Finally! Too many factors at play, weather, family, etc., etc., etc. Last week during mid winter break the admiral and I cast off for a week on the water. Actually we got to the boat and left the marina a day later because of weather. Thankfully the weather gods were in our favor. Flat and calm as we motor sailed to Coupeville where we spent a couple of days on the hook walking the desolate town and peering through shuttered gift shop windows. A few were open, but the town was pretty quiet. Had a very nice sail from Coupeville to Strawberry Point on a broad reach port tack, then we're in the island shadows until we reach Cornet Bay. A very nice anchorage, but with mud shoals. We used to tie up to one of the outer docks, but the State Park system has decided to install pay boxes. Hrumph. The next morning we use the manual pump out at Cornet Bay for the first time, catch slack water through Deception Pass at 10:43 a.m., then over to and up Rosario Strait to James Island. Nice sail! We caught a good southerly as we came out of Deception Pass that carried us to James. Saw seven knots through the water at times with just the genoa up. Breezes were ranging from 15 to 25 MPH. We had plans of using the dock on the west side of the island but the State must have stored it on the hard for the winter as they do with some of them. So, we settled for a mooring ball on the east side. No one else there. A bit lumpy at times because of the ferry wakes, but a very nice small island with three camp sites with pit toilets. Kept the Wallas furnace running the entire trip to keep the boat warm for the admiral. Sunny but cool most days then the nights became a bit nippy. One bonus was the night sky. No city lights to dampen your view. Sharp crisp and clear. Breathtaking! It is always nice to curl up with the admiral, after a delicious dinner prepared by the skipper, to watch a favorite movie on the water with solitude all around. I'm getting so pumped over our two month cruise this season to Ocean Falls, BC, CA. A life most dream about where dreams come true. Terry http://www.centralcoastbc.com/oceanfalls/
