mc micken in may
Date: May 4, 2019
Time Start: 2:50 p.m.
Time Finish: 5:05 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown, Olympia
Cruise To: McMicken Island State Park
Engine Hours Start: 955
Engine Hours Finish: 957
Weather/sea conditions: Beautiful spring day, light clouds and sun, upper 60's
Boating season officially begins in the Pacific Northwest today! We are ready to be one of the lucky boats on the water. Our start is delayed slightly as a warning pops up on our Garmin when we start NORTH STAR's engine, indicating that our coolant is low. And then, the captain needs to make a trip home to retrieve the bag of gear that he left behind. Finally, we are on our way, passing small sailboats that are enjoying the light breezes in Budd Bay on this pretty spring day, their crews receiving lessons on how to handle them.
Time Start: 2:50 p.m.
Time Finish: 5:05 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown, Olympia
Cruise To: McMicken Island State Park
Engine Hours Start: 955
Engine Hours Finish: 957
Weather/sea conditions: Beautiful spring day, light clouds and sun, upper 60's
Boating season officially begins in the Pacific Northwest today! We are ready to be one of the lucky boats on the water. Our start is delayed slightly as a warning pops up on our Garmin when we start NORTH STAR's engine, indicating that our coolant is low. And then, the captain needs to make a trip home to retrieve the bag of gear that he left behind. Finally, we are on our way, passing small sailboats that are enjoying the light breezes in Budd Bay on this pretty spring day, their crews receiving lessons on how to handle them.
We pass familiar sites - the beach at Burfoot County Park, Dofflemeyer light at Boston Harbor, the cliff and houses at the southern tip of Harstine Island, Mt. Rainier rising above everything, and then the welcoming view of McMicken and a buoy waiting just for us.
The beauty of McMicken begins to work its magic on us. Mellow rows in the dinghy, a sunset accompanied by bagpipe music drifting across the water from the opposite shore, a group of curious and vocal seals popping their heads up to check us out . . . wonderful!
Date: May 5, 2019 (Cinco de Mayo!)
McMicken Island layover day
Weather: Sunny and nice, low 70's
The morning is perfect for breakfast in the fresh air of the cockpit of NORTH STAR. A quartet of seals pop their heads up, the water is flat calm, and the tide is ebbing. It's time for these two Tugnuts to hit the beach and explore. Just as we beach the dinghy, an eagle soars high over our heads.
McMicken Island layover day
Weather: Sunny and nice, low 70's
The morning is perfect for breakfast in the fresh air of the cockpit of NORTH STAR. A quartet of seals pop their heads up, the water is flat calm, and the tide is ebbing. It's time for these two Tugnuts to hit the beach and explore. Just as we beach the dinghy, an eagle soars high over our heads.
The water reflects like a mirror this morning and is so clear that in many places we can see to the bottom. The tombolo connecting McMicken and Harstine Islands is well exposed, providing a wonderful bridge of shell debris and sand for walking between the islands. Colorful red and green algae form artistic patterns like rich tapestry on the exposed surfaces, and we enjoy all of the evidence of marine life here. We never cease to be fascinated by what we find on these beaches. Clear water, wispy clouds, blue skies - what a setting. And yes, Mt. Rainier is there, too. It's a stunning day at McMicken, enjoyed by just a handful of us lucky boaters.
The tombolo is like a dividing line. On one side are anchorages and buoys for boaters. On the other side, the tidelands are leased to Seattle Shellfish for growing grounds for geoducks. The following photos look at the farming area for these giant clams. Their siphons are often visible sticking above the substrate, and they are constantly squirting water into the air. (Side note: Dan's career has been as a marine scientist and shelllfish biologist, working on the research side of the shellfish industry, so these operations get a lot of attention from us.) We are in a super rich environment here!
A few more photos from the beach on McMicken before returning to NORTH STAR:
Part of this cruise is to shake things down and make sure everything is operational for the upcoming boating season. Dan wants to test the Torqeedo electric motor on the dinghy, as it had some repair work done during the winter. With the tombolo now completely below water at high tide, we can circumnavigate McMicken. We cruise right over the submerged sands of the tombolo, and the algae that was on the beaches at low tide now floats on the surface of the water. Then we have a treat when we are just off the geoduck farm - ten seals are spy hopping, checking us out! We have never seen so many seals here! What a pretty little island McMicken is as we circle in the dinghy.
We are the lone boat here tonight. Mother nature treats us with an eagle in the treetops, and a school of herring pass NORTH STAR and make the water jump as if it were boiling. The warm evening makes dinner in the cockpit a special pleasure.
Date: May 6, 2019
Time Start: 11:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:05 p.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 958
Engine Hours Finish: 960
Weather/sea conditions: Perfect! Sunshine, calm, mid 70's
Monday mornings should always be like this. All of our surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful, and we have the entire basin between McMicken Island, the tombolo, and Harstine Island to ourselves. Breakfast and morning coffee are in the cockpit once again. What a way to start the day! I am off for the most peaceful morning row along the shores of McMicken and the tombolo. Today i join the seagulls to watch as the tombolo emerges from the depths, gradually growing longer and longer as the tide ebbs.
Time Start: 11:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:05 p.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 958
Engine Hours Finish: 960
Weather/sea conditions: Perfect! Sunshine, calm, mid 70's
Monday mornings should always be like this. All of our surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful, and we have the entire basin between McMicken Island, the tombolo, and Harstine Island to ourselves. Breakfast and morning coffee are in the cockpit once again. What a way to start the day! I am off for the most peaceful morning row along the shores of McMicken and the tombolo. Today i join the seagulls to watch as the tombolo emerges from the depths, gradually growing longer and longer as the tide ebbs.
The captain gets a turn to experience this perfect place, too. And then it is time to leave the magical world of McMicken behind for now. You know we will return again and again, and each time will be a different experience.