summer: patos island
Date: July 16, 2017
Time Start: 11:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Cabbage/Tumbo Islands, Canada
Cruise To: Patos Island, U.S.A.
Engine Hours Start: 655
Engine Hours Finish: 656
Weather/sea conditions: Cloudy morning, clearing to a beautiful day, mid 70's
It's Sunday, and we are headed back to the U.S.A. We have had a windy night with Dan getting up to tend to buoy lines. We get constant banging from the buoy against the hull of NORTH STAR. The cure finally comes when the winds shift. As a result, we sleep in late. There are lots of clouds, but promising patches of blue sky, too. Most of the other boats have moved on, but we are moving slowly to even fix our breakfast. Ahh, leisure!
It's time to leave Cabbage Island to the eagles (and to other boaters). We have enjoyed their activities so much, always soaring overhead, perching in the trees, catching fish, and filling the air with their shrill voices. This is their world.
Into the Strait of Georgia and across Boundary Pass, our home stretch begins. The San Juan Islands are a short distance away and on the horizon. At 12:22 p.m. we officially cross the border. There happens to be a line of foam in the water as we cross! A phone call on our NEXXUS pass gives us clearance to return to the U.S.A., no need to go ashore to clear customs. So convenient!
Time Start: 11:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Cabbage/Tumbo Islands, Canada
Cruise To: Patos Island, U.S.A.
Engine Hours Start: 655
Engine Hours Finish: 656
Weather/sea conditions: Cloudy morning, clearing to a beautiful day, mid 70's
It's Sunday, and we are headed back to the U.S.A. We have had a windy night with Dan getting up to tend to buoy lines. We get constant banging from the buoy against the hull of NORTH STAR. The cure finally comes when the winds shift. As a result, we sleep in late. There are lots of clouds, but promising patches of blue sky, too. Most of the other boats have moved on, but we are moving slowly to even fix our breakfast. Ahh, leisure!
It's time to leave Cabbage Island to the eagles (and to other boaters). We have enjoyed their activities so much, always soaring overhead, perching in the trees, catching fish, and filling the air with their shrill voices. This is their world.
Into the Strait of Georgia and across Boundary Pass, our home stretch begins. The San Juan Islands are a short distance away and on the horizon. At 12:22 p.m. we officially cross the border. There happens to be a line of foam in the water as we cross! A phone call on our NEXXUS pass gives us clearance to return to the U.S.A., no need to go ashore to clear customs. So convenient!
Patos Island with it's historic lighthouse is our destination, sitting right along Boundary Pass. There are two buoys and one is available. What a glorious place to be!
Once again, the shore with trails, beach areas, and of course, a lighthouse to visit, beckon to us. As we dinghy ashore we pass a seal on the rocky ledge of Little Patos. We learn that she has a newborn pup next to her, just born this morning. We will give her plenty of space!
On shore, we meet a trio who have just spent a week as volunteers at the lighthouse. They have their camping gear with them and are waiting for the park vessel to arrive to take them home. It is great to hear their stories about volunteering at several lighthouses in the Pacific Northwest. What an opportunity! Brochures are posted on the information kiosk to let people know how to sign up for the program.
On shore, we meet a trio who have just spent a week as volunteers at the lighthouse. They have their camping gear with them and are waiting for the park vessel to arrive to take them home. It is great to hear their stories about volunteering at several lighthouses in the Pacific Northwest. What an opportunity! Brochures are posted on the information kiosk to let people know how to sign up for the program.
The trail to the lighthouse is short, with campsites along the way and views of our moorage. Before automation, there was a pier here and several other buildings, all gone now. Paved walkways around the lighthouse remain and restoration work has been done on the lighthouse. We cannot access the interior today, but we have the grounds all to ourselves. From here, we look right across to the Gulf Islands of Canada. We were just there a couple of hours ago!
Park trails loop back through the forest and along the shores of Patos. This is a lucky day for us. Orcas swim offshore! The sight of them, the sounds of their breathing . . . what could be more wonderful!
Late afternoon is absolutely lovely with calm water and the sun on the sculpted sandstone bluffs. Can there be a day any better than this? We are feeling so ALIVE!
Evening arrives, into the dinghy we go for a view of the lighthouse from the water as day ends. An eagle watches us from the trees. Yes, that is Canada in the distance.