Return to Mc Micken
Date: May 29, 2015
Time start: 3:05 p.m.
Time end: 5:20 p.m.
Cruise from: Swantown
Cruise to: Mc Micken Island State Park
Hours start: 139
Hours end: 141
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, 80! Breezes, wispy white clouds, some choppy water
It's a breezy Friday afternoon cruise to McMicken Island, a favorite destination of ours in South Sound. The water is a bit choppy from the breeze today. Salt spray reaches the bow windows, and they get a cleaning after we tie onto the mooring buoy closest to the shoreside picnic area of the park. The lawn has been mowed since our May Day visit, making the area look manicured and inviting.
Time start: 3:05 p.m.
Time end: 5:20 p.m.
Cruise from: Swantown
Cruise to: Mc Micken Island State Park
Hours start: 139
Hours end: 141
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, 80! Breezes, wispy white clouds, some choppy water
It's a breezy Friday afternoon cruise to McMicken Island, a favorite destination of ours in South Sound. The water is a bit choppy from the breeze today. Salt spray reaches the bow windows, and they get a cleaning after we tie onto the mooring buoy closest to the shoreside picnic area of the park. The lawn has been mowed since our May Day visit, making the area look manicured and inviting.
Our storage is getting more and more organized. Two sets of small storage drawers that rest on the shelf (formerly the "desk") in the cave get latches installed to keep them from randomly opening when the boat rocks. A lip will be added at their base to hold them in place. Two sets of much larger drawers are ventilated and are placed just opposite from the desk area. All are Sterilite products. We had originally purchased some open basket drawers from IKEA, but discovered that the metal in them interfered with the navigational electronics. We are learning! Testing and trial and error teach us that there are several items that we shouldn't store in this area of the boat due to their metal content.
The evening sky is streaked with white clouds. A three quarter moon catches the light of the setting sun. We are content, enjoying the evening spectacle on NORTH STAR. The skies fill with the pinks, golds, purples that end the day and promise another good day for tomorrow.
The evening sky is streaked with white clouds. A three quarter moon catches the light of the setting sun. We are content, enjoying the evening spectacle on NORTH STAR. The skies fill with the pinks, golds, purples that end the day and promise another good day for tomorrow.
Date: May 30, 2015
Weather/sea conditions: Cloudy morning with breezes, clearing to mid 70's and blue skies
The early morning clouds disappear as we head to the shores of McMicken, the tombolo, and Harstine Island at low tide. We start our excursion in the picnic area with its freshly mown lawn. Oak trees line the shore, their heavy coverings of moss and lichens contrasting with their green leaves. Wild roses are in bloom, attracting their insect pollinators.
Weather/sea conditions: Cloudy morning with breezes, clearing to mid 70's and blue skies
The early morning clouds disappear as we head to the shores of McMicken, the tombolo, and Harstine Island at low tide. We start our excursion in the picnic area with its freshly mown lawn. Oak trees line the shore, their heavy coverings of moss and lichens contrasting with their green leaves. Wild roses are in bloom, attracting their insect pollinators.
The tide isn't as low as on our May Day visit, but still there is so much to enjoy as we stroll the exposed tombolo before the tides cover it once again. New this time are signs placed by Seattle Shellfish, marking areas they are now leasing.
Once again, the shells and shell debris capture our attention. Large oyster shells are along the shore of Harstine, where we also find another beautiful wild rose to enjoy. There are a few live sand dollars, but the tide isn't low enough to expose the large living clusters we saw before. Those that are exposed are mostly dead. Gulls and geese and heron are foraging.
Today's chore is to redistribute some of the heavy items on board NORTH STAR to better balance the boat. Ever resourceful, Dan uses parts of an old wetsuit to provide padding in one of the stern lazarettes.
Chores are done! The tide is high, it's time for a ride in the dinghy, using the Torqeedo, to explore the nearby coastline of Harstine Island. McMicken sure looks different when the tombolo is underwater - it really is an island! A little gem of an island, in our estimation! NORTH STAR sits offshore awaiting our return.
We get views of Mt. Rainier, vessels for shellfish operations, lovely homes, and forested cliffsides. McMicken is looking small and isolated in the background.
Dinner is in the cockpit tonight, grilled chicken with Greek salads and terrific scenery surrounding us. Just lovely! Dan volunteers for K.P., turning up the stereo to Saturday night party music. Can we dance in the aisle of NORTH STAR???
And so another stellar day on NORTH STAR comes to an end.
Date: May 31, 2015
Time start: 2:25 p.m.
Time finish: 5:00 p.m.
Cruise from: McMicken Island
Cruise to: Swantown Marina
Engine hours start: 141
Engine hours finish: 143
Weather/sea conditions: Light cloud cover in morning, calm, mid 70's and clearing
Awake at dawn's early light, the sun is just beginning to peek through the clouds that are streaking the sky. All is reflected in the calm water around us. What a beautiful beginning to the day!
Time start: 2:25 p.m.
Time finish: 5:00 p.m.
Cruise from: McMicken Island
Cruise to: Swantown Marina
Engine hours start: 141
Engine hours finish: 143
Weather/sea conditions: Light cloud cover in morning, calm, mid 70's and clearing
Awake at dawn's early light, the sun is just beginning to peek through the clouds that are streaking the sky. All is reflected in the calm water around us. What a beautiful beginning to the day!
The day is warming once again. Low tides mean it is time for another shore visit. Today we circumnavigate McMicken, making our way along the rocky and barnacle encrusted beaches and around, over, and under the numerous trees that have fallen across them. The trees are victims of erosion. We see lots of evidence as we walk the base of the cliffs and view the exposed roots overhead.
The upper beaches are white with broken bits of shell debris. Clusters of barnacles attached to small rocks and shells look like small bouquets of flower buds.
A small group of clam diggers are on the beach. With a lower tide today, we see lots of anemones exposed in the sticky, muddy substrate.
We have a final lunch in the cockpit, soaking in the scenery, and then it is time to head home to Swantown. McMicken Island is a gem of a marine park. We love coming here and plan to visit again and again. We have had a stellar time!
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