Weather: Broken and cool. Winds: Light and variable. Seas: Flat.
Motored out of Olympia around 0800 headed towards home. North out of Budd Inlet to Dana Passage and out Nisqually Reach. Timing at Tacoma Narrows was good hitting the slack. Around Point Defiance and north into Colvos Passage to Blake Island.
The marina at Blake Island State Park is...not really tight, more like awkward. Just not an efficient dock layout. Found dock space available.
Walking the dogs on the island was interesting...lots of deer and racoons. Fortunately the racoons were not aggressive, but would occupy your boat if food (read: trash) was left out. Dogs got really curious when a raccoon walked down the dock and disappeared over the side and disappeared under!
Showers were nice. Island had a lot of space and the campground was not crowded. Nice views of Seattle!
Friday, November 1, 2013
Saturday, 27July2013: Boston Harbor to Olympia
Weather: Sunny and warm. Winds: Nil. Seas: Flat.
Motored to Olympia. Interesting coming into a major port after small marinas. Some vessels are huge! I knew this intellectually, especially after 28yrs in the Navy and sailing around the sound. It just was weird motoring past ships in the port.
Moored at the Port Plaza Dock for $15! Nice, new facility. Location was great as it is a couple blocks from the Farmer's Market were we restocked fruit, veggies and a couple thick pork chops. Lots of plums, peaches and apricots available.
Nice to tour Olympia without worrying about getting home or traffic. Concurrent with our visit was a Hempfest in Capital Lake Park. Why do most of the hemp proponents look like 1970's counterculture...OK, hippies? Visited a couple used book stores and had dinner at an Indian restaurant.
Motored to Olympia. Interesting coming into a major port after small marinas. Some vessels are huge! I knew this intellectually, especially after 28yrs in the Navy and sailing around the sound. It just was weird motoring past ships in the port.
Moored at the Port Plaza Dock for $15! Nice, new facility. Location was great as it is a couple blocks from the Farmer's Market were we restocked fruit, veggies and a couple thick pork chops. Lots of plums, peaches and apricots available.
Nice to tour Olympia without worrying about getting home or traffic. Concurrent with our visit was a Hempfest in Capital Lake Park. Why do most of the hemp proponents look like 1970's counterculture...OK, hippies? Visited a couple used book stores and had dinner at an Indian restaurant.
Friday, 26July, 2013: Cutts Island to Boston Harbor
Weather: Sunny and warm. Winds: Light and variable. Seas: Flat.
Sailed out of the anchorage under the main and genoa, with a light north wind. Wind died after about 45min and we motored through Pitt Passage, noting with interest the "Don't Pick Up Hitchhikers" signs because of the state prison on McNeil Island....
Managed a bit more sailing in Drayton Passage. The motored. Ebb currents in Dana Passage were strong and headway was reduced to 3kts. Then I noticed the boats on the north shore were pointed in the opposite direction. An eddy! Moved over and headway jumped to 6kts!
Arrived Boston Harbor and folded as we were taking a slip - needed to refill the water. Also took on fuel. First slip assigned was tight. Further, Strider did not fit, her bow was sticking way out. Asked to move to the outside and, "Sure!"
Moved outside, unfolding in transit. Hosed the boat down. Also rigged a shower on the stern and both Kelly and I enjoyed getting the crud off!
Occasionally, Boston Harbor hosts a dinner on the dock and this was one of those nights! For $10 and another $3 for wine tasting, we enjoyed grilled chicken-on-a-stick, clams, pasta, a salad and 4 wines. Met some really nice people, one who live just down the street who invited us in whilst we were walking the dogs!
Sailed out of the anchorage under the main and genoa, with a light north wind. Wind died after about 45min and we motored through Pitt Passage, noting with interest the "Don't Pick Up Hitchhikers" signs because of the state prison on McNeil Island....
Managed a bit more sailing in Drayton Passage. The motored. Ebb currents in Dana Passage were strong and headway was reduced to 3kts. Then I noticed the boats on the north shore were pointed in the opposite direction. An eddy! Moved over and headway jumped to 6kts!
Arrived Boston Harbor and folded as we were taking a slip - needed to refill the water. Also took on fuel. First slip assigned was tight. Further, Strider did not fit, her bow was sticking way out. Asked to move to the outside and, "Sure!"
Moved outside, unfolding in transit. Hosed the boat down. Also rigged a shower on the stern and both Kelly and I enjoyed getting the crud off!
Occasionally, Boston Harbor hosts a dinner on the dock and this was one of those nights! For $10 and another $3 for wine tasting, we enjoyed grilled chicken-on-a-stick, clams, pasta, a salad and 4 wines. Met some really nice people, one who live just down the street who invited us in whilst we were walking the dogs!
24-26July, 2013: Cutts Island Marine State Park
Weather: Sunny and warm! Winds: Nil. Seas: Flat.
The Cutts Island Marine State Park is a great place! Water temp was 68F, warm enough to swim in. Cutts Island is a no camping/day use only island with a few trails accessible up the steep cliffs from the beach to the trees. Allegedly, it was a former indian burial ground and is locally called Dead Man's Island. Dog walking was pretty easy, with a nice dinghy row to a sandy beach on the north end of the island. The cliff on the south end is collapsing.
Of interest to me is a sand bar stretching from Raft Island to Cutts Island, more and more exposed as the tide ebbed. Early on Thursday, took a chance as Kelly walked the dogs and was rewarded with clams! Turned them into spaghetti al vongole for dinner! First time Kelly had non-deep fried clams and she was impressed!
While busy in the afternoon with powerboats and skiers, they all departed around dinner time leaving us alone in the anchorage. Kid in a canoe came by asking about Strider, never having seen a trimaran.
Quiet, warm evening and we launched a couple Chinese Sky Lanterns!
The Cutts Island Marine State Park is a great place! Water temp was 68F, warm enough to swim in. Cutts Island is a no camping/day use only island with a few trails accessible up the steep cliffs from the beach to the trees. Allegedly, it was a former indian burial ground and is locally called Dead Man's Island. Dog walking was pretty easy, with a nice dinghy row to a sandy beach on the north end of the island. The cliff on the south end is collapsing.
Of interest to me is a sand bar stretching from Raft Island to Cutts Island, more and more exposed as the tide ebbed. Early on Thursday, took a chance as Kelly walked the dogs and was rewarded with clams! Turned them into spaghetti al vongole for dinner! First time Kelly had non-deep fried clams and she was impressed!
While busy in the afternoon with powerboats and skiers, they all departed around dinner time leaving us alone in the anchorage. Kid in a canoe came by asking about Strider, never having seen a trimaran.
Quiet, warm evening and we launched a couple Chinese Sky Lanterns!
Wednesday, 24July, 2013: Gig Harbor to Carr Inlet/Cutts Island Marine State Park
Weather: Sunny and warm. Winds: Light and variable. Seas: Flat.
Awaited the tide and got a great push through the Tacoma Narrows. First trip under the bridge! Since Hale Passage has a low bridge, was forced around the south end of Fox Island. There were a lot of crab traps in the area, surprising since it was a non-crabbing day.
Slow motor up Carr Inlet to Kopachuck State Park. This area of Carr Inlet reminded me of a large lake, a lot of waterfront homes, along with many speed boats, that is, ski boats and 30ft-ish fast power boats. In the afternoon, these boats were pulling skiers and tubes. Many showed up to use the mooring buoys for the few hours after work and before sunset.
Arrived around 1400 and found a lot of buoys occupied, but several available. Once moored, we found the water temp was around 68F! Towards evening, all the boats departed, leaving us alone in the anchorage.
Awaited the tide and got a great push through the Tacoma Narrows. First trip under the bridge! Since Hale Passage has a low bridge, was forced around the south end of Fox Island. There were a lot of crab traps in the area, surprising since it was a non-crabbing day.
Slow motor up Carr Inlet to Kopachuck State Park. This area of Carr Inlet reminded me of a large lake, a lot of waterfront homes, along with many speed boats, that is, ski boats and 30ft-ish fast power boats. In the afternoon, these boats were pulling skiers and tubes. Many showed up to use the mooring buoys for the few hours after work and before sunset.
Arrived around 1400 and found a lot of buoys occupied, but several available. Once moored, we found the water temp was around 68F! Towards evening, all the boats departed, leaving us alone in the anchorage.
22-23July, 2013: Gig Harbor
Weather: Sunny and warm!
Enjoyed the stay in Gig Harbor! Hooked up with RT and MM.
Gig Harbor hosts "Summer Sounds," a concerts in the park summer series. A perennial favorite is The Beatniks, a 60s/70s/80s rock band. One of the reasons for returning to Gig was to see this concert and it lived up to the hype. The park was jammed with place holding chairs and blankets by 8AM, which I did not care for as the park was where I'd walk the dogs. That said, The Beatniks were worth the trip and we had a blast!
I tried to get local high schoolers to pull off the prank of the year by rearranging the chairs and blankets in the park. I even spread the rumor. Disappointingly, the kids chickened out.
Enjoyed the stay in Gig Harbor! Hooked up with RT and MM.
Gig Harbor hosts "Summer Sounds," a concerts in the park summer series. A perennial favorite is The Beatniks, a 60s/70s/80s rock band. One of the reasons for returning to Gig was to see this concert and it lived up to the hype. The park was jammed with place holding chairs and blankets by 8AM, which I did not care for as the park was where I'd walk the dogs. That said, The Beatniks were worth the trip and we had a blast!
I tried to get local high schoolers to pull off the prank of the year by rearranging the chairs and blankets in the park. I even spread the rumor. Disappointingly, the kids chickened out.
Monday, 22July, 2013: Tacoma to Gig Harbor
Weather: Sunny and warm. Winds: None. Seas: Flat.
Departed around 1000 and motored to Gig Harbor. Did not even deploy the main. Anchored in usual spot, across from Arabella's Landing in about 20ft of water. Deployed the crab trap on the way in.
Winds picked up in the harbor during the afternoon and I sailed the dinghy around, even sailed the dinghy to check the crab trap (small reds only)!
Departed around 1000 and motored to Gig Harbor. Did not even deploy the main. Anchored in usual spot, across from Arabella's Landing in about 20ft of water. Deployed the crab trap on the way in.
Winds picked up in the harbor during the afternoon and I sailed the dinghy around, even sailed the dinghy to check the crab trap (small reds only)!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)