Itinerary
Saturday July, 24 1999 -Saturday 31
Here’s the details on the 32’ Nordic Tug “Nordic Queen” secured from Charter’s Northwest, Inc.
http://www.nwyachts.com/power-nordic.html
Name: Nordic Queen
Hailing Port: Juneau, Ak
ID# 994742 US Customs ID: 9508587
Radio Call Sign: WCX 4339
Owner's Name/Number M.R. & Nancy Craig 1-800-543-5744
Builder: Nordic Tug
Year: 1993 Length: 32' Draft: 3'6" Beam 11'
Hull Color: Red Trim Color: White
Propeller Size: 24x19 Prop Rotation:
Engine Make(s): Cummins Model(s): 6BT5-9M
Serial# 44843294 Number of Cylinders (per):6
Old Type Winter: Delo 10-40 Summer
Fuel Tank(s) Capacity: 275 Water Tank(s) Capacity: 130
Hot Water Tank Capacity: 10 Generator Make/Model: Lugger/Northern Lights
Leifp & Lori will be crusing the same week-“Esprit”
Bill & Ann are on "A Bientot" 206-949-4674
7/24/99 Left 16001 Inglewood @ 8a. Took burlington exit on I5N. 9 miles in saw Penmar marine where boat trailer is-- go total of 4mi until freeway ends. Make a right onto R avenue. Beyond Capsante boat basin and met Bill/Ann at Capsante Marina (slip E46) on Fidalgo Is. Typical Seattle liquid sunshine rain. Crusing with them up to Friday harbor. Left port at 10a. W through Guemes channel, through Thatcher pass (between Blakely Is and Decatur I., Then split Orcas (N) and Lopez (S) toward Shaw. ~11:30 rain let up. (Must at some point stop at Olga on Orcas-- great craft shops according to Bill/Ann). We made some hotdogs for lunch. Tucked below (S) of Shaw and into Friday Harbour.
Saturday Evening
PreCruise Plan:
Leave Friday Harbor (chart 8, spot 17) for Lopez Island, Fisherman's Bay (chart 8, spot 20). Really need to enter this port's dogleg w/respect to tide and current.
Set crab pots for overnight harvest! Destination is on the west side. Leg is between 7-10km.
Leifp had suggested going to meet up in Reid Harbour on S side of Stuart. He leaves port at ~1 and figures it’s a 2hr trip for him. Listen/hail on channel 16 and then move to another like 22. Head up around top (N) of spieden and stay S of Cactus Is. (scenic) and on into Reid.
Actual:
We arrived at Friday Harbour ~12:15p. We started maneuvers at about 4:45p and finished checkout with Neil ~6:15p. Burned 3gal fuel; Neil reset the fuel gauge. Decided not to sail up to Reid, called Leif and let him know we wouldn't be coming. Bill/Ann had spent the day at Friday Harbour with us. We left Friday Harbour at 6:20p w/them for Deer harbor; used 1.7 gal fuel (fuel gague at 1.7) for about 40 min cruise. Had dinner w/Bill and Ann on their boat and then after a long day called it a night.
Sunday Morning
PreCruise Plan:
Cruise around North end of Lopez and East and then South down Lopez with first Blakely I. and then Decatur I. to the East. Round Decatur I. and then back North by Decatur I and Blakely I. and cross West in the 2nd pass (Obstruction Pass). Head up into Orcas Island's East Sound, maybe spend time at Rosario, and then meet Trina's folks for the eve. This is about 20km of cruising. Anchor for the evening at S. end of Orcas at W. entrance to Obstruction Pass. Leifp suggested that there's a nice marina directly South (Blakely I. marina).
Actual:
Left Deer (early ~8:30a) for Reid. Figured we might catchup with Leif and family and hike with them. Couldn't hail them or catch them on the phone. Arrived in ~70min. Engine hours on arrival read 4812.30, and fuel read 5.5gal. (ie. we used 3.8 gal). and probably avg'ed about 9-10kt. We Deer harbour, cruised to E of Fawn I., N or Reef I, came up the E side of Jones I. and then headed on a course of roughly 272 NW cruised up the N side of Spieden I to the S of Cactus I and numerous other smaller islands arriving at Reid Harbour. Used NOAA chart 18421 (Strait of Juan De Fuca to Strait Of Georgia)-- main chart for the area.
Cruise Journal:
There's a neat little harbour up on the top N side of Jones that looked like a serene place to anchor assuming no wind from the North. Amazing how nice it is to have the chart plotter; very difficult otherwise to really see which island is which given that chart doesn't clearly call out some of the smaller ones (and the bigger ones look smaller off in the distance so it's hard to tell which are the 'significant' ones). Definitely some current along Spieden increasing as we went NW. Up at the top end there were easily visible eddies which caused the boat to get a bit squirely. This was about 40min into the 70min cruise; at about this time we realized the AC doesn't run from the ship's power (ie. no inverter) and the fridge hadn't been running. We powered on the generator at this time and it ran for the next 30min of our cruising as well as about another 1/2 hour when we met up with Leif, set our crab pot and got ready to go on a hike.
Other Details:
Nice hike ~5 miles total out to the lighthouse. Here's a small 1 room school house on the way. Good rest stop; can buy t-shirts, get a dixie cup of water. On the way back we stopped and played on the swings and checked out the schoolhouse museum. It had been there, open and closed at various times since the mid 1700s. At the light house we watched numerous large ocean going freighters navigate around the NW point of the island. They come up heading N and then quickly and sharply turn at this point (called Turn Pt) to the East (or at least NE). They're quite close in to the shore when doing this-- you don't want to be a boat caught in between them and the shore when they do this. One of the captains on 3 occasions blew his horn 5 times at a trawler that was on his inside going around this point. Trina and I plan to relax and stay here this eve. It's a great day weather wise and getting nicer as the hours go by-- currently 16:20. We fired up the generator earlier again (battery was low after running fridge on DC) at ~15:30 and ran it ~1hr. 16:30. We'll see how long this lasts with only fridge and VHF running. Showing low power when checked at 19:11-- we started the generator; shut it down at 21:30. Had a great flank steak dinner on the grill and trina cooked up red potatoes, sauted mushrooms and a super salad w/cucumbers, feta, tomatoes and craisins! YUM. Skipped the smores this eve-- too full.
Monday Morning
PreCruise Plan:
Back West across top of Lopez and then perhaps stop by Lopez Island's "Blind Bay" (chart 8, spot 15) bound for Stuart Island's Reid Harbour (chart 8, spot 2). It's about 12km from Blind Bay to Reid Harbour. Reid is the South bay... around the top/North of Stuart I. is Prevost Harbour. Leif suggested that Prevost is less crowded. Also that Prevost is about a 1/4 hike in (S), and then a nice 3 mile hike West to the lighthouse.
Other notes: Leif’s seen whales to the W side of Stuart’s Island.
Also, when on route, pass through Pole Pass (N or Crane Island-not the larger pass to the S)
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Actual:
Date: 7/26
Cruise from: Reid Harbour, Stuart I. N48 40.464 W123 11.967 Cruise to: Echo Bay, Sucia I. N48 45.518 W122 54.314
Engine Hours: depart- 4813.79 arrival- 4816.67
Fuel: depart- 5.5 arrival-11.3
Time: depart- 10:55 arrival-13:40
Weather/Sea Condition: clear, sunny skies
Avg RPMs 1600
Avg Kt. 7
Used NOAA chart 18421 and detailed chart 18431(Rosario Strait to Cherry Point) for entry into Sucia.
Cruise Journal:
10:30 start generator;
10:55 left at low tide-- still 25 ft of water in reid hbr.
11:15 up to 1600 rpm NW tip of Spieden off to our starboard bow, burning 3gph at 8.5 kt
Saw a seal at the throat of Speiden where the charts read "S".
11:40 3kt current headingup between Flattop I. and Gull Rock (still 1600rpm but now about 5.5kt. Lots of eddies.
11:48 another seal at NE tip of Flattop I. crossing eddies into President channel between Waldron I. and Orcas I. on a course about 44deg
12:00 shifting course up to ~30 deg for (entual 25deg) shot up the channel; Waldron off port bow, Orcas off to starboard. Still 16oorpm, now ~6.3kt
12:40 steady 1600rpm 3gph burn, 8.5kt approach/ing Orcas' Pt. Doughty.
12:45 just past Pt. Doughty crossing to Sucia I.; mild wind & edies down to about 7.5kt at times. Mt. Baker is booming majestically out of distant haze to NE between Matia and Orcas.
13:15 entering Echo Bay, Sucia I. between N & S Finger I.down to 9krpm & 5.4kt; we saw a seal on N Finger shoreline rock giving birth to a baby!
13:40 anchored; engine off at 4816.67hrs; shut off generator as well. Fuel at 11.3gal
14.20 reset anchor; engine hrs off at 4816.77
Journal at Port:
14:30 We're anchored in about 37ft of water in the S of Echo bay at the end of the channel made between S Finger and the SE pointing thick arm of Sucia. Looking off to the NE we have a great view of Mt. Baker. Wind is from the NW is mildly breezy and people's flags are fluttering. I'm going to join Trina up on the roof above the galley.A nice, older 34' aftcabin Carver came nearby to moor-- interesting boat.
1900 Set the crab pot a bit ago. Spoke with Dal. Made some great burgers, potatoes, green beans and some caymanian rum punch (ocean spray island guava, snapple iced tea and rum). Endless pairs of seals playing and splashing around.
20:40 fired up generator. Depth is up to 45ft and has been that way for a couple hrs.
2140 killed generator. Trina and I played chess; she tossed me in <5 min. I've got to learn to play this game. We kicked about half the bottle of rum (a small 750ml Caymanian Tortuga Gold); we're getting low on punch. Will have to find another suitable mixer, while killing the bottle before going through Canadian customs on the 28th. We read for a bit and them off to sleep by 22:15.
Tuesday Morning
PreCruise Plan:
Leave Reid Harbour (chart 8, spot 2) for Sucia Island (chart12, spot3). This is about 13km as the crow flies. Sucia will be crowded-- get there by mid afternoon. It's a nice hike to the West side of the Island
Toddr suggested NW of Sucia is Patos. Nice lighthouse, nice bay, quieter than Sucia.
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Actual:
Date: 7/27
Cruise from: Echo Harbor, Sucia I. Cruise to: stay in Echo Harbor.
Engine Hours: depart- arrival-
Fuel: depart- arrival-
Time: depart- arrival-
Weather: another sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky and no wind to speak of at 1200
Avg RPMs
Avg Kt.
Cruise Journal:
Took the day off!
Journal at Port:
0930 Originally got up earlier at about 0600 but went back to sleep-- my body is healing w/this fresh sea air and extra rest. I'm soaking it up! This is the second night we slept out in the converted galley rather than the cramped bunked V-birtth. Much better w/our heads pointing toward the bow, rather than the stern (due to the slight grade). We fired up the generator, and started frying up smokies, eggs, potatoes, and coffee. Tide's back down to 36ft. One day until Trina's birthday! Time to check the crab pot.
1115 Shut down the generator. We did get a good male keeper (dungeness). Looks like it's crab cocktail & rum and cokes after our hike later today! I think we're going to stay here again this eve. unless we feel inspired to set sail for Patos later today). More likely we'll get in the dingy and explore/hike over by Fossil Bay after lunch. Heard a Seattle Coast Guard warning for GPS rollover on 8/21which could result in GPS failure on some devices-- interesting. Saw a neat center console, inflatable tender (Rendova). This Vadem/Clio screen is too hard to read at times.
1700hrs Trina and I got back from our 5mi, 2hr hike; we treked to Ev Henry Pt. and by Shallow Bay, Fox Cove and Fossil Bay on the way. Just before reaching the point and turning back we were looking out on Parker Reef (SE with Orcas beyond) and nearby our shore saw a mother Seal swimming with her calf.
2200hrs Upon return we had quite an appetite so after a couple quick showers we had dinner for several hours including cheese and crackers, our fresh crab cocktail and a pound of pasta and salad. After finishing the bottle of rum, I managed to beat Trina at chess-- now it's 1:1, though my win took significantly longer to obtain then hers. One could rationalize and say that means I'm getting better. :-) We'll need to add a few things to our master list-- granola bars and/or trail mix as well as a good sealable water bottle for hikes, and an up-to-date almanac. Having some trouble getting the shower to drain-- tomorrow when we're out crusing again, we'll sanitize and discharge the holding tank, and hopefully then the drain will work properly again. We'll leave early in the morning as we have customs ahead of us tomorrow, in addition to crusing to our port.
Wednesday Morning
Leave Sucia (chart 12, spot 3) and head into Candian Gulf Islands
15km to Customs stop at Bedwell (chart 11, spot 10) on S Pender I. (not sure of number to call in... call bedwell harbour and ask on 629-3212)
then 12km to SaltSpring Island, Ganges harbour (chart 11, spot 4).
There are a number of nice art galleries on Ganges.
Actual:
Date: 7/28 - Trina's Birthday!
Cruise from: Echo Bay, Sucic I. N48 45.537 W122 54.302 Cruise to: Ganges Hbr. via Bedwell hrb Canadian Customs
Engine Hours: depart- 4816.77 arrival 1-4819.55 arrival2- 4821.36
Fuel: depart- 11.3 arrival 2- 22.3
Time: depart-0920 arrival 1- 1200 arrival 2- 1420
Weather: clear and sunny, but windier
Avg RPMs
Avg Kt.
Cruise Journal:
0930 Wind has picked up a tad, and changed direction and is now out of the NE blowing right into Echo bay. Heading out off the NE tip of Sucia. Lots of current and reef hazards to watch out for. Doing 1600rpm and 3gph, but only about 5kt. Slowed down for 10 or so min with some of the edies/currents tossing us about.
1030 Speed picked up to about 7.5kt below (S side of) Patos I. toward SE tip of Saturna I. for a fly by. Nice crusing between these two islands.
1050 Heading down along SW along Boundary Pass and will head into Canadian Customs. Speed up to 10.4kt
1130 Approaching S. Pender @9.5kt. Planning to head into customs at Bedwell Hbr.
1200 Docked successfully along the straight pier by customs!! 4819.55hrs. Was 3rd in line and made it through in a 1/2 hr and it cost us only about 10 cherries we had to turn over. In return we got an officia Revenue Canada, Customs Border Services slip of paper with the unique number V994257 which we'll leave in our dockside window as instructed. They didn't charge us for the big box of wine which they were entitled to in additition to our 11 beers and 2 cigars. A little tricky getting off the dock, but I did that too just like we practiced prior to leaving Friday Hbr. Now around Wallace Pt. to head up N. through Swanson Channel.
1320 After rounding Mouat Pt on N Pender and crusing through Otter Bay, as we begin passing Prevost I. Trina and I take turns showering while the other watches the helm. While in Otter Bay we heard an interesting soap opera of a gent who hit a log and has hull vibration. About an hour back, we followed the communication w/Victoria Coast Guard, a sailboat offering help initially but further S than initially thought to be of assistance, a commericial towing group looking to ambulance chase, and finally a marina in Ganges where the boat was headed who arranged to haul him out, and was standing by if he couldn't get in on his own power. Interesting. Making 8.8kt headway at 1600rpm and 3gph burn.
1345 Ran out of charting ability on the plotter with C-Map cartridge "San Juan Islands" so found the extra cartridges, the manual to explain how to switch w/out shorting out the unit, etc and successfully switched over to "Strait of Georgia" cartridge, found our position and are continuing to head into port of destination.
1420 We pulled into C dock just starboard of Bill/Ann at the Ganges Marina. We're literally wedged in between a Grand Banks and a finger dock between us and Bill/Ann. A fancy bit of docking on my part, helped by the added confidence of having successfully pulled in and out of customs at Bedwell. Engine hrs at 4821.36, fuel at 22.3gal.
Other Details:
0500 auto-bilge is making a groaning noise every few minutes. I checked in the engine compartment and in the bilge by the rudder and was happy to see it dry as a bone. Must be the increased rocking we're doing, that's flipping a mercury switch and running the pump while dry? I shut off the auto-bilge for now, but must remember to turn it back on once underway.
0900 We were bobbing around quite a bit last night, and awoke to a perfectly clean swim platform... we lost the crab pot and float. Didn't tie it down-- stupid. (Another one of those premonitions I occasionally have, though don't know it is one until it's just a bit too late). At first we went out in the dingy to see if we could find it floating, along a shore line or tied up on someone's boat downwind of us. On the return trip back it occurred to me it simply fell off the stern and the float is sitting about 10ft below the now 37ft waterline. Visibility is probably no more than 8ft, and the water's a chilly 52deg. I thought about jumping in, but all I had to do was dip my head under for a few seconds with the mast to determine it's just too cold. The boat was swinging around quite a bit last night, and depth has changed about 10ft... so there's a pretty good area to cover. I probably could get away with diving no deeper than 5ft under at which point I could see the float. I think I'll opt to buy a new one, stay warm and have a good cup of coffee.
0930 The Sanx system cleared out. I guess when it starts getting full it opts to not drain the shower, in favor of allowing a couple more flushes. Makes sense to me.
1030 Picturesque little light house on the W tip of Patos. We'll have to cruise into Active Cove on another trip for a closer look.
1500 and on-- We spent the day with Bill and Ann. We walked into town and checked out every shop. Numerous craft shops, a nice local Ace Hardware store (Mouat's), got a couple bagels for tomorrow's breakfast, got some film. One shop called the Vortex Gallery had some amazing life size terra cotta sculptures of a woman sitting (presumably on a dock, grass or beach blanket) rubbing her toes; very life-like ($6800 canadian). By the Ganges Marina entry from roadside there's a great fresh seafood shack called "The Fishery" (250)537-2457 or fish@saltspring.com We skipped the DQ this trip-- but maybe next time if for some reason we end up in this port again; not sure why though, as it's certainly less scenic than most of the other harbors we've visited, and the civilization part isn't really something to write home about. A good stop I suppose to replenish supplies as there's an ample supermarket stopped in to restock. Worth noting-- before the foursome called it a night we saw an amazing, orange full moon rising.
Thursday Morning
PreCruise Plan:
Leave Ganges (chart11, spot 4) for Thetis Island's Preedy Harbour (chart 10, spot 4). This is about a 25km cruise.
One harbor East of Preedy is Telegraph Harbour-apparently a good place to stop for Ice cream.
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Actual:
Date: 7/29 Bill and Ann's 32nd Anniversary
Cruise from: Ganges Harbor, Saltspring I. Cruise to: Montague Harbour, Galiano I. N48 53.292 W123 23.780
Engine Hours: depart-4821.37 arrival-4823.08
Fuel: depart- 22.3 arrival- 24.7
Time: depart- 1200 arrival- 1330
Weather: fog and light (Seattle) rain, no appreciable wind or seas
Avg RPMs 1400
Avg Kt.7
Cruise Journal:
1200 Motoring out with lots of other vessels @ 1200rpm, 6kt. Hint: next time do not leave AT checkout time...
12xx Around Saltspring's Scott and Nose Pt. across from Prevost I's Annette Pt. @1400rpm, burning 2gph @ 7kt.
1300 Doing 8kt @1400rpm, 2gph. Crossed over to Parker I. & now running along its S side where we'll tuck around Wilmot Hd. and make our way (the long way) into Montague Harbour. Trina's whipped up a hotdog for me as well as some Mac/Cheese w/sliced wieners (next time, we'll stick to hotdogs on a bun where they belong :-).
1330 We've set anchor @ the NE corner of the harbor in 42ft of water N48 53.292 W123 23.780 with fuel at 24.7 and engine hrs @4823.08
1445 Shut the generator down as it's been running now for 2.75hrs.
Other Details:
pre1200hrs while still in Ganges, we headed over to the marine store the other way from town. Reminded me of Barney's in Langley-- very low, old stock. I suppose West Marine is the demise of any good local, small town marine shop just as Home Depot has done in the local hardware store. We also made a quick run back to the hardware store where I replaced our lost crab pot with another collapsable, closed but mesh round model-- we'll see how it works. All in all not bad for $38 canadian. Also, next time we decided if we did ever go back into Ganges we'd stay at the Saltspring Marina at the farthest end of the harbor (or simply anchor there along with other boats, unlike what Waggoner's reports) by the marine shop, rather than the more run down and overpriced Ganges Marina.
1500 Now at rest in Montague Hbr it occurs to me Trina and I forgot to play chess last night, after several drinks and a wonderful Salmon, rice & fresh greens dinner aboard A Bientot with Bill/Ann (not to mention the fresh crab cocktail for the 2nd night in a row. YUM, not to mention that dropped the price of the trip's crab in half to $30/per, though I effectively raised it by buying the next pot. We must catch some crab over the next couple days! :-) All in all a great way to spend Trina's birthday. Tonight Bill/Ann will be joining us aboard the Nordic Queen where we'll fix then an Anniversary dinner including chicken/red pepper/cherry tomato skewers on the grill, along w/asparagus and more wine and beer. We'll have to remember to play chess this eve!! Rain has stopped and the wisps of fog around the harbor remind me of mornings over French Polenesia. Tide's rising I think-- now showing 43ft. I'll have to watch it and the anchor line...
1700 We went into 'town' and checked out the small marina which had a mart with both food, marine supplies and books, and a quaint little craft shop where Trina got a nice handmade ceramic fish serving plate. On the way back we stopped for our tensies (albeit a bit late) and had shortcake w/orange marmelaid and coffee. Trina's folks will be by at 1800. The skies are clearing and the sun's peaking out. Tide is coming up-- we're now at 47ft and the anchor is holding and looking good.
2140 Trina's folks just shoved off for ABientot. We had a great meal of skewers on the grill as planned. We punted on the asparagus as it was a bit riper than anticipated, but instead had rice and a fresh green salad with feta, cherry tomatoes and cukes. More wine, and then we got up on the pilot house and watched the sunset-- a wonderful red sky, so tomorrow should be a good day. We snapped a few photos so we'll see how those turn out. The the evening ended with Smores on the grill. Someone on a nearby boat is playing the violin, and it's quite pleasant (they're not half bad). It's time for Trina and I to resume our chess match. Oh-- tide is down at 47ft, having peeked a hour back at 49ft.
2150 Some moron is cranking their stereo so loudly that that's all anyone in the harbor can hear... so much for the violin. I think I may light them up with the several 100k candle power search light, or offer them a few grand for their stereo if they'll dump it into the water, if I didn't think they'd appreciate the attention so much. Fortunately after about 10min. they got board and the sailboat with the violinist continued their recital.
2325 I was 2 for 2 tonight in chess-- made up for the lost day. We heard a couple claps of thunder tonight. Time to call it a night.
Friday Morning
PreCruise Plan:
Leave Preedy Harbour (chart 10, spot 4) for North Pender Island's "Port Browning" (chart 11, spot 9) which is on the island's East side. This is about a 27km cruise. Leif suggested "Otter Bay" on N.Pender's West side is worthwhile from a past trip-- a family favorite? ½ mile walk to best burgers grilled in an Airstream trailer W (may not be a real airstream…)
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Actual:
Date: 7/30
Cruise from: Montague Harbour, Galiano I. N48 53.292 W123 23.780 Cruise to: Otter Bay, N. Pender I. N48 47.821 W123 18.404
Engine Hours: depart- 4823.08 arrival-4826.99
Fuel: depart- 24.7 arrival- 31.5
Time: depart- 1055 arrival- 1440
Weather: scattered clouds,
Avg RPMs 1400
Avg Kt.
Cruise Journal:
1120 Cruised out of Montague Hbr. to the S and now cruising SE along Galiano. Cruised out at 1100rpm ~5kt. Picked up to 1400rpmas we run along Galiano-- 7kt, 2.25gph. Visability is good, some scattered clouds and no appreciable wind or seas.
1140 Cruised SE along Mayne I. and followed a ferry out of VIllage Bay. Saw it passing another bigger ferry toward us (or so it appeared) so we kicked it up to 2000rpm, 10kt, 5gph for a few moments to cross his path as we split MayneI and N Pender at the W end of Navy channel. Back down to 1400rpm, 2.25gph but making ~9.5kt all the same (some favorable current in this narrow but deep passage)
1240Now between NE tip of S Pender and Satruna I. 1400rpm, 2gph and 8.5 kt. We'll head around NE of Blunden I. (off S. Pender) toward W tip of Waldron I. (Sandy Pt.) and call into Customs as we cross Boundary Pass.
1300 calling customs on 1-800-562-5943
Vessel reg # 994742
Nordic Queen, a 32' Nordic Tug
User Fee Decal # 508587
Canadian clearance # V994257
Departed Montague Hbr, Galiano I. this morn. and entered Canada via Bedwell on Wed. 7/28.
Received Release # (none given at this time)
1320 We were rejected. We did not have a PIN which you receive the first time you return to US customs. Rather than got back into US and stop in Roche or Friday Harbor, we've circled around and read through various guides in search of a new destination. We considered: Narvaez Bay on Saturna I., Camp Bay on S Pender I., Port Browning on N Pender I. (as initially planned), but settled on Otter Bay. We'll just have a longer cruise back tomorrow morn. I've been listening to weather and is sounds clear and calm today and tomorrow so I think we'll be OK. Trina's just taken a shower (and missed what i think were a couple pilot whales arching 3 times but not breaking water as we pass entrance to Bedwell hbr), and the pizza's starting to smell good. We're headed around Wallace Pt. up Swanson Channel toward Otter Bay at 1400rpm, 2gph, 7.7kt.
1430 Turning E into Otter Bay
1440 Anchored at top of Otter Bay in 22ft of water. Engine hrs. 4826.99, fuel 31.5 N48 47.821 W123 18.404. Relatively long (particularly relative to what we anticipated) but pleasant cruise.
Other Details:
1030 A great morning starting with Capn Crunch on the poop deck. The 58+ foot wooden Monk design (similar to older wooden Chris Craft has departed), and the Grinell is still astern. Both really neat looking, presumably roomy cruisers. We're in 41ft of water and the anchor's held fine. I added about a 1/2 qt of oil to the main engine for the first time, and again added a couple ounces of water to the generator engine as I've done just about every morning. We'll take off shortly back for the USofA.
1515 I re-anchored at the S side of the bay. I thought we were walking and rather than reset the anchor there, we opted to go to the S side because Trina believes we'll experience less ferry wake. We're in 31ft of water.
???? We went into town for a bit. Never did find the trailer with the milkshakes, though I think it was down by the ferry dock which we walked by. There was a small Inn, restaurant and gallery down the road a piece but nothing special. We walked back and went back out to the boat-- 'breakin' the law' all the way, as we neglected to pay the $5 dingy fee for the short time we were ashore. Appears Otter Bay marina charges for everything, though it is quite tidy, and has professionally printed signs everywhere about everything.
2045 Sun is setting on the horizon. We're now in 37ft of water. I'm going to let out a tad bit more line--no one is around us, and it's fairly straight. I think, from looking around on the shoreline that we're pretty close to high tide. We watched the sunset from the bow-- more glowing red sky lingering for up to an hour after the sun dipped behind the Islands across the way.
2115 I opted not to stow the dingy for the eve. just in case we need it for some reason. I set an alarm for 0530 tomorrow morning. Ouch. We should get underway by 0600 as we have roughly 22km to Friday Harbor to go through customs, clean the boat, and return it to the charter group. We told Bill/Ann we planned to be there by 0900. Trina and I will play one last game of chess, and then hit the sack. I think we're going to get plenty of rollers this eve, unless these ferries stop running for a few hours (though i won't hold my breath); there's one in port now.
Saturday Morning
Return to San Juan Island's Friday Harbor (chart 8, spot 17). Due back by noon, but allow at least 2 hrs to clean boat, refuel, and fill with water. Make sure head comes back emptied and be sure to allow time (1hr) to go through customs if coming from Canada. This is about 21km from Port Browning. And it was about 22-23km from Otter Bay, N Pender I.
Actual:
Date: 7/31
Cruise from: Otter Bay, N. Pender I. N48 47.821 Cruise to:
Engine Hours: depart-4827.19 arrival-
Fuel: depart- 31.5 arrival- 39.5
Time: depart- 0600 arrival-0840
Weather: clear skies, morning fog on water in distance though visability is very good 4-5mi, flat seas
Avg RPMs 1600
Avg Kt.8+
Customs Clearance# 420017C
Cruise Journal:
0600 Left anchor site (36ft water) and motored out of Otter Bay @700rpm, 4.7kt. then headed S and rev'ed up to 1600rpm, 3.5gph, 7.5kt and further SE along N. Pender.
0650 Crossing the tip of N. Pender across from Moresly I. @8.5kt, and up to 9kt by Mouat Pt. where we saw another seal. We also saw several pilot whales jumping and spouting off the port bow along the tip of N. Pender at Wallace Pt. This time Trina saw them too, so it's official!!
0700 back in the US. 9kt by Prevost Hbr. as we cruise along the top of Stuart I. SE and will continue along past Johns I. Still 1600, but down to 3gph
0750 We cross the plane between Spieden I's Green Pt. and Flattop I. @ 7.5kt, 1600rpm, 3gph
0800 Passing Limestone Pt., San Juan I. @8.4kt and make radio contact with A Bientot
0830 Coming up on Pt. Caution, San Juan I.
0840 Into Friday Harbor, San Juan I. and step down from 9kt & make stop at the US Customs. Noone is there so we call in to the Friday Harbor Customs station per the number in the window (a local 360 number, which I no longer have handy as well as a 1-800 number). They cleared us without much fuss, but did not give us a PIN for future call in. Our clearance number is 420017C.
Other Details:
1200 We finished up with NW Yacht Charters after refueling (~44gal diesel), scrubbing and packing out the boat, and transfered our stuff to A Bientot and cruised out w/Bill and Ann back to Cap Sante Boat Basin the reverse of the way we came.
1230 Stopped in on Dan at Penmar Marine and checked on the trailer. It did have a boat on it, though he gave us a story about how he just had moved this wreck onto it, and had a renter lined up for next week or so at which point he'd contact us. He didn't offer any money... 'we should hear from him soon.' At least he hadn't sold it out from under us... yet. Better than the $70/mo that the local waterski shop offered to store it for. I gave him our address and phone number, again. We won't hold our breath.
Other Notes:
Montague harbor on SW end of Galiano Island is worth seeing according to leif.
Leifp suggests another good book is "NW Boat
Travel"
