summer: watmough bay, lopez island
Date: August 6, 2018
Time Start: 8:50 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Medicine Beach, Bedwell Harbour (Canada)
Cruise To: Watmough Bay, Lopez Island (U.S.A.)
Engine Hours Start: 872
Engine Hours Finish: 877
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny and warm in morning, then cooling and windy, mid 60's
We awaken to beautiful surroundings on our final morning in Canadian waters. The sun is up, skies are blue, tide is low, and the water is calm, reflecting everything around us. Swallows fill the air, coming from nesting boxes on the nearby dock.
Time Start: 8:50 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Medicine Beach, Bedwell Harbour (Canada)
Cruise To: Watmough Bay, Lopez Island (U.S.A.)
Engine Hours Start: 872
Engine Hours Finish: 877
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny and warm in morning, then cooling and windy, mid 60's
We awaken to beautiful surroundings on our final morning in Canadian waters. The sun is up, skies are blue, tide is low, and the water is calm, reflecting everything around us. Swallows fill the air, coming from nesting boxes on the nearby dock.
As we cross Boundary Pass back into the U.S.A., the San Juan Islands are hazy in the distance, and the sun sparkles on the water. We clear customs by phone, using our NEXUS passes, as we cruise by Jones Island.
Small islets near Shaw Island are full of seals. In the distance there is a bank of fog, and we get a glimpse of a hazy Mt. Baker.
And then there are more seals. They seem to love these small rock islets.
A Washington State ferry crosses our bow, and then fog banks are in view again as we head toward Lopez Island and Spencer Spit.
This time we have a higher rock islet, too steep for the seals, but just the right perch for a majestic eagle.
Spenser Spit looks so inviting on this sunny morning, but we won't be stopping there today.
The historic schooner "Adventuress" is anchored at Decatur Island. What a lovely old sailing vessel! She is now used for educational cruises.
We are feeling like San Juan Islands sight seers today, passing lots of scenic islands and islets and seeing our share of wildlife. We are on vacation for sure! High steep rock faces are the nesting sites of cormorants, other rock islets attract sea birds and seals, and so many places are attractive to people like us!
The winds have really picked up as we near the southern tip of Lopez Island and Watmough Bay, our destination for today. We are just off of Rosario Strait and getting the weather effects of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watmough Bay is hard to miss with its high rocky cliff on one side and an inviting beach.
With our anchor set (after three tries) and the amazing cliff towering over us, we are ready to go ashore. The winds are strong out in the bay, but much less so on the beach. And it is lovely!
No, we aren't done taking photos of this great place!
Yes, we need a dinghy ride along the base of the cliff!
From NORTH STAR, we have evening views across Rosario Strait, with a hazy Mt. Baker in the distance.