september adventure: blake Island
Date: September 7, 2020
Time Start: 9:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 3:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Blake Island State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1205
Engine Hours Finish: 1211
Weather/sea conditions: Sun, breeze from N.W., choppy water, small craft warnings in afternoon,, mid 70's.
Oh no! The dock heron has hit us again! Huge splotch on the cockpit canopy, our third time to have to clean it. We tried a bird ball, didn't deter it a bit. So, we need to do a last minute cleaning before we can set out on our long cruise of two weeks. Our destination is the San Juan Islands. Today is Labor Day, and it is our hope that there will be fewer boaters now compared to the busy summer, making it easier for us to social distance during the continuing Covid-19 epidemic.
The winds dominate our day, strong, and howling by afternoon, making waters rough enough for small craft warnings to be issued. They slow us down, but don't cause a problem until we are almost through Colvos Passage and crossing toward Blake Island. It is an easy decision, we won't go any further north today. We circle the island checking out mooring buoys, then venture into the marina with hopes for space on the docks. Space is available, but docking in the wind isn't easy (for all incoming boats, no matter their size, we discover!). A crew of four work hard to get boats safely tied up as they arrive. We are more than grateful for their assistance!
The cruise, smooth from Swantown, past Eagle Island and Point Defiance, up Colvos Passage, and then, time to find safe harbor!
Time Start: 9:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 3:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Blake Island State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1205
Engine Hours Finish: 1211
Weather/sea conditions: Sun, breeze from N.W., choppy water, small craft warnings in afternoon,, mid 70's.
Oh no! The dock heron has hit us again! Huge splotch on the cockpit canopy, our third time to have to clean it. We tried a bird ball, didn't deter it a bit. So, we need to do a last minute cleaning before we can set out on our long cruise of two weeks. Our destination is the San Juan Islands. Today is Labor Day, and it is our hope that there will be fewer boaters now compared to the busy summer, making it easier for us to social distance during the continuing Covid-19 epidemic.
The winds dominate our day, strong, and howling by afternoon, making waters rough enough for small craft warnings to be issued. They slow us down, but don't cause a problem until we are almost through Colvos Passage and crossing toward Blake Island. It is an easy decision, we won't go any further north today. We circle the island checking out mooring buoys, then venture into the marina with hopes for space on the docks. Space is available, but docking in the wind isn't easy (for all incoming boats, no matter their size, we discover!). A crew of four work hard to get boats safely tied up as they arrive. We are more than grateful for their assistance!
The cruise, smooth from Swantown, past Eagle Island and Point Defiance, up Colvos Passage, and then, time to find safe harbor!
Evening arrives with boats rocking and skies showing effects of smoke from the forest fires in California.
Date: September 8, 2020
Blake Island layover day
Weather/sea conditions: Winds remain strong, skies are smokey, mid 60's.
We decide to remain at Blake Island today while conditions remain unfriendly for small boats. We use buckets of fresh water to remove a lot of the salt covering NORTH STAR. It is amazing how quickly the crust of salt builds up on surfaces, everything from windows to railings are coated. Dan takes time to pull the anchor rode from the anchor locker and check for defects, including the splice from the rode to the chain.
Blake Island layover day
Weather/sea conditions: Winds remain strong, skies are smokey, mid 60's.
We decide to remain at Blake Island today while conditions remain unfriendly for small boats. We use buckets of fresh water to remove a lot of the salt covering NORTH STAR. It is amazing how quickly the crust of salt builds up on surfaces, everything from windows to railings are coated. Dan takes time to pull the anchor rode from the anchor locker and check for defects, including the splice from the rode to the chain.
It's beach time! We don't have to go far, just past the restrooms and campsites is an entirely empty beach, and it is out of the wind. How great is this for social distancing?
The house marine scientist has a teaching moment!
And then there is the tree, still alive, but horizontal on the beach, with branches and roots making wonderful spaces to explore!
Are we finished? Nope, this is the beach, so much to enjoy.
Back to NORTH STAR, where we have a real live social encounter! On the sailboat moored by us are a couple, Jeff and Laurie, interested in Ranger Tugs and looking into the possibility of moving to one when they retire. Small world, he is a consultant who works jointly on projects with Pacific Shellfish Institute! He and Dan are well connected and of course they know each other!
Date: September 9, 2020
Blake Island layover day
Weather/sea conditions: Strong north winds continue, as does smoke in skies, upper 60's.
We aren't ready to venture out as the north winds continue to blow. We hadn't planned on three nights on Blake Island, but it is a pretty good place to have to layover!
Blake Island layover day
Weather/sea conditions: Strong north winds continue, as does smoke in skies, upper 60's.
We aren't ready to venture out as the north winds continue to blow. We hadn't planned on three nights on Blake Island, but it is a pretty good place to have to layover!
Looking forward to more time on an empty beach, we are surprised to see a large barge loaded with heavy equipment on the shoreline. Well, it is after Labor Day now, time to get a project done before the weather turns to winter. The equipment is for a large sewer project on the island. So, instead of relaxing on the beach, we watch as a temporary "road" is laid down so that the trucks and everything else aboard the barge can crawl down a ramp and cross the sand to an area that is being turned into a project center, complete with a mobile office and temporary housing for some of the workers.
Back at the dock, boats are still battling the north winds as they try to dock. It is a difficult day for the dock volunteer and helpers, all are working hard to assist. We watch a large yacht attempt over and over again to pull into a dock, hitting pilings and narrowly missing a sailboat. It has to leave, docking is impossible for it.
The nice thing about Blake Island is that you have options! The beach is busy, the dock rocking, but there are miles of trails through and around the island. We head into the forest where there is no wind for a wonderful walk, and lots of green color.
The nice thing about Blake Island is that you have options! The beach is busy, the dock rocking, but there are miles of trails through and around the island. We head into the forest where there is no wind for a wonderful walk, and lots of green color.