squaxin, gig harbor, and mcmicken island
Date: August 18, 2016
Time Start: 8:15 p.m.
Time Finish: 9:15 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown
Cruise To: Squaxin Island
Engine Hours Start: 551
Engine Hours Finish: 552
Weather/sea conditions: Hot! 90's, full moon.
This time we leave Swantown in the evening. It is a hot summer night, in the mid 90's in the cabin of NORTH STAR. The sun is setting as we cruise, but there is enough lingering light for us to make our way to an anchorage off of Squaxin Island. I guess this is what you would call sailing off into the sunset! And it is pretty awesome. The sunset glow on the water is like a path for us to follow, so inviting. And then we have the full moon rising and making its path across the water. What an amazingly lovely night to cruise!
Time Start: 8:15 p.m.
Time Finish: 9:15 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown
Cruise To: Squaxin Island
Engine Hours Start: 551
Engine Hours Finish: 552
Weather/sea conditions: Hot! 90's, full moon.
This time we leave Swantown in the evening. It is a hot summer night, in the mid 90's in the cabin of NORTH STAR. The sun is setting as we cruise, but there is enough lingering light for us to make our way to an anchorage off of Squaxin Island. I guess this is what you would call sailing off into the sunset! And it is pretty awesome. The sunset glow on the water is like a path for us to follow, so inviting. And then we have the full moon rising and making its path across the water. What an amazingly lovely night to cruise!
Date: August 19, 2016
Time Start: 7:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 6 p.m.
Cruise From: Squaxin Island
Cruise To: Gig Harbor, then McMicken Island
Engine Hours Start: 551
Engine Hours Finish: 559
Weather/sea conditions: Hot and sunny.
It is a sunny, bright and calm morning at Squaxin. We are headed to Gig Harbor to conduct a short survey for a marina project. In the Narrows, the wind is blowing against the tide. We get a few extra knots of speed as well as spray over the bow. We enter scenic Gig Harbor at low tide, passing the shoreside homes and marinas. "Nudibranch", a green Ranger Tug belonging to our friends Ray and Jocelyn, is on the public dock. They are from Guemes Island and visited with me in Olympia earlier in the week. I am putting their photo here next to their boat!
Time Start: 7:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 6 p.m.
Cruise From: Squaxin Island
Cruise To: Gig Harbor, then McMicken Island
Engine Hours Start: 551
Engine Hours Finish: 559
Weather/sea conditions: Hot and sunny.
It is a sunny, bright and calm morning at Squaxin. We are headed to Gig Harbor to conduct a short survey for a marina project. In the Narrows, the wind is blowing against the tide. We get a few extra knots of speed as well as spray over the bow. We enter scenic Gig Harbor at low tide, passing the shoreside homes and marinas. "Nudibranch", a green Ranger Tug belonging to our friends Ray and Jocelyn, is on the public dock. They are from Guemes Island and visited with me in Olympia earlier in the week. I am putting their photo here next to their boat!
Murphy's Landing is our destination. I am assisting Dan for a survey of the shore plantings, something required by state agencies as mitigation on a project at the marina. We get the job done, and are ready for a lunch of gourmet burgers. The restaurant has something new for us, beet chips in place of potato chips. We love them!
NORTH STAR gets a quick rinse at the marina (salty from the Narrows!), and we are off once again, on our way to spend the night at McMicken Island. We exit Gig Harbor with Mt. Rainier looking at us, pass under the Narrows bridges once again, and make a stop at the Narrows Marina for fuel. Docking is tricky with too many boats wanting fuel all at once. The Anderson Island Fire Department is just behind us in their vessel. One of their team is in love with Ranger Tugs and so excited to see our boat. Of course, we give a "welcome aboard" to all, and everyone seems to love NORTH STAR.
NORTH STAR gets a quick rinse at the marina (salty from the Narrows!), and we are off once again, on our way to spend the night at McMicken Island. We exit Gig Harbor with Mt. Rainier looking at us, pass under the Narrows bridges once again, and make a stop at the Narrows Marina for fuel. Docking is tricky with too many boats wanting fuel all at once. The Anderson Island Fire Department is just behind us in their vessel. One of their team is in love with Ranger Tugs and so excited to see our boat. Of course, we give a "welcome aboard" to all, and everyone seems to love NORTH STAR.
We make it to McMicken in time for swims. Our anchor is set where we can watch the sunset on Mt. Rainier. And, the moon is still full tonight!
Date: July 20, 2016
McMicken Island layover day
Weather: Hot and sunny, 90's
What a summer Saturday to be on the water! While cities like Olympia swelter in the mid and upper 90's, we can jump into the refreshing water at will, and we have a breeze. Rowing is nice in the morning and evening hours. And, a low tide exposes the tombolo and tidelands.
McMicken Island layover day
Weather: Hot and sunny, 90's
What a summer Saturday to be on the water! While cities like Olympia swelter in the mid and upper 90's, we can jump into the refreshing water at will, and we have a breeze. Rowing is nice in the morning and evening hours. And, a low tide exposes the tombolo and tidelands.
New for us on this visit are the Seattle Shellfish geoduck beds along the Case Inlet side of the tombolo, where neat rows of tubes protect the young and growing clams from predators. Geoducks are the large clams with long necks that Asian cultures crave and pay enormous prices for. This is a valuable crop! (And also the mascot of the Evergreen State College in Olympia.)
Small boats are out in force today, many stop at McMicken, and it seems like almost every boat is a swim platform on this summer day. We, too, are part of the swimming crowd. The warmth continues well into evening, making the cockpit the place to be for sunset and stars.
Date: August 21, 2016
Time Start: 12:25 p.m.
Time Finish: 3:15 p.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island
Cruise To: Swantown Marina
Engine Hours Start: 559
Engine Hours Finish: 562
Weather/sea conditions: Cloudy morning and cooler, strong wind gusts, 70 degrees.
We are lazy on this cool and cloudy Sunday morning. An eagle soars over McMicken as we prepare to leave. The tide is receding, the tombolo once again revealed, skies are clearing, the sun comes out . . . and the wind blows strong. South Sound is churned up today! We have a wet and salty ride to Olympia. And on the horizon, Mt. Rainier is spectacular.
Time Start: 12:25 p.m.
Time Finish: 3:15 p.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island
Cruise To: Swantown Marina
Engine Hours Start: 559
Engine Hours Finish: 562
Weather/sea conditions: Cloudy morning and cooler, strong wind gusts, 70 degrees.
We are lazy on this cool and cloudy Sunday morning. An eagle soars over McMicken as we prepare to leave. The tide is receding, the tombolo once again revealed, skies are clearing, the sun comes out . . . and the wind blows strong. South Sound is churned up today! We have a wet and salty ride to Olympia. And on the horizon, Mt. Rainier is spectacular.
Glowing sunsets, full moon, refreshing swims . . . it's been another stellar cruise on NORTH STAR.
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