september cruise: four days to home
Date: September 27, 2015
Time Start: 10:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 3:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Roche Harbor, San Juan Island
Cruise To: Hope Island Marine Park, Skagit Bay
Engine Hours Start: 331
Engine Hours Finish: 336
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny day! Scatterd clouds, cool, upper 50's, breeze.
Morning is a chilly 42 degrees when we get up. The docks at Roche Harbor are emptying out quickly as we all disperse in different directions after the rendezvous. We enjoy a good breakfast in the Lime Kiln Cafe before taking down our Mardi Gras decorations and saying lots of goodbyes to our fellow Tugnuts.
We are barely underway when we are waved over by the occupants of a small skiff. They need a tow, and just as we are about to assist, a relative arrives in another boat and takes over the rescue. On our way again, we cruise through Mosquito Pass to Haro Strait. As we head south along San Juan Island, fishing boats are strung out all along the way to Lime Kiln Point. We note that "Pelican" with Debbie and Mark is at Lime Kiln, hoping that they will get to see some whales today.
Time Start: 10:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 3:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Roche Harbor, San Juan Island
Cruise To: Hope Island Marine Park, Skagit Bay
Engine Hours Start: 331
Engine Hours Finish: 336
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny day! Scatterd clouds, cool, upper 50's, breeze.
Morning is a chilly 42 degrees when we get up. The docks at Roche Harbor are emptying out quickly as we all disperse in different directions after the rendezvous. We enjoy a good breakfast in the Lime Kiln Cafe before taking down our Mardi Gras decorations and saying lots of goodbyes to our fellow Tugnuts.
We are barely underway when we are waved over by the occupants of a small skiff. They need a tow, and just as we are about to assist, a relative arrives in another boat and takes over the rescue. On our way again, we cruise through Mosquito Pass to Haro Strait. As we head south along San Juan Island, fishing boats are strung out all along the way to Lime Kiln Point. We note that "Pelican" with Debbie and Mark is at Lime Kiln, hoping that they will get to see some whales today.
Yes! There are whales today! Just beyond Lime Kiln Point, Sue on "Spinner" signals to us to slowdown. We stop as several Orcas swim by us as they head north. Debbie and Mark will get to see them!
Mt. Baker is glowing in the sun above Kanaka Bay where we have more whales to watch. Even the Victoria Clipper has stopped for the whales while the passengers line up toenjoy this special treat. The whales are so strung out today that we see them all the way along the western shores of San Juan Island.
We cross to Lopez, going along the south end and eastern shores, enjoying our shoreline views.
We have some impressive swirling currents as we head toward Fidalgo Island on our way to Deception Pass. We have a beautiful and easy passage today with no other boat traffic.
We latch onto one of the buoys at undeveloped Hope Island Marine Park in Skagit Bay with enough time to enjoy the late afternoon sun and go for a walk in the forest.
After Roche Harbor and the rendezvous, this is a quiet spot! The moon is full tonight, and supposedly there is an eclipse, but we missed it.
Date: September 28
Time Start: 10:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 4:00 p.m.
Cruise From: Hope Island, Skagit Bay
Cruise To: Port of Edmonds
Engine Hours Start: 336
Engine Hours Finish: 341
Weather/sea conditions: Beautiful calm morning, low 60's, getting windy, a pretty day.
The calm waters surrounding us in Skagit Bay are reflecting the morning sky. We have another clear day with just a few scattered clouds. Mt. Erie is the highest point of land in the shorelines that circle around us. The sun is helping to heat the cabin on North Star after a cool night. It is definitely beginning to feel like fall now! We have time for Dan's blueberry pancakes as we wait for favorable current directions to take us south along Camano and Whidbey Islands and on to Edmonds.
Date: September 28
Time Start: 10:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 4:00 p.m.
Cruise From: Hope Island, Skagit Bay
Cruise To: Port of Edmonds
Engine Hours Start: 336
Engine Hours Finish: 341
Weather/sea conditions: Beautiful calm morning, low 60's, getting windy, a pretty day.
The calm waters surrounding us in Skagit Bay are reflecting the morning sky. We have another clear day with just a few scattered clouds. Mt. Erie is the highest point of land in the shorelines that circle around us. The sun is helping to heat the cabin on North Star after a cool night. It is definitely beginning to feel like fall now! We have time for Dan's blueberry pancakes as we wait for favorable current directions to take us south along Camano and Whidbey Islands and on to Edmonds.
We are the lone boat as we start our cruise on the sparkling water of Skagit Bay. We slow down by Seal Rock and are not disappointed. It is full of basking harbor seals and cormorants. Mt. Baker grabs our attention today, too.
Fall color is showing up on the shoreline trees and captures our eyes as we follow the shore of Camano near Camas Beach. We locate the cabin belonging to Dan's cousin on Camano before reaching lovely Camano Head. The sky is so clear today that we are able to see White Horse, Glacier Peak and Mt. Pilchuck in the distance. There is some snow still remaining on both White Horse and Glacier Peak.
Out of curiosity, we cruise close to the shores of Hat Island (aka Gedney Island) in Saratoga Passage. It is a private island with its own ferry service.
We have our Hawaiian music playing as we cruise along on this sunny but breezy afternoon. The Mukilteo/Clinton ferries cross paths and we give them space.
We get dock space at the Port of Edmonds marina and then stretch our legs. There is a nice walk to an adjoining city park with grassy spaces and a nice beach. With strong winds blowing, a few kite surfers are getting action today. The lift for the marina's dry boat storage is extremely busy getting boats into and out of the water for fishing activities. Boats are lined up along the docks ready for tomorrow morning.
Trains rumble by on the shoreside tracks. Seagulls on the breakwater add their wild sounds as well as being fun to watch. The sun drops behind the silhouetted Olympic Mountains across the sound.
Date: September 29, 2015
Time Start: 8:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 4:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Port of Edmonds
Cruise To: Des Moines Marina and Eagle Island
Engine Hours Start: 341
Engine hours finish: 348
Weather/sea conditions: Blue skies! 70 degree day and lovely. A bit hazy on the water, N.W. wind
We have nothing but blue skies as far as we can see! It is absolutely clear on this late September morning, with an almost full moon still smiling down from the western horizon. We are meeting Ivan at Des Moines in the early afternoon to have him replace our faulty water gauge, so we say an early goodbye to Edmonds and the flocks of gulls on the breakwater. The fishing boats are already out, spread far and wide over the water. Watch out, salmon! We have cookie cutter Olympics to the west today, a hazy Mt. Rainier to the south, Mt. Baker to the north.
Time Start: 8:15 a.m.
Time Finish: 4:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Port of Edmonds
Cruise To: Des Moines Marina and Eagle Island
Engine Hours Start: 341
Engine hours finish: 348
Weather/sea conditions: Blue skies! 70 degree day and lovely. A bit hazy on the water, N.W. wind
We have nothing but blue skies as far as we can see! It is absolutely clear on this late September morning, with an almost full moon still smiling down from the western horizon. We are meeting Ivan at Des Moines in the early afternoon to have him replace our faulty water gauge, so we say an early goodbye to Edmonds and the flocks of gulls on the breakwater. The fishing boats are already out, spread far and wide over the water. Watch out, salmon! We have cookie cutter Olympics to the west today, a hazy Mt. Rainier to the south, Mt. Baker to the north.
A few boats fish the tidal rip by the Westpoint lighthouse. The Seattle skyline is in a haze today. We are amazed to have no ship traffic in Elliott Bay except for a ferry. A few people are fishing from shore next to the Alki Point lighthouse as we pass along the beaches of West Seattle. We pass familiar sites (I grew up in West Seattle!) - Lincoln Park with its Coleman Pool, the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, the Merlino house where Dan did some shoreline assessments for bulkheads, Three Tree Point (where there are way more than three trees).
We arrive at the Des Moines Marina. Ivan is already here, working on Peregrino for Ted and Donna. We all purchase lunch from the parking lot taco wagon and enjoy our meals in Peregrino's cockpit.
Ivan replaces the water gauge in no time! Once again we are on our way. We pass a wonderful old lighthouse at Robinson Point on Maury Island. Point Defiance is stunning in the afternoon sun. Mt. Rainier is shining today, too. We get couple of nice photos of Peregrino with Rainier in the background as Ted and Donna speed past us.
We pick up five knots in the Narrows! There are amazing swirling patterns on the water.
A tug is pulling a large boom of logs as we near our destination, Eagle Island. Our usual buoy facing Mt. Rainier is taken, but the buoy on the west side of the island is free and becomes ours.
It's almost too beautiful for words. We row, enjoying the setting, the seals, the afternoon sun.
Dan meets a couple on a sailboat from Swantown in Olympia. He tells them our story about the eagles and the seal pup (see last day of our Summer Cruise). They add some information to our story. It turns out that a group of five transient Orcas were at Eagle Island, herding and feeding on the seals just prior to our visit. Some friends of this couple were at Eagle Island at the time and photographed the whales herding the seals. It is probable that the pup we saw the eagles feeding on was a victim of the attack by the Orcas.
Sunset lingers tonight, and despite the lack of clouds it is breathtaking and beautiful.
Sunset lingers tonight, and despite the lack of clouds it is breathtaking and beautiful.
Date: September 30, 2015
Time Start: 11:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Eagle Island
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 348
Engine Hours Finish: 351
Weather/sea conditions: Gray, cool morning. Sunny afternoon.
Oh no! It can't be! It's the final morning, the final day of this cruise, and the final day of September as well. What a great time we have had. We are spinning a bit on our buoy from the current flowing by Eagle Island on this gray morning with a few seals swimming nearby. One last row, one last look at the island, and then we are on our way home.
Time Start: 11:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 2:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Eagle Island
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 348
Engine Hours Finish: 351
Weather/sea conditions: Gray, cool morning. Sunny afternoon.
Oh no! It can't be! It's the final morning, the final day of this cruise, and the final day of September as well. What a great time we have had. We are spinning a bit on our buoy from the current flowing by Eagle Island on this gray morning with a few seals swimming nearby. One last row, one last look at the island, and then we are on our way home.
It is a quiet, easy cruise. A raft is filled with one of our favorite sea birds, cormorants. And then, under sunny skies in Budd Bay, we encounter enormous and thick clouds of moon jellies.
With the beauty of sailboats gliding over the surface of the water, and the mystery of the moon jellies under the water, our cruise comes to an end. What a stellar time we have had! We are home.
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