Pacific NW Boater

07/12/2021

Check out the latest installment of MV Freedom, where Shawn and Elizabeth explore Arriana's favorite spot in the San Juans: China Caves at Shallow Bay on Sucia Island. You might even recognize the crew of Traveler in the video... 😊

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07/11/2021

Well, will you look at that. Thank you, Steve Swanson! (PO of our boat.) A rebuilt fresh water pump found among spare parts. OK, next Darren will watch some YouTube videos and tackle the removal & replacement. Then we can get “back out there!” (And we’ll order two new pumps. One to replace the stbd engine, the other for back up.)

07/10/2021

Another first! Well, this is a silly one, but it’s the first time we’ve ever seen this green can #1 off Possession Point without a Sea Lion or two on it! 😃

07/10/2021

This was earlier today when we came out of “Hole in the Wall” at the southern end of the Swinomish Channel. Wind jumped from 5 to 30 on the nose. Even though we were on a rising tide, at a -1.5 running one engine we were being very careful!

07/10/2021

9 hours later we drop the hook between Sandy Point and Langley. On one engine we averaged about 5.8 knots, much of the time against wind and current. Good thing our Ford Lehmans have Borg Warner Velvet Drive transmissions, so the port prop could turn freely. Tr**ny still got pretty warm, though…

07/09/2021

Going home inside Whidbey. Transited the Swinomish on a rising tide, but these images (taken at a -1.8 in the north, and a -1.5 in the south) sure bring home the notion of STAY IN THE CHANNEL AT ALL TIMES!!

07/09/2021

Well that’s a bummer! During startup check this morn, we discovered the port engine down 3/4 gallon of coolant. Couldn’t find where it leaked. Started up and the tach only registered 500rpm when it was around 1000. Engine didn’t sound right, and was spraying a bit of coolant up in front. Shut it down. Darren thinks it may be the fresh water pump. Heading for home on one engine to further diagnose and make repairs…

07/09/2021

There’s “swinging on the hook”, and then there’s “swinging AND BOBBING on the hook”! Wind has been 15-20 since we anchored here off Fairhaven. And our big girl loves to dance to and fro in such conditions! Hoping it will let up a bit overnight…

07/08/2021

Well, the BYC reciprocal dock was full (no surprise) but so was the entire marina (kinda surprising, but not)! So we anchored in Fairhaven. Took 3 drops in 20 knots of wind to get the position right, with pulling up a derelict mooring line (attached to something) off the sea floor on the first drop. That wasn’t fun!

07/08/2021

Bound for Bellingham. In 9+ years we’ve never been there on the boat. First time seeing “the backside” of Lummi Island, too. Hoping we can score a reciprocal slip with the B’ham Yacht Club, so we shall see.

07/08/2021

Like mother, like daughter… These two are enthusiastic beachcombers! Beach glass is their favorite (and they always find some here at Cypress Head), but they have just as much fun looking at marine life. Thankful for the DNR and their buoys and maintaining this wonderful island.

07/07/2021

Ended up at Cypress Head last night. We knew the wind (15-20) was coming, as well as a -1.1 low tide. We did not, however, expect to be awoken at 3:30am with 40mph gusts! And even though we’ve been on this very buoy before, it’s slightly disconcerting to see how close to shore we can get. Still 8 feet under the keel, though…

07/07/2021

Stuart Island to Cypress Island. Wanted to be close to Anacortes to drop Greg off the following day. Was pleasantly surprised to find 3 open buoys in Eagle Harbor! Enjoyed a beautiful evening winding down Darren’s 60th birthday.

07/07/2021

Had a lovely day for walking out to the lighthouse. Learned there is a county dock at the west end of Prevost Harbor. Been here many times and did not know that! Just goes to show, old sea dogs can learn new tricks… 😁

07/06/2021

Lisa, Arriana, and Greg decorated the boat for Darren’s 60th birthday party this morning. He was totally surprised! Darren says it was “the best birthday ever!”

07/06/2021

Shallow Bay to Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island. Short run culminating in a hike out to the schoolhouse. Saw our Port Townsend Yacht Club 4th of July gathering in Reid Harbor. Decided to save a hike to the lighthouse for the next day.

07/03/2021

Look who we ran into when we got back to the China Caves: Shawn and Elizabeth from MV Freedom! When we interviewed them for the Latitudes & Attitudes story we told them about the caves. This was their first time, and they loved it. This adventurous couple even mastered the difficult crevasse climb to the top!

07/03/2021

What a gorgeous day! Had lunch on the Lawson Bluff trail, along with some tide pooling and, of course, spent time in the China Caves for Arriana!

07/03/2021

Arrived in Shallow Bay last night and lucked out! On a Friday evening, on the Fourth of July weekend no less, and had plenty of room smack dab in the middle of the bay. Dropped the hook in 11 feet of water. Perfect!

07/03/2021

Heading for Sucia! Bro-in-law Greg arrived at Cap Sante at 3:30, and we were off at 4:00. So far he’s amazed how beautiful it is out here between Cypress and Orcas Islands.

07/02/2021

The cycle of life - and death - played out this morning on the swim step of the boat next to us. Sometime early today this harbor seal gave birth to a stillborn pup. A sad scene indeed, as she didn’t want to leave her baby. Port of Anacortes staff came and took the pup away, and we haven’t seen the mother since.

07/02/2021

Traveler tucked in her slip out at the end of D-dock at Cap Sante Marina. We’re picking up our brother-in-law here tomorrow to take him for a week in the San Juans. It’ll be a first for him (he lives in Oregon), so we’re excited to show off the islands we’ve been raving about for years!

07/01/2021

Steve Allwine sent us this news link, which explained why Skagit Bay turned white… Scroll down the story and you’ll see before and after satellite images of Skagit Bay.

With temperatures soaring into the 80s and 90s -- even 100s! -- in the mountains during the heat wave, the massive snow melt caused debris flows that could be spotted from space!

07/01/2021

Whoa! In Skagit Bay just north of the entrance to the Swinomish Channel the water suddenly turned an odd off-white color! Kind of resembles glacial run off in a mountain stream. We’re thinking it’s tidally influenced, but not sure. Anyone know?

07/01/2021

Off the dock in Cornet Bay. Thankfully! The boat ramp here is a beehive of activity, with dozens of fishing/crabbing boats buzzing about like bees! Which, of course, makes for a lot of wakes to roll moored vessels…

06/30/2021

The simple joys in life…

06/30/2021

Who turned off that giant heat lamp and tuned on the AC? Outside?! 😄

06/29/2021

Well, we switched one state park floating dock for another right around the corner. Woke up this morning rolling beam-to-beam a bit in Bowman Bay. So at 0730 we hit slack at Deception Pass and motored in to Cornet Bay. Good thing, as the westerlies are now hitting 20-25 and the subsequent swells into Bowman would have made it too uncomfortable. Even better, we have much stronger cell reception here!