Friday, August 5, 2016

It’s a beautiful but windy morning.  We left the dock at 8:20

but because this big boat can’t turn left it was impossible to back out of our slip to the right and head for the jetty so instead Justin had to back out to the right and spin the boat around in a very tiny space.  Once again, it was amazing to watch.  It seemed like he worked at it for an hour but it took less than ten minutes.

By 8:30 we were on our way home. 

It’s 80 miles and we’re not sure if we can do it in one long day or not.  It all depends on catching the tides just right especially in Deception Pass.  Also, the winds are expected to build to gale force by this afternoon…

Once underway, all was well for the first couple of hours, then we hit a wall of fog. 

Every two minutes Chris stepped out onto the bow and blew the warning horn.  (Our air horn uses so much compressed air that we had to save its use for emergencies only since we are without auxiliary air supply to the engine.)

Our goal was to power through Deception Pass at slack tide.  This Pass is only 350 feet across at its narrowest which means powerfully strong currents running through there.  So, with almost no visibility and the human fog horn and all eyes on deck and Justin’s masterful piloting we flew through Deception Pass with the wind at our back and water swirling in all directions.  Suddenly the Deception Pass Bridge loomed overhead. 

Onward through the fog.

In no time at all we popped out the other side into bright blue skies.  

See the bridge behind us?

From here it was pretty smooth sailing for another six hours.  A wonderful lazy day, napping, reading, and writing while Chris piloted us homeward.

A little before six we were passing Shilshole Marina and coming upon the Ballard Locks.

Then it was an hour’s wait for our turn in the locks.

At last we were nestled into the small locks

and soon spit out the other side

where it was only about three minutes to our dock.  Yea!

Home at last – even though we never left!            THE END