fall at jarrell cove and Mc Micken island
Date: October 21, 2018
Time Start: Noon
Time Finish: 2:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Jarrell Cove, Harstine Island
Engine Hours Start: 947
Engine Hours Finish: 949
Weather/sea conditions: Gray, foggy morning, sun and clear skies by 3:00, mid 50's
With leaves at their peak of fall color, it's time for a fall cruise to experience this special time from the water. Today and tomorrow are the final dry days of a wonderful stretch of sunny days before rains and wind arrive. We plan to take advantage of this weather window.
Skies are gray and fog is hanging around as we leave Swantown, keeping our fingers crossed for the sun to break through. For now, the world is mellow. We get friendly waves from new friends Kyle and Ashley, tending to their boat on the dock, and then are immersed in the quiet water world, passing only a few other boats as we make our way to Jarrell Cove on Harstine Island.
Time Start: Noon
Time Finish: 2:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Jarrell Cove, Harstine Island
Engine Hours Start: 947
Engine Hours Finish: 949
Weather/sea conditions: Gray, foggy morning, sun and clear skies by 3:00, mid 50's
With leaves at their peak of fall color, it's time for a fall cruise to experience this special time from the water. Today and tomorrow are the final dry days of a wonderful stretch of sunny days before rains and wind arrive. We plan to take advantage of this weather window.
Skies are gray and fog is hanging around as we leave Swantown, keeping our fingers crossed for the sun to break through. For now, the world is mellow. We get friendly waves from new friends Kyle and Ashley, tending to their boat on the dock, and then are immersed in the quiet water world, passing only a few other boats as we make our way to Jarrell Cove on Harstine Island.
We receive a friendly welcome, with boaters on the dock assisting with our lines. The Harbor Patrol from Olympia is here on an outing, and a Nordic Tug "Waterford" also hails from Olympia with Doug and Lindsey aboard. We chat with our neighbors and settle in, ready to enjoy the beauty of the cove.
At 3:00, the sun arrives! It's time to soak in the fall beauty here - the colors and textures of fruits and leaves, both on shore and from the water. All it takes is the light of the sun to make everything spectacular!
First comes a walk ashore:
First comes a walk ashore:
And then we take turns drifting through the cove in our dinghy. Drifting, dreaming, loving our surroundings!
We get two hours of glorious sunshine, and then, as day begins to turn to dusk, right on cue, the cormorants start to arrive, flying in from all directions, to roost in the nearby trees for the night. (See our prior posts from Jarrell Cove for photos and descriptions of this event.) Telephoto cameras were left at home, cell phone will have to do, but it doesn't begin to capture this spectacle. All heads on the dock are raised and watching!
And then the moon . . . what a day!
Date: October 22, 2018
Time Start: 10:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Cruise From: Jarrell Cove, Harstine Island
Cruise To: McMicken Island and Swantown Marina
Engine Hours Start: 949
Engine Hours Finish: 952
Weather/sea conditions: Foggy day, low 40's warming to 49 degrees
We have fog on this Monday morning at Jarrell Cove, and it has grounded the cormorants! Their silhouettes are visible in the trees. A few venture off and quickly return. We speculate that they have no visual cues for flying today. Meanwhile, the fog drip is creating some magic, highlighting the artfully designed webs of the local spiders. What fun!
Time Start: 10:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Cruise From: Jarrell Cove, Harstine Island
Cruise To: McMicken Island and Swantown Marina
Engine Hours Start: 949
Engine Hours Finish: 952
Weather/sea conditions: Foggy day, low 40's warming to 49 degrees
We have fog on this Monday morning at Jarrell Cove, and it has grounded the cormorants! Their silhouettes are visible in the trees. A few venture off and quickly return. We speculate that they have no visual cues for flying today. Meanwhile, the fog drip is creating some magic, highlighting the artfully designed webs of the local spiders. What fun!
Our new friends Doug and Lindsey left earlier, and we are planning to stop at McMicken Island on our way home to walk the beach at low tide. We'll curve around the north end of Harstine Island and follow the shore south to McMicken. Radar is in use today! We'd be lost in this fog without a compass and chart plotter - bet the cormorants would love to have these navigational tools!
We easily grab a mooring buoy at McMicken and have the island all to ourselves for a foggy but fun walk.
We leave McMicken at 3:00 and slowly cruise home, passing the familiar sights of South Sound, everything shrouded in fog.
What a memorable fall cruise, celebrating both the colorful and and the quiet beauty of the season!
Return to Boat Days Index
Continue to Next Entry
Return to Boat Days Index
Continue to Next Entry