Mc Micken Island and Jarrell Cove
Date: March 19, 2017
Time Start: 12:15 p.m.
Time Finish: 2:25 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: McMicken Island
Engine Hours Start: 578
Engine Hours Finish: 580
Weather: Sunny but cool, up to 50 in day but freezing at night
It's our first sunny day in a long time. Record rains and low temperatures have kept us off the water, but not today! The sun is out and we are ready for a brief overnight cruise before the rains return once again. Spring hasn't quite arrived, and we are experiencing cabin fever.
Budd Bay is looking brown from all of the recent runoff. Looking ahead, the Olympic Mountains beckon with their snowy peaks amid a layer of fluffy clouds and blue skies. A cold wind is blowing from the north, making the day both brisk and beautiful.
Time Start: 12:15 p.m.
Time Finish: 2:25 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: McMicken Island
Engine Hours Start: 578
Engine Hours Finish: 580
Weather: Sunny but cool, up to 50 in day but freezing at night
It's our first sunny day in a long time. Record rains and low temperatures have kept us off the water, but not today! The sun is out and we are ready for a brief overnight cruise before the rains return once again. Spring hasn't quite arrived, and we are experiencing cabin fever.
Budd Bay is looking brown from all of the recent runoff. Looking ahead, the Olympic Mountains beckon with their snowy peaks amid a layer of fluffy clouds and blue skies. A cold wind is blowing from the north, making the day both brisk and beautiful.
We are about the only boaters out today, with the exception of a couple of sailboats.
A powerboat is headed the opposite direction near Harstine Island, and the mountains continue to be spectacular.
We easily grab a buoy at McMicken Island. Four other boats are here as well, rafted in pairs. A few more boats arrive and join them for a Sunday afternoon gathering of friends. They have planned well, a helicopter with more of their friends does an flyover, dipping low over their boats.
On NORTH STAR, we are enjoying the warmth of the sun in the cockpit. And, we are seeing eagles, both in the treetops and soaring over us.
On NORTH STAR, we are enjoying the warmth of the sun in the cockpit. And, we are seeing eagles, both in the treetops and soaring over us.
The tide is low enough to expose the tombolo, the bridge that connects McMicken Island with Harstine Island. We are ready to stretch our legs and do some beach combing. Dan breaks out the boots for wading ashore in the wintry cold water as we beach the dinghy. It's time to explore and enjoy the sun, and Mother Nature has left many treasures for us to find.
A brisk north wind makes for a choppy ride back to NORTH STAR as well as a creating a challenge for us to grab onto the swim step, but we succeed. All of the party boats have headed for home, and we have this world all to ourselves. We are now in daylight time, and the sun stays with us into early evening. But, it is cold with the wind chill, and NORTH STAR rocks on the chop. We opt to move on, making our way to Jarrell Cove for more protection from the wind. And so, at 6 p.m., we release the buoy line. By 6:40 p.m. we are on the long dock of Jarrell Cove, just in time for the cormorants to arrive! (See Jarrell Cove in January entry.)
Date: March 20, 2017
Time Start: 2:30 p.m.
Time Finish: 5:00 p.m.
Cruise From: Jarrell Cove
Cruise To: Swantown Marina
Engine Hours Start: 581
Engine Hours Finish: 583
Weather/sea conditions: Light clouds & sun in a.m., clouds building, breezy 50 degree day, rain and calm p.m.
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!
Clouds are building today with rain expected in the late afternoon. Dan takes advantage of the dry morning for boat cleaning chores. A lot of green and grime have accumulated on NORTH STAR throughout the winter months. Crows chase an eagle overhead, giving us a bit of drama on an otherwise quiet day.
Time Start: 2:30 p.m.
Time Finish: 5:00 p.m.
Cruise From: Jarrell Cove
Cruise To: Swantown Marina
Engine Hours Start: 581
Engine Hours Finish: 583
Weather/sea conditions: Light clouds & sun in a.m., clouds building, breezy 50 degree day, rain and calm p.m.
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!
Clouds are building today with rain expected in the late afternoon. Dan takes advantage of the dry morning for boat cleaning chores. A lot of green and grime have accumulated on NORTH STAR throughout the winter months. Crows chase an eagle overhead, giving us a bit of drama on an otherwise quiet day.
Next on the agenda is an inside task, finding the source of low water pressure in the galley faucet. The plumbing needs to be accessed from below the sink, so cabinets get emptied. A mirror and flashlight are important for this task, as well as an extra hand (mine). A small boat means tight spaces that are difficult to access! Is this the screwdriver for the job? Yes. Screw is loosened and hose is out. Now to find the clogged area. Seems to be the back flow valve. Fingers crossed that the job is done. Hose and faucet are reconnected (meaning a reach into the depths of the cabinet to feel the way to get that little screw in just the right spot without dropping it, mostly done by Braille.) Success? Yes! Let's hope we don't have to do this again!
Raindrops are falling as we leave Jarrell Cove, and it is calm and wet all the way to Swantown. Only the die hard Olympia rowing crews are out on the water on this damp afternoon.