After the Sunday evening winds in Port Townsend, we woke Monday to blue sky and sunshine. Temps overnight were in the lower 60's making our sleep very comfortable. Almost didn't want to get up, the V-berth felt so good. But as they say tides and currents wait for no-man.
Our goal was to find a good cup of coffee, a bite to eat, pay our bill with the Marina office (it closed early the day of our arrival), and get underway in time for slack at Deception Pass. In that order.
A Google search located "Pane D'Amore" on the hill in Port Townsend, about a 15 minute walk from the Point Hudson Marina. A good distance to burn the calories of half a Honey Glazed raisin filled Cinnamon Roll. Delicious. We arrived just ahead of a couple wanting 6 of the rolls. We did not wait to see if their order was filled from hidden stock in the back. The bread smell in the bakery is so good, could feel the calories piling on just breathing. Breakfast in the sun on a park bench across from the bakery gave us a great view of the goings on in Old Town on the hill. A nice start to our day.
Our walk back took us by the last standing wooden built Fire Bell Tower in the country.
www.jchsmuseum.org/Resources/Resources-HistoricPreservationBellTower.html
The south side of the tower provides a sweeping view of Port Townsend bay and the Washington State ferry terminal.
Our walk back to the marina gave us a glimpse into Port Townsend history as we descended the Terrace Steps that separated the homes of Sea Captains and their "Proper Ladies" from the more bawdy side of this Victorian styled seaport. The Haller Statue greats you at the bottom of the steps.
We paid our moorage fee of $55 to the Assistant Harbor Master, then back to the boat and cast off our lines in our quest to reach the North end of Whidbey Island and Deception Pass in time for slack tide.
We knew the tide was on the Ebb until about 13:00, so our route took us near the western coast of Whidbey Island to ride a 1 knot current that flows north along the island as the Ebb tide flows south in the center channel from the San Juan Islands.
Along our way we met seals, porpoise and a variety of bird life feeding in the morning sun. Coast Guard channel carried a lot of radio chatter regarding a blue kayak discovered just south of Lopez Island, without it's owner, .
There was the occasional working boat heading by in a hurry.
They put up such a wake and have so much power that hull speed has a different meaning.
We used the mountain peak on Fidalgo Island as our dead reckoning guide to seek the entrance to this Deception passage.
I can only imagine the surprise of Vancouver and his crew as they came upon this place.
Water spilling at such a rate that not even the swiftest crew in a long boat could traverse. Yet, when the tide changes they must be quick with their boat handling or find themselves smashed on the rocks.
We were greeted with a parade of boats coming and going through Deception Pass. Captains calling on Channel 16 their intent to passage through these tight quarters.
Once through we waved good bye, for now, to a bit of excitement and NW history. We cruised along the eastern shore of Whidbey Island. We avoided the shallow waters of Skagit Bay, where a skipper and crew look out onto a mile or more of water yet shudder when reading their charts stateing it is 3 feet or less deep. Very similar to the mud flats that haunt boaters dreams in the southern reaches of Chesapeake Bay.
Our cruise would not be complete without a stop for dinner in the "Village by the Sea" Langley, WA. My first visit to Langley was on April 2015, when I learned about the “Welcome the Whales Parade and Festival” honoring and celebrating the arrival of Gray whales to Whidbey Island. I learned from one of the locals that several years ago they held this blessing of the whales. A tribal holy man went down to the water to wish the whales well and to the surprise of the residents standing on the cliff several grey whales surfaced, as if to say thank you.
Our hunger satisfied by the talents of the staff at Prima Bistro, the sun setting, we boarded our sturdy boat for the 80 minute crossing to our home port of Everett, WA.
This first voyage after an extensive refit was a wonderful success. I am looking forward to many more.