Summer 2013: Cruise (2) - To Lopez Island

Blair Hunt Project Photo - Thanks, Blair!

We awoke 8 August (Thursday) to no fog down Rosario Straight. "Let's Go" we said. So we raised anchor and were off!

Our friends took this picture as we motor-sailed out of Echo Bay.

Chart work underway

The red on the chart shows our rough course. We took a video approximately where indicated.

We had fairly smooth seas (as the first photo shows), but when we came around Orcas Island we were hit with a strong Southerly with a South going current. Wind against current equals rough water. Yikes. At this point, the kids were muttering (and we had heard) that things had shifted down below. Nothing major, but it always takes a few days to remember to store things properly. Why is it that horizontal services so often become vertical when stacked with things: books, sweaters, etc.?

We ended up in smoother water provided by the slight shelter of Sinclair and Cyprus Islands (where we shot the video) and faced a decision: (a) keep going or (b) cut into the inside of the San Juan Islands?



This video was actually taken to hear the sound of "bell" buoys off of Sinclair Island.

We opted for (b) deciding to head into the San Juan group and see if some of our friends were visiting their mother/mother-in-law on the North End of Lopez Island, near Upright Head. As soon as we entered, we had flat seas and almost no wind.


Turns out that our friends were not in, so we kept going along the North end (between Lopez and Shaw) and were debating where to anchor for the night. The tide was starting to turn against us - wanting to push us East when we were trying to go West. NOAA was predicting strong Southerlies - a gale warning with possible thunderstorms. We were thinking about Indian Cove, on Shaw. However, Indian Cove is wide open to the South. What's the tide doing for the tricky entrance to Fisherman Bay, Lopez? Turns out it was just perfect for an entrance - and in we went.

The day seemed like a long day on the water. It was a real relief to enter Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island and anchor.

As we lit the stove, J offered to take L and the kids to the Galley for dinner. The Log records L's response:

"Save it for later when I'm really tired and grouchy." What a woman!

The cat even came out!

Actually, she does ok when we are not motoring. When the engine fires up she makes a dash for cover under the dinghies stored on the foredeck. One time, the engine started up and she started dry heaving. Pavlov would be interested in doing a study on the effects on engine noise and cat behavior, we've not doubt.






Here are photos of the harbor at sunset.

It didn't really blow that night - but we were just glad to be here at Lopez Island. For some reason, it felt like home to enter and anchor in Fisherman Bay. In the calm harbor we slept soundly - although it always feels a little odd to hear cars passing, and see their lights traveling up and down the near by road after days spent on an island with only one state park pick-up truck.




The next morning we awoke to fog!

After the fog cleared at early afternoon, we rowed down the Bay to the entrance, where there is a public stairway up to Lopez Village.

You can see now narrow the entrance to Fisherman Bay is over the kids shoulders. There are shoals on each side. So far (keeping our fingers crossed) we've never had a problem, but it does take paying attention. Also, whenever we've come in, there has been a current wanting to push us away from the docks (behind E's head) and toward the shore of the spit (above I's head). What really makes folks nervous is that the entrance at low median water is 5 feet in places.

E. records in the Log:

Got back from a shore excursion to Lopez Island. Went to Holly B's backery for a loaf of Feta Rosemary Olive bread. Super Good! Ate it at the Library [there is a park-like reading place behind] along with strawberries from Blossom Grocery. Afterwards, we went to library to read, then we went and got ice cream (for the kids) and coffee (for the grownups). Then to Red Apple IGE for roast, carrots, creamer, eggs, cereal and baking powder and grapes.

After the excursion, we row back to MERGANSER for a roast dinner and to keep working on ...

... the sourdough bread we had rising. Nice to know the cat stayed out of it. For some reason, she really likes bread. If we are not careful, we'll return to find that she has eaten a lot of it. Crazy!

While waiting for dinner to cook and bread to then bake, I. got some great sunset photos!

Plus those of the cat ...

Ok, so for these two, she had a little co-operation from Dad.

Two loaves out of the oven! 

Again the NOAA weather report was predicting Thunderstorms for the Eastern end of the Juan de Fuca Straight, both tonight and tomorrow afternoon. We are likely to stay another day.

That night the wind did kick-up. Nice to be anchored in about 15 feet of water with great holding. Every one holds, but J and L are up from time to time to check on things.

The next morning we decided to check out Neil's Mall. Neil was/is one of the Sanitation Workers on the Island and noticed that people were throwing away useable items. Why not recycle by re-using things? It would save the land-fills, help out locals (just give it away for free), and save the residents money because there would no longer be such the large quantity and assorted transportation coasts of shipping the garbage off island. The place is organized like a church rummage sale.


We left the Ship's Cat in charge once more and rowed to town.




















Some of us (J. or L., for instance) didn't row with quite this "passion." But we all rowed down the Bay, just out the entrance, to the stairs, tied up and went to town.

I. got some nice shots out the entrance and between the islands (not to mention the "passionate" rowing) - boats sailing off of San Juan Island and Friday Harbor, and the Day Marker marking the entrance to Fisherman Bay, and finally one of the bluffs just off the entrance, looking North towards Shaw Island with Orcas Island rising behind.

I. wrote in the Log:

1340 - Heading into Town/Village

1420 - Pulled boats ashore and tied up at the Bay Restaurant beach/stairs.  Walked to City Dump [Neil's Mall] for free take it or leave it exchange day, stopping at the library for bathroom breaks on the way. I. got a pair of knitting needles and a stitch holder. M. got a trumpet book. E. got several books, same as Mom and Dad, Dad also found a coffee filter. Mom got a Galley shirt, I. got black shorts, as well. We then walked back towards the rest of town, where the kids cunningly persuaded Mom and Dad to let us stop at the library. 

1700 - We left the library and walked to the showers.

1740 - We loaded the boats and rowed back to our boat, MERGANSER

A tree painting on one of the walls in Lopez Village

Lopez Village has a really neat deal: there is a public bathhouse/restrooms in the middle of the town square. Years ago, the Chamber of Commerce put in two restrooms on one side, and a shower on the other. They don't charge, but run the restroom/bathhouse on a suggested donation bases. It felt like true hospitality. Furthermore, it was really nice to take a shower with water we didn't have to haul ourselves.








Here's a video as we rowed back to MERGANSER after the shore excursion. It is fun to see the kids rowing.

Saturday evening's sunset.











Once again, we are debating what to do. J.'s 98 year old grandmother was unable to walk and was in the hospital. We were wondering if we were going to be able to get South past the Straight or not. His parents had been caring for his mother's mother for the past few years. Would it be better to turn around and drive down to Gig Harbor? A call in to J.'s sister eased some of the anxiety: "What, and be another person who is waiting around unable to do anything? Just keep trying to come down. Your being here on MERGANSER would be a big gift to Mom." So we decided that the next day we would try to move to Mackaye Harbor (a Southern Lopez harbor) to wait out the weather.

From Mackaye Harbor, we could always run back up to Anacortes and/or home. We'll see what tomorrow brings.