September 2010 Trip to San Juans with Mom

Our trip with Mom to the San Juans was supposed to start on August 31. Unfortunately there was a soaking rain all day long as well as a small craft advisory for Saratoga Passage. Discretion being the better part of valor, we postponed the start of the trip for one day.

Wednesday, September 1
Having lost a day at the start of our trip, we rose early (6:00) so that we could make the slack water through Deception Pass at 3:00 in the afternoon. The day was lovely and the trip uneventful though it was long. The autopilot continues to give me grief and I suspect I’ll never find the source of the problem since Raymarine can’t even though they’ve had the computer for repair twice.

Mom on Hobbit's Bridge Near Deception Pass

We actually arrived at Deception Pass about 50 minutes early and went through with a 3.5 kt. current pushing us to a top speed of 11 kts. At Hunter Bay we set three crab pots (we only had 3 turkey legs), dropped the anchor, and settled down with a glass of wine. Linda made a delicious clam chowder for dinner. In the evening I tried out the 3.3 horsepower motor and checked the crab traps – 41 crabs including 2 keepers. Just like our last trip by Everett, the crabs were mostly female or small males. I can’t ever recall seeing such a paucity of keepers even at the end of the summer season.

Since school started this week at many schools, there were hardly any boats on the water. Linda feels we should make September cruising an annual event. With a clear sky and few boat lights, stars in the night sky were beautiful and the Milky Way was clearly visible.

Thursday, September 2
One of Mom’s first comments this morning was how peaceful everything was and there wasn’t ripple on the water. This kind of peace and tranquility is something we don’t often experience in the San Juans although it is fairly common north of Desolation Sound. I made oatmeal topped with golden syrup for breakfast.

After weighing anchor we picked up the crab pots which held 5 more keepers and went to Friday Harbor. Friday Harbor was Mom’s one requested stop. She had a laundry list of things to do there: Replace the crab plate which was broken last week, buy a Friday Harbor jacket, visit Cash’s favorite store, the Arctic Raven Gallery, and visit Friday Harbor Labs.

The design on the crab plate has changed since mom bought the 6 for us on her last trip to Friday Harbor. Fortunately there were two of the old design left in the store room and mom bought them both. Mom also purchased a Friday Harbor jacket and picked up a few items at the Arctic Raven Gallery. We also followed one of our rituals and had an ice cream cone at the store by the ferry dock.

Mt. Baker from the north end of Lopez Island

Mom in front of the Arctic Raven Gallery

Friday, September 3

One of the key reasons for being at Friday Harbor today was so Linda would have access to Clearwire and be able to watch her two hour art class on the computer.  While she was doing that, I went to Friday Harbor Labs to meet with Dr. Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria about returning to graduate school and using the non-native sea grass, Zostera japonica as a research topic.  He gave me some good food for thought. 

After lunch Mom, Linda and I got into the dinghy and went over to FHL so Mom could see where I went to school.  The place was almost deserted because of the 3-day week-end.  Near the end of the day Mom said she would like to buy a shirt.  Unfortunately the woman who manages the FHL clothing was on vacation.  Kathy Cowell, one of the administrative staff members who was so helpful when I was a student, locked up the front office and went with us to the dining hall where the clothing is kept.  There Mom picked out two shirts and Linda bought a cap with a crab on it. 

Back at Hobbit we cooked and cleaned the crabs. In the evening we attended a marvelous concert in the small park by the top of the dock.  I joined in with the dancing but couldn’t talk Linda into boogying with me.

Mom and Linda listening to music at Friday Harbor

Saturday, September 4

The region’s weather forecast for the next several days was not promising.  NOAA Weather Radio was reporting up to gale force winds in the “northern inland waters” which includes the San Juans.  On the Internet the NOAA web site and UW’s BIS Portal (boater information system) forecast much lower winds. We were mulling over where to go and our route for going home on Monday when a dockside spot opened at the SJIYC reciprocal pier.  We moved Hobbit over there and decided to spend another night.  Mom stated she was glad we were staying here because Friday Harbor is her favorite place. 

Sunday, September 5

Mom has been through Deception Pass several times and has also been across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  She has not, however, taken the trip around Anacortes and down the Swinomish Channel.  In spite of the cool weather Mom spent almost the entire day on the bridge taking in the sites and enjoying the time on the water.  She was bundled up like an Eskimo.

We got to Oak Harbor in mid afternoon and discovered that three boats remained from a week-end NYCE cruise.  We filled Hobbit up with diesel then anchored in the bay.  I took the dinghy in for heavy hors d’oeuvres and happy hour.  Mom and Linda elected to stay on Hobbit and the two of them split a bottle of wine.

Monday, September 6

NOAA Weather Radio predicted rain and wind in the afternoon so we left for home moderately early.  Water in the shallow channel exiting Oak Harbor was rough.  We were getting 3 – 5 ft. swells on our bow and about 15 kts. of wind.  I started to wonder if we needed to turn around and spend another night.  Given that Mom has a 6:00 a.m. flight on Wednesday, I really didn’t want to spend another day at Oak Harbor.  Fortunately, after we got to deep water the swell size dropped to about 2 ft.  We did manage to catch a lot of salt spray over the bow.  Mom spent most of the trip sitting at the lower helm and, I think, enjoyed herself in spite of the weather.  She stated that she enjoyed seeing how Hobbit behaved in rough weather.

Hobbit's Route