mc micken again
Date: August 8, 2021
Time Start: 12:35 p.m.
Time Finish: 2:50 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Mc Micken Island Marine State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1293
Engine Hours Finish: 1295
Weather/sea conditions: clouds, low 70's, winds from S.W.
It's a relaxing cruise to McMicken where we drop anchor in 15 feet of water with 75 feet of chain and rode out, compensating for the rising tide.
Time Start: 12:35 p.m.
Time Finish: 2:50 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Mc Micken Island Marine State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1293
Engine Hours Finish: 1295
Weather/sea conditions: clouds, low 70's, winds from S.W.
It's a relaxing cruise to McMicken where we drop anchor in 15 feet of water with 75 feet of chain and rode out, compensating for the rising tide.
Mc Micken is a favorite destination of ours. We are so tuned into the changes of the tides here. Low tide is when it is possible to go ashore and really walk and explore. And the beaches are full of life. We are staying for three nights on this visit. Tomorrow and the following day will find us on the beach!
For today, Dan has a nice row at high tide. After our dinner in the cockpit (glorified nachos!), we get a visitor to NORTH STAR. A young harbor seal pup wants to play! It swims around and under the boat, popping up to look at us, but never boarding. We could easily reach out and pet it, it comes that close. It seems to be full of curiosity about us. Finally it swims away, probably called by its mother. Irresistible!
For today, Dan has a nice row at high tide. After our dinner in the cockpit (glorified nachos!), we get a visitor to NORTH STAR. A young harbor seal pup wants to play! It swims around and under the boat, popping up to look at us, but never boarding. We could easily reach out and pet it, it comes that close. It seems to be full of curiosity about us. Finally it swims away, probably called by its mother. Irresistible!
Remember our last visit to McMicken with the seals boarding at night? Dan makes sure the dinghy is up on the davits and swim step isn't easily accessible tonight.
Date: August 9, 2021
Mc Micken layover day
Weather: calm, warm summer day
The captain mounts the Torqeedo on the dinghy to make it easier to take me to shore. I still don't have use of my dominant hand, making so many things difficult - but the legs work, and shore walks are great. Today we walk the tombolo at low tide as well as the south end of the island.
Date: August 9, 2021
Mc Micken layover day
Weather: calm, warm summer day
The captain mounts the Torqeedo on the dinghy to make it easier to take me to shore. I still don't have use of my dominant hand, making so many things difficult - but the legs work, and shore walks are great. Today we walk the tombolo at low tide as well as the south end of the island.
Geoducks are commercially farmed along the south side of the tombolo, and their siphons become visible with the low tide. A lot of beach is exposed by the tide today. The sand dollar beds this time are mostly ghost towns, filled with their skeletal remains.
A view of McMicken Island looking across the tombolo from the Harstine Island side. The tombolo is a natural bridge between the two islands when the tide is low, and just look at all of the wonderful beach area when that happens!
An evening breeze ripples the water, and light hazy clouds are forming in the sky. The tombolo is now underwater, and we easily cross over it in the dinghy to the shellfish farming side. It's a fun little excursion, with views of the island from different perspectives.
We are back on NORTH STAR in time to see the sky transform into a pallet of fiery reds.
Date: July 10, 2021
Mc Micken layover day
Weather: Mid 80's and hot! No wind.
The boating breakfast favorite, Dan's blueberry pancakes, are served outside in the cockpit on this summer day. There is something so special about eating breakfast outdoors, like starting the day with a fun picnic! Then we are off to shore, to the Harstine Island shore to be exact. This beach is also state park land. The tombolo actually connects two state parks!
Mc Micken layover day
Weather: Mid 80's and hot! No wind.
The boating breakfast favorite, Dan's blueberry pancakes, are served outside in the cockpit on this summer day. There is something so special about eating breakfast outdoors, like starting the day with a fun picnic! Then we are off to shore, to the Harstine Island shore to be exact. This beach is also state park land. The tombolo actually connects two state parks!
It's hot on the beach today, and we are glad to find pockets of cooling shade along the beach as we explore. Wading is cooling, too. We find some tent caterpillar webs in the trees.
The captain rows a bit in the warm evening when the tide is high, and again we have a sunset, but not as spectacular as last night.
Date: July 11, 2021
Time Start: 9 a.m.
Time Finish: 11:10 a.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island Marine State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1295
Engine Hours Finish: 1297
Weather/sea conditions: HOT! HOT! HOT! Flat calm.
Time to cruise home. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful destination only a couple of hours away from our marina! Goodbye, McMicken, we'll be returning again and again.
Time Start: 9 a.m.
Time Finish: 11:10 a.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island Marine State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1295
Engine Hours Finish: 1297
Weather/sea conditions: HOT! HOT! HOT! Flat calm.
Time to cruise home. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful destination only a couple of hours away from our marina! Goodbye, McMicken, we'll be returning again and again.