Posted on by Jolly Mon

Seattle and back…

 

Thursday, May 13 – Cap Sante to Everett     

 Running time: 4 hours     

 Distance: 44.6 nm     

 Moorage:  Free (Navy YC Recip)     

Ran from Cap Sante (home slip) to Port of Everett via Swinomish Channel.  It was a great run- my timing was good, providing a following current through LaConner.  Stayed at the Port of Everett guest dock using reciprocal moorage.     

A Very Un-Crowded Port of Everett Guest DockSunset at Everett

 

Everett Sunset

       

      

Friday, May 14 – Everett to Seattle      

      

Running Time: 2.5 hours     

Distance: 29.1 nm     

Moorage: $1.35/ ft. Pricey, but in my opinion Bell harbor has some of the best showers in the sound!     

Departed Everett at about 0910 with a fresh breeze blowing down Saratoga Passage, which quickly diminished after rounding Mukilteo.  It was a nice run, with grey whales spotted in the distance off Edmonds.A view of the Seattle skyline just out of Bell Harbor.     

     

Moored at Bell Harbor Marina, joining several other boats for a Tollycraft Boating Club cruise.  This is the third year I have attended this cruise, and each year we have had great weather.  Bell Harbor is located at Seattle’s Pier 66 and sits just below the Pike Place Market.  I’ll admit I’m not a huge fan of going to Seattle by car, but I must say it is a completely different destination by boat.  It is a great spot for people watching and observing vessel traffic of all sizes and shapes.  The marina is right next to the cruise ship terminal, which is very active with passengers coming and going as well as what appears to be a very well choreographed sequence of preparing the ships for the next trip and loading of cargo.       

Bell Harbor Marina shares Pier 66 with a terminal for Alaska-bound cruise ships.

 

        

Me and my "Little Martin"

 

 It was an enjoyable weekend with good boating friends. This has become one of my favorite cruises with the club…  Bell Harbor is a great destination for “urban boating”.   

Sunday, May 16 – Seattle to Blake Island   

Running Time: 45 min   

Distance: 7.4   

Moorage: $ .50/ ft ($14) – Washington State Park Dock.   

Short run along with John and Jane on Tolly Time II to Blake Island.  My first time visiting this Puget Sound favorite, which is home of the Tillicum Village, which draws visitors aboard Argosy passenger ferries.  During my visit, the island was peaceful and quiet, but I imagine it to be a different place in the middle of the summer, as this is a very popular destination.   

Jolly Mon and Tolly Time II (and a nice old 30' Tolly) on the dock at Blake Island.

 

Jenny enjoys the slower pace of Blake Island after a few days in Seattle.

 

         

Sunset at Blake Island

 

        

Monday, May 17 – Blake Island to Kirkland         

Running time: 3 hours         

Distance: 19.5 nm         

Moorage: $9 (City of Kirkland Marina)         

Departed Blake Island at around 10 am with Tolly Time II.  After a short wait, we entered the small lock at the Ballard Locks.  This was John and Jane’s first time locking through.    

We were the only two boats in the small lock.

 

        

After locking through, Tolly Time II continued on to tour the lake, while I went looking for a place in Ballard to tie up for a while.  This particular day, May 17, is Norwegian Constitution Day- and Ballard is the place to be in Seattle to celebrate Syttende Mai.  I tied to the dock at the 24th Street Landing, a free day-use dock that was just a short walk away from Bergen Place, where some of the Syttende Mai festivities took place.         

24th Street Landing, Ballard.

 

         

 After spending a few hours in Ballard, listening to traditional Norwegian music and eating pølse (hot dog wrapped in lefse), I made my way through the ship canal and Lake Union en route to Kirkland.         

Montlake Cut, between Lake Union and Lake Washington.

   

I arrived at Kirkland at about 5:15pm and tied to the dock next to Tolly Time II .  The City of Kirkland maintains a great waterfront park and marina.  We have the place to ourselves, but I know it is a different story during summer…  Brett and Rhonda from Otter, live close-by and came by for a visit.  On their recommendation we had dinner at “The Slip“, a tiny hole in the wall that makes tasty burgers and great drinks.  Jonathan from Briar Patch joined us a little later for a few “Black and Tans” at the nearby Irish Pub.  Later that night, the wind picked up, which made for a less than restful night’s sleep.  The docks at Kirkland are exposed to weather, and would be a poor place to try to escape any wind.     
Kirkland’s Marina Park

    

 
Tuesday, May 18 – Kirkland to Anacortes (Cap Sante)
 
Running time: 7.5 hours
Distance: 70.5 miles
 
Along with the wind the night before, I awoke to rain on the windshield.  The forecast calls for big winds the next few days, so I elect to head for home, rather than risk getting stuck looking for a place to get out of the weather.  Although I had planned to stay out a few more days, I’d better head home…
 
 
 
After walking up the street for a coffee (probably the worst I’ve ever had) and something to nibble on, I pushed away from the dock shortly after Tolly Time II.  The rain had subsided for now, and the run through the lake was pleasant.  I locked through with one other boat (who, by the way, cut in line ahead of other boats waiting..).
 
 
After a stop for fuel in Edmonds and a bizarre encounter with a strange Russian man, the run home was in a variety of weather, which included both sunny blue skies and pouring rain.  Southerly winds and opposing currents made for a lumpy ride up Saratoga Passage.  With the wind on the stern, the windshield stayed salt-free.  The winds eased as the rain fell the closer I got to home.  Idling up the Swinomish Channel, I was comfortable under the enclosed hardtop with snacks and good music playing as fat rain drops dimpled the flat water.  As I was on the home stretch, I was delayed a bit waiting for a train to cross the trestle over the Swinomish Channel.  No big deal- I wasn’t in a hurry to get home anyway…
 
 
 
  
I pulled into my slip as the skies were clearing.  A nice end to another great trip.  Once again looking forward to the next one!
 
Trip Totals
Engine Hours: 17:45
Distance: 171.1 nm