The end of my longest cruise to date comes to a close. It felt like nature was sending hints as the weather started to feel more like fall with each passing day. After leaving Todd Inlet and finally visiting Butchart Gardens I ended up spending a few days tucked in beside Russel Island which is just north of Portland Island, my first choice. However, after a having a look at the stern tie situation and the winds on the day of my arrival I had to pass on Portland Island in favor of the simpler anchoring at Russel. I was really just hanging out until I needed to leave Canadian waters.
Next stop was Sydney Spit for a night and then on to Friday Harbor to clear into the US. Woke up at Sydney Spit to thick fog and thought how nice it would be if the fog would clear before I had to leave. It didn’t.
Started up the engine and powered up the AIS and radar and slowly motored my way into the mist. Reminded me of flying on instruments. Visibility was less than 1/4 of a mile and occasionally less. Strong currents, the regular moans of ships sounding their horns, the roar of outboards running blind at speed, all combined to make this leg of the trip “interesting and memorable”.
I only had one close call with a sailboat on a beam reach coming out of the fog on a collision course. I spotted the boat on radar at the last minute as it had no AIS transponder. Why someone would sail their $500,000 boat in the fog without AIS is a bit of a head scratcher.
I made it to Friday Harbor, cleared in the old fashioned way by hiking up the hill to the office after the CBP Roam App failed to work. I could rant on about that but there is no point. They know it has issues. I decided to stay in the marina for a few days waiting for the weather. Finally the window looked good for a two step trip down Lopez and across the eastern end of the Strait then down to Port Ludlow and home. After almost 3 months since leaving Seattle I had mixed feelings about returning.
I’ve been back a few weeks and I’ve got a few boat projects I want to get done and then I think I will do that again. Maybe Hawaii next time!
