return to mc micken island
Date: August 3, 2020
Time Start: 1:20 p.m.
Time Finish: 3:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: McMicken Island Marine State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1185
Engine Hours Finish: 1187
Weather/sea conditions: Partly cloudy, warm and muggy, breezes, 82 degrees
We've had several days of hot summer in Olympia, 98 degrees a week ago, then 90 and upper 80 degree days. For us, it's been a little too hot for boating. We've been cooling off in the shade of our back yard. Not this week, temps are far more comfortable for enjoying some water time on NORTH STAR. Off we head to McMicken Island, our favorite close to home spot, and drop our anchor. Will we ever tire of this beautiful spot?? It is so scenic, and so rich in life, too. We have arrived as the incoming tide is erasing the exposed tombolo. People are wading and playing along the tombolo as the tide comes in. No one seems to mind getting wet on this warm day.
Time Start: 1:20 p.m.
Time Finish: 3:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: McMicken Island Marine State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1185
Engine Hours Finish: 1187
Weather/sea conditions: Partly cloudy, warm and muggy, breezes, 82 degrees
We've had several days of hot summer in Olympia, 98 degrees a week ago, then 90 and upper 80 degree days. For us, it's been a little too hot for boating. We've been cooling off in the shade of our back yard. Not this week, temps are far more comfortable for enjoying some water time on NORTH STAR. Off we head to McMicken Island, our favorite close to home spot, and drop our anchor. Will we ever tire of this beautiful spot?? It is so scenic, and so rich in life, too. We have arrived as the incoming tide is erasing the exposed tombolo. People are wading and playing along the tombolo as the tide comes in. No one seems to mind getting wet on this warm day.
Rafts of algae are carried by the tide and current, passing by us in big drifts.
The summer evening is warm with the colors of the sky reflected all around us.
And then the moon rises over the island, full and bright, with the planets Saturn and Jupiter also visible. What a sight! And to think that we are still sitting out in the cockpit at ten at night in just our shorts and T shirts! Summer at its best!
Date: August 4, 2020
McMicken Island layover day
Weather: 80 degrees, nice breeze
What kind of a day are we having? Well . . .
There is kayaking!
McMicken Island layover day
Weather: 80 degrees, nice breeze
What kind of a day are we having? Well . . .
There is kayaking!
A row to shore . . . the captain issues the commands! Aye, Aye!
And then these two TugNuts (who are also beach nuts) take full advantage of the low tide to explore all of the exposed beaches, including the tombolo. Anemones in the wet sand, sand dollars both live (dark black) and dead (light gray), crabs, shells and barnacles, algae, and even two legged clam diggers are all part of the life we see. Crowds? Not here! It's only crowded if you are a barnacle competing for space on a rock. Can you tell a horse clam from a butter clam???
Back to NORTH STAR, time for swims. The captain dons a wet suit to dive under the hull and check on the propeller. Zinc is missing, luckily he has a spare to replace it. And a bolt gets tightened. It is these little things that are so important to keeping us afloat and happily cruising!
Our dock neighbors and friends from Swantown arrive on their sailboat, giving us a hello. Day once again fades and once again we get to experience the rise of a full moon. What kind of day have we had? Dan's thumbs up says it all! Pretty perfect!
Our dock neighbors and friends from Swantown arrive on their sailboat, giving us a hello. Day once again fades and once again we get to experience the rise of a full moon. What kind of day have we had? Dan's thumbs up says it all! Pretty perfect!
Date: August 5, 2020
Time Start: 4 p.m.
Time Finish: 6 p.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island Marine State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1187
Engine Hours Finish: 1189
Weather/sea conditions: Breezy all day, wind chop on water, upper 70's
Well, we woke in the night more than once with loud thumps and the boat rocking. Sound familiar? This happened here at McMicken on a previous visit, seals deciding that our swim step is for them! This time it turned out to be a seal and her pup! This morning they are still hanging around, glancing at us from a distance, probably waiting for an opportunity to board again. Dan thought he solved the problem after the first boarding by pulling our inflatable kayak onto the swim step as a way of making it look inaccessible. Nope! They just pushed it up and crawled under it! Evidence of their visit is the algae they left behind. And, we had our beach shoes sitting on the step to dry out after our beach visit yesterday. One shoe is now either on the bottom of the sea or drifting away on a new adventure.
We spend a leisurely day aboard, kayak a bit, and prepare to head home. Once again NORTH STAR will need a good bath. Strong SW winds combined with an incoming tide create lots of choppy water, throwing spray over the boat. No complaints, it has been a fantastic mini cruise!
Time Start: 4 p.m.
Time Finish: 6 p.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island Marine State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1187
Engine Hours Finish: 1189
Weather/sea conditions: Breezy all day, wind chop on water, upper 70's
Well, we woke in the night more than once with loud thumps and the boat rocking. Sound familiar? This happened here at McMicken on a previous visit, seals deciding that our swim step is for them! This time it turned out to be a seal and her pup! This morning they are still hanging around, glancing at us from a distance, probably waiting for an opportunity to board again. Dan thought he solved the problem after the first boarding by pulling our inflatable kayak onto the swim step as a way of making it look inaccessible. Nope! They just pushed it up and crawled under it! Evidence of their visit is the algae they left behind. And, we had our beach shoes sitting on the step to dry out after our beach visit yesterday. One shoe is now either on the bottom of the sea or drifting away on a new adventure.
We spend a leisurely day aboard, kayak a bit, and prepare to head home. Once again NORTH STAR will need a good bath. Strong SW winds combined with an incoming tide create lots of choppy water, throwing spray over the boat. No complaints, it has been a fantastic mini cruise!