south sound mini cruising:
Jarrell Cove, Mc Micken Island, and Penrose Point
jarrell Cove:
Date: June 18, 2020
Time Start: 11 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Jarrell Cove State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1167
Engine Hours Finish: 1170
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny summer day, nice breeze, upper 70's, lovely.
It's an easy day for cruising as we head to Jarrell Cove State Park on Harstine Island for an overnight visit. We relish these boat days, especially now during the pandemic. How lucky we are to have a boat as a way of distancing! The water is blue and beckoning, as are the skies.
Time Start: 11 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Jarrell Cove State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1167
Engine Hours Finish: 1170
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny summer day, nice breeze, upper 70's, lovely.
It's an easy day for cruising as we head to Jarrell Cove State Park on Harstine Island for an overnight visit. We relish these boat days, especially now during the pandemic. How lucky we are to have a boat as a way of distancing! The water is blue and beckoning, as are the skies.
The Jarrell Cove dock is pretty full today, but there is a perfect spot for NORTH STAR next to the shore ramp. We have a nice view of the cove, and no one off our stern. We can enjoy our cockpit in complete privacy! We have arrived at low tide. Next to us on the dock is another Ranger Tug, R23 Red Ryder from Fox Island.
We walk along the cove, into the park, along the path through the forest. Different from past visits are signs that everyone needs to heed about social distancing. This virus, COVID-19, is going to be with us for some time. Fortunately, there are no crowds to avoid here!
Evenings are almost always one of the highlights of the day when on the water, and today is no exception. We take in the last rays of the sun as we cruise in the dinghy.
We are surprised that the cormorants don't arrive as they have so many times in the past to roost in the trees for the night. But, there is no shortage of bird life. Herons squawk, kingfishers rattle, martens swoop over us . . . but where have the cormorants gone? Have the eagles and herons usurped their branches?
Date: June 19, 2020
Time Start: 3:15 p.m.
Time Finish: 7:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Jarrell Cove, Harstine Island
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1170
Engine Hours Finish: 1172
Weather/sea conditions: Warm 80 degree day, muggy
Tide is low this morning, and we spot a couple of sea stars on the dock pilings. The birds are active, with eagles being harassed by crows, kingfishers rattling as they cross the cove, herons squawking, martens busily bringing food to their offspring in the nesting boxes. It's a very summery day, with plenty to entertain us.
Time Start: 3:15 p.m.
Time Finish: 7:30 p.m.
Cruise From: Jarrell Cove, Harstine Island
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1170
Engine Hours Finish: 1172
Weather/sea conditions: Warm 80 degree day, muggy
Tide is low this morning, and we spot a couple of sea stars on the dock pilings. The birds are active, with eagles being harassed by crows, kingfishers rattling as they cross the cove, herons squawking, martens busily bringing food to their offspring in the nesting boxes. It's a very summery day, with plenty to entertain us.
As we cruise home, we stop along Squaxin Island to enjoy dinner aboard before docking at Swantown.
Mc Micken Island Marine State Park:
Date: July 13, 2020
Time Start: 12:40 p.m.
Time Finish: 2:40 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: McMicken Island Marine State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1172
Engine Hours Finish: 1174
Weather/sea conditions: A summer day, plenty of sun, breeze from north
We're feeling good! It's one of those perfect cruising days, and we are ready for some boat time as we continue to distance for the pandemic. Summer weather is here! We'll drop our anchor for a few days at McMicken Island, not too far from home, but far enough to feel like a different world. As much as we enjoy our woodland garden at home, we also love being surrounded by water and expansive views under a canopy of open skies.
The feel of NORTH STAR moving through the water, a warm breeze wafting over us, blue skies, fluffy white clouds, sparkling rippled water, green forested shores . . . cruising is good!
Time Start: 12:40 p.m.
Time Finish: 2:40 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: McMicken Island Marine State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1172
Engine Hours Finish: 1174
Weather/sea conditions: A summer day, plenty of sun, breeze from north
We're feeling good! It's one of those perfect cruising days, and we are ready for some boat time as we continue to distance for the pandemic. Summer weather is here! We'll drop our anchor for a few days at McMicken Island, not too far from home, but far enough to feel like a different world. As much as we enjoy our woodland garden at home, we also love being surrounded by water and expansive views under a canopy of open skies.
The feel of NORTH STAR moving through the water, a warm breeze wafting over us, blue skies, fluffy white clouds, sparkling rippled water, green forested shores . . . cruising is good!
And we arrive at McMicken Island Marine State Park, dropping our anchor, and marveling at the scenery. Could a summer day possibly be more beautiful???
Date: July 14, 2020
McMicken Island layover day
Weather: Five star summer day! Sunshine, 80 degrees.
For today, we kayak a bit, have some beach time as the incoming tide washes over and erases the tombolo, and dive in for our first swims of the summer!
McMicken Island layover day
Weather: Five star summer day! Sunshine, 80 degrees.
For today, we kayak a bit, have some beach time as the incoming tide washes over and erases the tombolo, and dive in for our first swims of the summer!
Date: July 15, 2020
Time Start: 5:40 p.m.
Time Finish: 8:45 p.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1174
Engine Hours Finish: 1176
Weather/sea conditions: Summer continues, the best kind of day!
A quiet morning kayak paddle is followed by low tide explorations along the exposed tombolo that provides a pathway between the shores of Harstine and Mc Micken Islands, and then we spend time in the shade of oak trees along the beach of McMicken Island.
Time Start: 5:40 p.m.
Time Finish: 8:45 p.m.
Cruise From: McMicken Island State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1174
Engine Hours Finish: 1176
Weather/sea conditions: Summer continues, the best kind of day!
A quiet morning kayak paddle is followed by low tide explorations along the exposed tombolo that provides a pathway between the shores of Harstine and Mc Micken Islands, and then we spend time in the shade of oak trees along the beach of McMicken Island.
Once again we break up our cruise back to Olympia with a dinner stop along Squaxin Island.
Penrose Point State Park:
Date: July 19, 2020
Time Start: 1:15 p.m.
Time Finish: 4:25 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Penrose Point State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1177
Engine Hours Finish: 1180
Weather/sea conditions: Hot summer! Low to mid 80's, beautiful.
We are off again on another mini cruise in South Sound and have a series of summer days ahead to enjoy. Just as we pull out of our marina slip, there is a loud and disturbing sound coming from the area of the propeller. We are lucky to be close to the dock, returning to check it out. Dan decides to get in the water to take a peek. One dive under the swim step, and out he comes, holding a piece of line that had wrapped around the prop. Now it is time for guilt! This line is part of the painter from our dinghy and is used along with the davits as extra security in attaching the dinghy to the stern rail when underway. I think I probably moved the line without noticing when i was installing the stern bench seat cushions. Lesson learned, another thing to be aware of! And so we restart the cruise almost an hour later. We are headed to Penrose Point State Park, and enjoy views of Mt. Rainier and little Pitt Island along the way.
Time Start: 1:15 p.m.
Time Finish: 4:25 p.m.
Cruise From: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Cruise To: Penrose Point State Park
Engine Hours Start: 1177
Engine Hours Finish: 1180
Weather/sea conditions: Hot summer! Low to mid 80's, beautiful.
We are off again on another mini cruise in South Sound and have a series of summer days ahead to enjoy. Just as we pull out of our marina slip, there is a loud and disturbing sound coming from the area of the propeller. We are lucky to be close to the dock, returning to check it out. Dan decides to get in the water to take a peek. One dive under the swim step, and out he comes, holding a piece of line that had wrapped around the prop. Now it is time for guilt! This line is part of the painter from our dinghy and is used along with the davits as extra security in attaching the dinghy to the stern rail when underway. I think I probably moved the line without noticing when i was installing the stern bench seat cushions. Lesson learned, another thing to be aware of! And so we restart the cruise almost an hour later. We are headed to Penrose Point State Park, and enjoy views of Mt. Rainier and little Pitt Island along the way.
The buoys are full at Penrose, but setting our anchor is easy. This is Sunday afternoon, and several families in smaller boats are here for a day of water fun. It is music to our ears to hear kids at play with their water games and sports. We, too, can't resist the water, and swims feel pretty great!
Date: July 20, 2020
Penrose Point layover day
Weather: Hottest day of the year so far, 90 degrees! and the water is calm.
Monday morning quiet time! All of the small boats from yesterday are gone, just a few boats here today. Lakebay Marina is in the distance. Floating islands of enteromorpha (an algae that covers the shores here) drift by us, carried by the tides.
Penrose Point layover day
Weather: Hottest day of the year so far, 90 degrees! and the water is calm.
Monday morning quiet time! All of the small boats from yesterday are gone, just a few boats here today. Lakebay Marina is in the distance. Floating islands of enteromorpha (an algae that covers the shores here) drift by us, carried by the tides.
The captain has work to do that includes a long on-line meeting. I leave him aboard, making my escape in the kayak to enjoy drifting over the shallow waters and along the spit that is now exposed by the low tide. This is way better than any form of meditating!
Our thermometer tells us the water is 72 degrees at the surface today! The hot afternoon is perfect for lots of dips and short swims to keep us cool.
Date: July 21, 2020
Penrose Point layover day
Weather: Early morning clouds clear to blues skies. Breezy day with strong winds in evening. Mid 70's.
The tide is a -2.9 today, the lowest daytime tide here for the remainder of 2020. The spit that parallels Penrose Point is well exposed for exploring. Rocky, rich with oysters and clams and barnacles, the spit is covered with a bright green blanket of enteromorpha algae. Hidden under this blanket is a cornucopia of sea life.
Date: July 21, 2020
Penrose Point layover day
Weather: Early morning clouds clear to blues skies. Breezy day with strong winds in evening. Mid 70's.
The tide is a -2.9 today, the lowest daytime tide here for the remainder of 2020. The spit that parallels Penrose Point is well exposed for exploring. Rocky, rich with oysters and clams and barnacles, the spit is covered with a bright green blanket of enteromorpha algae. Hidden under this blanket is a cornucopia of sea life.
The wind grows strong in the afternoon. No swims today! The water is a chilly 67 degrees at the surface. Why? The wind is blowing from a different direction today, and we aren't getting the warm water from off of the spit like we have for the past two days. The drifts of enteromorpha are also going a different direction, we are surrounded by cool, clear water.
Date: July 22, 2020
Time Start: 12:10 p.m.
Time Finish: 4:25 p.m.
Cruise From: Penrose Point State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1180
Engine Hours Finish: 1184
Weather/sea conditions: Gray skies, S.W. winds, choppy water, cooler
It's a good day to head for home. We make a brief stop at Joemma Beach State Park to check out the dock facilities as we have never visited this park. We aren't tempted to stay today, maybe another time. Continuing to Swantown, we get enough salty spray over NORTH STAR to justify a good cleaning. She is ready to crusie again!
Date: July 22, 2020
Time Start: 12:10 p.m.
Time Finish: 4:25 p.m.
Cruise From: Penrose Point State Park
Cruise To: Swantown Marina, Olympia
Engine Hours Start: 1180
Engine Hours Finish: 1184
Weather/sea conditions: Gray skies, S.W. winds, choppy water, cooler
It's a good day to head for home. We make a brief stop at Joemma Beach State Park to check out the dock facilities as we have never visited this park. We aren't tempted to stay today, maybe another time. Continuing to Swantown, we get enough salty spray over NORTH STAR to justify a good cleaning. She is ready to crusie again!