Summer: winter cove & boat pass
Date: July 14, 2017
Time Start: 10:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 3:00 p.m.
Cruise From: Pirates Cove
Cruise To: Winter Cove
Engine Hours Start: 650
Engine Hours Finish: 654
Weather/sea conditions: Blue skies, breeze, mid 70's
"IZ" is crooning his Hawaiian melodies in the cabin this morning while Dan flips blueberry pancakes for our breakfast. Morning is calm and lovely in Pirates Cove. An eagle perches on a snag tree near us and gets a bit of harassing from a lone crow.
Time Start: 10:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 3:00 p.m.
Cruise From: Pirates Cove
Cruise To: Winter Cove
Engine Hours Start: 650
Engine Hours Finish: 654
Weather/sea conditions: Blue skies, breeze, mid 70's
"IZ" is crooning his Hawaiian melodies in the cabin this morning while Dan flips blueberry pancakes for our breakfast. Morning is calm and lovely in Pirates Cove. An eagle perches on a snag tree near us and gets a bit of harassing from a lone crow.
Our mellow stay at Pirates Cove is at an end. Once again, the engine doesn't start until we switch to house batteries. Shore tie is released and we are on our way, this time turning south to Winter Cove and Active Pass.
The waters in Pylades Channel are glassy. Ships are still at anchor across from Valdes Island. A B.C. ferry enters Active Pass between Galiano and Mayne islands. Mt. Baker is on the horizon as we approach Winter Cove.
Seals are resting on rock islets as we enter Winter Cove. The anchor holds nicely, and no stern tie is necessary as there is plenty of room to swing.
A shore walk is at the top of our agenda. The timing is right to get a view of Boat Pass when the water is rushing through. It's a short dinghy ride to shore, followed by a walk through the park and along the trail, to the rocky point overlooking the pass. We take in the sights and signs along the way.
We are experiencing the low tide flood at Boat Pass. It is amazing to see the amount of water flowing through this narrow opening between Samuel and Saturna Islands! We are mesmerized as we watch the swirling water below us. We wouldn't want to be taking NORTH STAR through here right now!
We finish the walk on the trail, looping along the shore of Saturna and back through the forest to the Cove.
After a picnic in the cockpit of NORTH STAR, two small seals play in the water near us. Clouds make for a nice sunset, and we get great skies looking west toward the setting sun as well as looking east toward Boat Pass. The clouds are painted with perfection!