Reality is Still Magic -- 9/14/2014

At Pleasant Harbor in Hood Canal this morning Mike and Stephanie, hosts, make a quick impressive get-away from the dock and head out the channel.  We later learn they responded to a distress call from the owner of a 65 foot pleasure craft, Avalon, being towed near Pleasant Harbor State Park.  According to the report, the boat began taking on water, and unfortunately sank. 

KOMONews.com reports:  The vessel was being towed by a 14-foot skiff at the time. All four people on the Avalon were able to abandon the boat in favor of the skiff, which brought them ashore at Pleasant Harbor State Park.

At 10A we cruise out of the marina with a last look at the houseboats for rent. At $225 - $275, there never seems to be a vacancy.

MoonShadow gets underway.

As we pass the State Park, our hearts are sad for the sunken boat and owner. We are glad to know the persons on board are now safe.

Bow of Avalon

(On edit, below is a photo of Avalon taken by Bruce yesterday.)

                                 Avalon -- Photo courtesy of Bruce C Moore

Seas are one foot or less as we continue our cruise north. Puffin is ahead and we get some good photos -- while Sally photographs Willie's Tug.

Puffin

Sally in the cockpit of Puffin

Willie on Willie's Tug - Photo courtesy of Sally Gadow

If we see Mt. Baker, we know we are almost 'home,' even if we are still in Hood Canal.  

Mt. Baker

"Wow!  Look at this," Herb says.  I call it sky-writing as we see a plane giving an aerobatic show, dropping smoke to show its trail. We are in the Naval Exercise Area, so think it may be a Navy plane.  Herb sees some hammerhead stalls and explains what they are.

Now we leave the entrance to Hood Canal, turn round the point at Foul Weather Bluff and begin the familiar watch for ferries, ships and other boats.  Also prepare for crossing wakes.

After the peaceful week on Hood Canal, this watch is what it must be like to be born, to go from the safety of the womb into the world to begin learning and growing.

Winds are not too strong, but enough to get some sailing vessels to run up their sails.  

I can barely see Mt. Rainier with the haze and angle of the sun, but she looms so large and majestic.  The jagged Seattle skyline that I love begins to emerge.

What a day!  We are given another show in the sky, and I can just imagine how much fun the pilot is having.  Maybe as much fun as I have photographing him.

We hear Walla Walla on the Traffic Channel announce her departure from Kingston to Edmonds and carefully watch to see when she begins to move.  She is still sitting as we cross her bow and cruise into our slips at Port of Kingston.

Walla Walla

Dinner is delicious pizza on the upper deck at Filling Station restaurant with a view of the Kingston Ferry.  For most of the evening we are the only table seated and enjoy the quiet and privacy we have come to know this week.  The only sounds we hear are the cars lining up for the ferry.  It is a cool evening, we dine with our jackets and see the downtown Seattle skyline across Puget Sound. 

Sister Ships have their last night of the awesome week cruising Hood Canal.  

Find MoonShadow and Willie's Tug at Port of Kingston for the night....

Willie of Willie's Tug,

   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake

   Sunday, September 14, 2014

Sister Ships -- 9/13/2014

Why hurry?

We have only one more intermediate stay before returning to 'home' in Seattle, Elliott Bay Marina, so why not enjoy Pleasant Harbor for another day?  All agree.

It is another day to relax, do a few chores, and visit the pool and hot tub.  Herb and Jake walk to the State Park and report seeing one boat, Avalon, at the dock.  Bruce and Vicki dinghy over later and take a photo of it.

(On edit, I add Bruce's photo below.)

                                    Avalon -- Photo courtesy of Bruce C Moore

At Happy Hour on MoonShadow Bruce sees a photo op and grabs my camera. Herb with a seagull on his shoulder!

Suddenly we hear a voice call out, "Paparazzi here!"  She is Sally from R-25 Puffin with her camera, who drives her dinghy over from D Dock for a visit.

What a delight!

Sally

Sally's Camera

Here is what her camera captures and she shares with us, calling us the Ranger Foursome.  I like that.  We also refer to ourselves as Sister Ships because our 31's were built about the same time, are the new Ranger Gray color, have similar bimini tops, similar upholstery colors and other amenities.  

One difference is the sun screens seamstress Vicki made for MoonShadow's cockpit. Maybe Willie's Tug will be similar by next year....

   Peeking through the Sun Screens -  Photo courtesy of Sally Gadow

Vicki serves a tasty dinner with all food groups represented, and someone remarks, "Ain't life grand!"

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Saturday, September 13, 2014

Going North! -- 9/12/2014

I say "Boo Hoo!" when plans are made to leave this morning; however conditions are good, prediction of winds is downgraded from 15 - 20 to 10 - 15 knots.  Current will be with us and north wind on the nose, but we can do this.

Bruce points out the likeness of Washington on Mt. Washington and says a photo from the dock will show it best.  

Find George....

We easily cast off from the inside of the dock at 9A in calm waters, after Bruce takes this photo.  

                                                      Photo courtesy of Bruce C Moore

Shortly we come to The Great Bend where we see one to two foot seas, but turning north we encounter two to three foot seas with white caps.

We increase speed from 6 knots to 8 for a smoother ride.

With the Olympic Mountains on our port side, we get to view and identify some peaks.  I believe this one to be The Brothers, seen from a more easterly angle than in Seattle.

The Brothers and Moon Shadow

MoonShadow

Herb brings Willie's Tug to high speed to heat up the engine, as he does during each day's run.  Again, Bruce is behind his camera.

                                                      Photo courtesy of Bruce C Moore

As we come to Black Point just south of Pleasant Harbor, I admire the diagonal lines of a rocky shoreline.

Crossing to make the turn into Pleasant Harbor gives us a few rough and roll waves, but we are soon secure at the dock.  A familiar sight draws us over to meet the folks on a Ranger Tug.  They are Kevin and Sally, who live near here and are on their first trip to cruise Puffin south into Hood Canal.

Sally and Kevin

Apparently we have been eating well, as provisions are getting low and we make a different kind of dinner. Herb makes salmon couvillion, Bruce steams broccoli, and I create dessert.

                                                        Photo courtesy of Bruce C Moore

                                                                                                                          Photo courtesy of Bruce C Moore

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Friday, September 12, 2014