Day 19 Transit to Seattle

July 21

Motoring: Port Angeles to Seattle

We filled our fuel tanks and departed at 10:00 am in anticipation of a afternoon flood tide giving us a speed boost most of the approximately 70-mile long trip. 

Even before we left the bay, as we passed by the USCG station, a launch came out to scope us out & then approached our stern with the intention to board. 

Awesome.

So, we participated in a Coast Guard Safety Inspection. The entire interaction was facilitated by our readiness to provide any proof they requested: life jackets, documents, flares, horns, etc. No fuss. no drama.

We got our receipt and were on our way... again.

Shortly after, we drove into very dense fog. Ugh. Not my favorite. I mean, it's not that different from sailing at night. You are just relying on instruments and auditory clues (fog horns). A 

couple hours until it thinned and lifted into a sunny day. 

It was about a 9 1/2 hour drive with favorable current. Long but interesting day. We arrived at Elliot Bay Marina at 8pm. 

And were almost immediately greeted by our Ko'Olina dock neighbors onboard MV NorseStar!!! Who are again our dock neighbors at Elliot Bay.

Such fun!

Port Angeles

We all really liked port Angeles.

It seemed to have a very diverse population and strong economy.

We walked to town for some pizza, the kids went out at night and again in the morning.  

The marina wasn't luxurious but very functional and friendly. 

We were so happy to stage our Seattle approach from there and would have enjoyed a more leisurely stay. 

Day 18: Landfall

July 20

Landfall

The weather approaching the entrance over night was kinda crappy but not scary. Luckily the traffic wasn't bad, either. Most notible thing that happened was when Jeff got cutoff by a submarine (heavy eye roll). And we were in pretty heavy fog for a while. But we have good charts, redundant navigation systems, and everything about entering the straights went smoothly.

We ran 2 engines starting at 7 am against the current and made it to Port Angeles as the wind built over 20. Arriving dockside by 4pm. 

The sight and smell of trees was of so welcome and held such interest for all of us. 

Day 17

July 19

Ran engines last night with light winds nearly directly behind us. 

Monitoring weather and traffic closely as we approach land and prepare to navigate the Straight

Expecting to hit the entrance Thursday about dawn, and transit to Port Angeles in the late afternoon. 



Day 16

July 18

Full sail, headed east toward the entrance of the Straight of Juan de Fuca.

 

A bit of blue sky. Not much traffic. 

A good calm day.

Day 15

 

July 17

Changing tack. Literally and figuratively. We have decided to engage Option B where we make landfall in Washington instead of British Columbia. 

I feel good about this decision!

I have cousins on an Alaska Cruise and they are going to be in Seattle next weekend. We're gonna try to meet up with them.

Day 14

 

Cool sky... what is going on?! 

Day 14

…

I know I whine about the chill. And I know that it's high sumer and I should be grateful. Here are the stats: sea temp is about 62°F Ventusky reports perceived air temp (w. Windchill) to be in the low/mid fifties. I can & do dress for that. But my blood has been running tropical thin for years now, and overcast damp windy 55 is not the bees knees.

We are experiencing a little anxiousness about our approaching landfall and navigating new tricky coastal waters.