Day 208 Back in Hunter Bay

I think it's day 208 but I using another program to write this and then will post it when we have internet access. The connection is a bit spotty out here in the islands.

The early morning was a bit of a rush to get things done so we could get out of Point Hudson. More things to stow and the water tanks still needed filling. Boy they sure take a lot of water. We were down to only about 6" in the tanks so they really needed water for this trip.

We were finally ready and set off about 11:15. The wind was non-existent. Just about as flat a channel as I'd seen in a while. With all the winds we had had over Thursday, Friday and Saturday(30+ knots) while it was nice to have it calm, at least Mother Nature could have done was give us some wind to make Zephyr go.

We just left the motor run and off we went. No real wind until about 2pm. Up went the sails and the engine was shut down. We sailed for about an hour until the wind shifted to come out of the Northeast and since that was the way we needed to go, down came the sails and on came the engine. Now the forecast had been for winds from the Southeast so the weather people were close. They at least got the "east" part right.

We were all snugged in by 4:15.

I'd installed the "water" propeller on the new DuoGen and lowered it into the water while we sailed. It took off spinning like crazy. The energy monitor showed lots of amps getting pumped into the batteries. We ran over a small field of kelp as we sailed and it left a few strands on the DuoGens propeller but no harm. Once we were ready to start the engine, up came the DuoGen and it got stowed. Once in the bay, I hooked on the wind blades and let her go. NO WIND! It became so calm that after dinner while checking the deck, I could see the reflection of the stars in the water. Now that is calm!!

The stars last night were incredible. We both just stood out on deck and stared. It was an amazing sight to behold.

Today, we are off to Blind Bay to hook up to one of the state parks buoys. We bought a pass and feel we should try and get our monies worth. Blind Bay is on the North side of Shaw Island. A well protected bay except from North winds. We expect spend a day or two there. Not sure where after that. Time will tell.

Tracy's two cents:

Hi all, Bill is really great about telling you what we have been doing, so I thought I would tell you about what we are seeing and at times about the history of where we are cruising plus whatever is on my mind at the time

The Straits of Juan de Fuca is really wide and very deep. It is the main artery for shipping into the Pacific Northwest. We dodge container ships, barges being pulled by big tugboats, cruise ships and fishing vessels of all shapes and sizes.

From Port Townsend out we head north along the west side of Whidbey Island. There are houses lined all the way along the cliffs on the island. There is a lot of farm land on Whidbey as well as a Navel Air Station on the north end, so we get to hear and see our tax dollars being spent as the fighter jets practice over Rosario Strait on our way up to Lopez Island.

Yesterdays cruise/sail was calm and relaxing. I got a chance to just stare out and observe our surroundings. WOW, what unbelievable colors the sky can be here. At the waterline it is almost turquoise then it slowly turns to a baby blue then into a beautiful Cyrillic blue, dark and beautiful with water the same color.

We turn from the Rosario Straits to port into a very small cut between Lopez Island and a tiny privately own island that is for sale. The current on an outgoing tide produces small eddies that make the transit less than comfortable, but once inside the water calms down and we are almost immediately in Hunter Bay, where we anchored for the night. I really have fallen in love with this bay. It has been deserted both times we have been here. The bay is surrounded with forested land all the way down to the water. The water is twenty feet deep and easy to anchor into a muddy bottom with great holding. It is perfect with a velvety black sky and more stars than I have every seen in my life. That coupled with a perfectly BBQ steak paired with a great bottle of Merlot. Now that is living the dream!