ride we all head over to the beach and we take our cat Zappa with us.  We bring the sand toys, and a garbage bag to collect our junk from yesterday.  Zappa enjoys playing in the driftwood, and even heads up into the surrounding trees. 

Surf's Up.  Hey Bro, is that board made of Koa wood?

Playing with the sand toys

We take a hike around the nature preserve.  Zappa follows and sometimes leads the way.  This kitty knows how to follow a trail, and us.

Headed around the west side

A beautiful spring day in the San Juans

After our hike we take a dinghy ride over by Paul Allen's estate which is about a mile from here.  There must be at least 5 houses that are each a minimum of 10,000sq ft.  It is impressive.  Mt. Baker is very clear today and the water is very smooth.  Before heading back to the boat and going home we take a quick ride around Center Island.  A nice peaceful day to be on the water.....

Cindy wrestles with a large bull kelp

Sunday marks the end of week 16 (in the official ISO 8601 calendar that numbers the weeks).  This is the 8th weekend on the boat this year, so we are averaging using our boat every other weekend.  I have it as one of our oals for 2010 to maintain this average throughout the year.  We came up a few weeks short last year due to a long stretch of bad weather in November and December, but are several weeks ahead of last years pace.  Wouldn't that be something to average using your boat every other weekend for a whole year (not just during the summer), in Puget Sound? 

Scenic Mt. Baker.  It looks SO close...

April 18, 2010 - Kiket Island

We decided to head out despite a somewhat rainy forecast for Saturday.  The wind forecast isn't too bad with 10-20 knots forecast for the weekend.  Just after pulling out from the dock it started raining, lightly.  There isn't much wind though.  We motor over to Kiket Island in Similk Bay and drop the anchor.  Our plan was to do some comparisons between our two anchors, but we got such a great "bite" the first time with our regular anchor that we decide to save this for another time.  There are no boats around us, and we can see the Deception Pass bridge from our anchorage.  Some people we know are over on a buoy at Skagit Island and Ray told me on Friday he was going to do some clamming during the -2' tide on Saturday afternoon.

All alone in the bay

We get the dinghy down and go for a late afternoon hike on Skagit Island.  Ray and his wife are there and I ask how the clamming went and he says that they were too deep for his shovel and he couldn't get to them.  Oh well. no clams tonight.  The tide is so low that one of the mooring bouys on Skagit was high and dry.  I didn't get a picture of that, but here it was a little later after the tide rose a few feet.

Low tide and a useless mooring buoy

We walk around Skagit Island.  This is a nice little island with a few campsites, two mooring buoys (and a third too close to shore to be useful).  It is quite windy now. but no rain.  There are nice grassy fields of flowers on the SW corner of the island.  Quite pretty with all the flowers in bloom.

Checking out the flowers

After dinner I have time for a quick sail in our small dinghy.  Kathy was going to take it out but the wind is very gusty still, and it's changing directions with each gust.  I go out to test it and decide it's just too unpredictable to be much fun. 

Zappa watching Daddy go for a sail

Zappa and Cindy helping tie the sailboat up

The wind is a little gusty overnight but not enough to cause problems sleeping.  In the morning we wake to absolute calm, and clear sunny skies.  Perfect!  I take a little dinghy ride around the bay, and Kathy and the kids go rowing and take our cat Zappa along.

A calm morning.  Our boat is the little white dot at 11:00

Zappa and the kids out for a row with Kathy

After lunch it is time to head to our favorite sand beach over at Ala Spit on Whidbey Island.  The kids find a great log to jump from, landing in the sand.  They do this for quite a while.

Jumping into the nice soft sand

We must spend 4 hours here enjoying the sun, sand, and no wind.  Ah, is summer just around the corner?  Let's hope so!

April 4, 2010 - Turn Island Marine Park, Friday Harbor

Kathy's parents are here from Idaho, along with their good friends Chet and Terry. They arrived Thursday and the plan was to head out on the boat Friday afternoon. But, as it turned out, the weather just didn't cooperate with our plan. 40+ knot winds all day Friday kept the boat tied in its slip until Saturday morning.

We managed to get away from the dock Saturday morning but the wind was still blowing around 20 knots so we decided to head north up the channel to minimize our exposure to the wave in Rosario Strait. The crossing was fine and we headed through the scenic San Juan's for Turn Island Marine State Park which is very close to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Along the way the kids colored, did crafts, and played games.

Playing games with Pops.  Tulips from the Skagit Valley

There are no boats at Turn Island so we grab a mooring buoy and almost immediately head for shore.  This place would be great for group camping.  There are several nice beaches, great places to kayak or sail the little boat, and there are a bunch of campsites with fire rings.  We even found a rope swing.  We hike all the way around the island and then dinghy back to the boat for dinner.

Bob and Barb, Terry and Chet

Dinghy headed back, Cindy and Kevin

After dinner we dinghy back to the beach for a campfire.  Despite some very wet wood Kathy and I get a decent fire going and we roast marshmallows, and make smores.  It's a pleasant evening with no wind.

Campfire on the beach

Kevin, Cindy, and a fire made from very wet wood

It's a pretty early night and we are all asleep by about 10:30.  What a calm night, until 1:30 when a huge set of waves rolls under our boat tossing it about like a cork!  Kathy and I scrambled to catch things that are falling off the counter tops.  Bottles and glasses are clanging together.  The tulips are knocked over.  Cabinet doors come open.  What a rude awakening that was!  For the rest of the evening there is a steady wind and waves rolling us from side to side.  Kathy and I don't get much sleep. 

In the morning we decide to get the heck out of Dodge and go over to Friday Harbor and drop the anchor.  When we get closer though Kathy talks me into calling the harbormaster to get a guest slip.  Much to our surprise it's FREE.  Maybe it's because today is Easter, or maybe it's just because things are slow right now?  The wind is blowing about 20 knots and the spot I've picked for us on the guest dock isn't much longer than our boat.  I have to "parallel" park our boat with a strong breeze blowing us off the dock, while only having about 5' on each end before I hit our neighboring boats.  It takes three tries, but I do manage to get Synergy pulled into the dock without incident.

A tight parking spot

Now it's time for breakfast.  No waves, no rolling around.  Much better; I'm glad we moved.  After breakfast Bob and Chet are headed out to try their luck Salmon fishing.  Yesterday we came over to Friday Harbor by dinghy to get fishing licenses, tackle, bait, advice on hot spots, etc.  They get on their gear and head out in the dinghy.  It's still windy and wavy outside the breakwater and they end up trying a few different locations attempting to get out of the waves.  But, no luck catching any salmon.  Better luck next time you visit.

Breakfast at Friday Harbor

Bob and Chet playing chicken with a bigger boat

Bob and Chet returning.  UW Fisheries Research buildings behind.

Meanwhile, Kathy, her mom, Terry and the kids are headed to Friday Harbor to check out the shops.  This is the 'hub' of the San Juan's and is the most developed city in the islands.  There are a lot of shops here, but its Easter Sunday and a good deal of them are closed today.  There is a seafood shop in the marina that has a seal floating next to it waiting for scraps.  It's very cute because the seal is just floating there, reaching out a front flipper as if he's waving at the shop keeper.  The kids love it. 

Going shopping

After several hours at Friday Harbor we decide to head back.  The winds have not really died down as much as we'd like; but it's quite calm inside the islands.  Once we get out of the protection of land however, sea conditions take a dramatic turn.  The waves are building quickly, the ferry that we are following has slowed WAY down.   Almost like flipping a light switch things go from very comfortable to full blown roller coaster.  Things are crashing off the counter tops.  The kids have hit the deck (lots of previous experience in rough water has taught them that being low is a good place to be).  I can hear people in the salon exclaiming about the roughness.  Whatever activities were going on in there came to an abrupt end as everyone tries to grab loose items, and find a secure location for themselves.  I am feeling bad for our guest who surely aren't used to this.  We have to slow down and angle into the waves, increasing the time and distance we are going to be stuck out here.  The wind meter is showing 35-40 knots, and the forecast is for 10-15knots.  Whatever! 

The bow of the boat is crashing through the waves, sending spray up over the top of the boat.  Wipers are running full speed to keep up.  My wind meter's alarm is set for 35 knots and it is now sounding continuously.  For a better vantage point I head up to the flybridge.  I can also feel the wind up there to better judge the speed and angle.  We spend perhaps 45 minutes slogging through this mess and finally near Washington Park we start to feel relief from the waves as we duck into to protection of the land mass known as Anacortes.  Phew, that's over.

Two WA State ferries passing

Just after we pull into our slip in Shelter Bay (almost dead calm in here) the Coast Guard issues a weather warning on channel 16 for near Gale conditions in Rosario Straight.  I wish they had issued the warning two hours ago because I could have avoided most of the mess by taking a route further north.  Oh well.  That's boating in the PNW.