dockton to gig harbor
Date: September 8, 2022
Time Start: 10:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 11:25 a.m.
Cruise From: Dockton, Vashon Island
Cruise To: Gig Harbor
Engine Hours Start: 1473
Engine Hours Finish: 1475
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, mid 70's, north winds
Morning starts calm and with another low tide at Dockton. We have time for a final shore walk before heading south to Gig Harbor. We have completely enjoyed Dockton. It's a wonderful, mellow, friendly, scenic, historic place to visit.
Time Start: 10:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 11:25 a.m.
Cruise From: Dockton, Vashon Island
Cruise To: Gig Harbor
Engine Hours Start: 1473
Engine Hours Finish: 1475
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, mid 70's, north winds
Morning starts calm and with another low tide at Dockton. We have time for a final shore walk before heading south to Gig Harbor. We have completely enjoyed Dockton. It's a wonderful, mellow, friendly, scenic, historic place to visit.
The north winds pick up just as we are getting underway. Perhaps the iconic arches and the old breakwater will be replaced with something new by the time we return to Docton again. We pass the waterfront of the small town as we leave Quartermaster Harbor on the short cruise to Gig Harbor. Mt. Rainier is hazy across sparkling water.
The town of Gig Harbor is quite the contrast to quiet Dockton. Homes and condos fill the hillsides, and the harbor is filled with marinas and boats of all kinds, everything from kayaks to large yachts and commercial fishing vessels.
NORTH STAR gets tied up on the Jerisich public dock, and we are ready for a walk toward the head of the harbor, passing small shops and wonderful parks along the way. Colorful flower pots adorn the lampposts along the way, each sponsored by a local donor
There are great views of the water and of boats all along the way. The commercial fishing boats mix right in with the pleasure boats.
We stop for lunch at Gourmet Burgers. We have enjoyed eating here in the past, but today for some reason it just doesn't measure up. Maybe it is because they are out of their beet chips that we really like.
Arriving back at the public dock, a market has been set up in adjoining Skansie Park. We browse. Flowers seem to be the big seller, almost everyone leaves with a bouquet.
Arriving back at the public dock, a market has been set up in adjoining Skansie Park. We browse. Flowers seem to be the big seller, almost everyone leaves with a bouquet.
Our boat neighbor loves to chat! His name is Stu, and in short order we know so much about him. He actually lives in Gig Harbor and moors his boat at a nearby marina, but he loves coming to the public dock for a few days at a time to just hang out and chat with anyone and everyone. He is actually a very nice guy, and we enjoy chatting with him.
We're off for a walk before dinner, going as far as the Russell Foundation building. We had a hand in the environmental work before it was constructed, and it is always a pleasure to visit and see how the building and gardens have matured to blend with and enhance the surroundings. Today the paved public viewing area is decorated with fading chalk art. There must have been a fun event here a few days ago!
We're off for a walk before dinner, going as far as the Russell Foundation building. We had a hand in the environmental work before it was constructed, and it is always a pleasure to visit and see how the building and gardens have matured to blend with and enhance the surroundings. Today the paved public viewing area is decorated with fading chalk art. There must have been a fun event here a few days ago!
Dinner is at the local pizza restaurant and the captain treats tonight. We can see the red glow of the setting sun reflected on Mt. Rainier, and a hazy full moon follows.
Date: September 9, 2022
Time Start: 1:50 p.m.
Time Finish: 5:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Gig Harbor
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1475
Engine Hours Finish: 1478
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny and windy, north winds 15 to 20 knots, haze from smoke, mid 70's
On this windy day, the large flag is at half staff to honor the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. She ruled for a remarkable 70 years and died yesterday at the age of 96.
Time Start: 1:50 p.m.
Time Finish: 5:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Gig Harbor
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1475
Engine Hours Finish: 1478
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny and windy, north winds 15 to 20 knots, haze from smoke, mid 70's
On this windy day, the large flag is at half staff to honor the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. She ruled for a remarkable 70 years and died yesterday at the age of 96.
We pick up our morning coffee at Java and Clay to go with Dan's pancakes. Our morning walk takes us up the hill into residential areas, and we enjoy seeing the town's well kept older homes and gardens (so much like homes our grandparents had!).
We wind our way down the hill to the waterfront near the Tides and have a good chat with state workers from DNR who are promoting pump out facilities for boaters. The director of recreational boating is with them. And, we know that red boat! It is the Eirinn Rose, her crew were the dock volunteers at Blake Harbor during our visit earlier this summer. We also get more views of the Russell Foundation building, gardens and water features.
Final stop is the visitors center and home of Harbor WildWatch, a group that promotes environmental education in the Gig Harbor area and has a small maritime museum here. They are located in the brick house next to Skansie Park. They do about 300 school programs a year and have 15,000 visitors to the museum. Way to go! We chat with the director and enjoy the current featured exhibit on whales.
We had planned a visit to McMicken Island before heading home, but the combination of predicted high winds and smokey skies have made us change our minds. We are heading home this afternoon when the current will help carry us south through the Narrows. Homeward bound with white caps, following seas, and haze, we make it safely to our slip at Swantown. The cruise ends with NORTH STAR dancing on the wakes created by a parade of Olympia Yacht Club boats that are returning from a courtesy cruise for soldiers. What a shame they had such a hazy day.