Discovery Bay can be two things…a productive crabbing ground and quite windy. This morning we leave with pots full of crab and wind on the nose. We motored clear to Dungeness Spit where B Mondo set her hook and we rafted alongside. This area is a Wildlife Refuge and the shore is protected. We saw groups of seals onshore and in the water. Odile found a wonderful wetland full of a variety of birds further in on the spit.
We landed our dinghy and kayak at the lighthouse and had a nice climb to the top of the tower. Once staffed by the Coast Guard this lighthouse is now staffed by volunteers. You too can spend a week as lighthouse keepers and stay in the original keeper’s quarters. We fill our water bottles with refreshing water from their 600’ deep artesian well. We photograph the great fresnel lens that site in their small museum. We climb to the top where last month we climbed with our family members. What a great view!
Dungeness spit is smooth as glass with the waves loudly lapping like the ocean on the other side of the very narrow five mile long spit. We retired after an inspiring sunset and under the rising red, nearly full moon. A very restful night on the hook.
With an eye to the weather we decide to continue our journey west, riding a swift ebb current out the next day to Port Angeles where we will hold up in safe harbor and wait out the gale force wind that is predicted over the next couple of days.
When we pull in to Port Angeles Yacht Haven who should we see but the Randall’s on Onnie again. They are venturing on Onnie this year and stopping in at many places that John remembers having come to as kids on the boat. We last saw them right here about a month ago. A quick mile hike for groceries and ice cream then we enjoy Odile’s delicious crab cakes followed by another round of golf. Carl is leading the tournament.
August 20 through the 23rd finds both of us tied up to the dock at the Port Angeles Boat Haven to safely wait out the gale force winds that are predicted up and down the Strait. The afternoons are a steady 20-25 knot wind and predicted higher overnight winds which we peacefully sleep through.
We putter around our respective boats doing a few boat chores. This includes laundry day with buckets of fresh water and clothes drying on the life lines. I find it interesting that our clothes colors reflect our boats….B Mondo sports a variety of reds and oranges to match their kayak and ExTerr’s line shows blues and grays nearly camouflaged as they flap in the brisk breeze. Evenings are filled with wonderful galley cooked meals and a rousing round of cards.
As all good things do our time with Walt and Odile comes to an end. They head east as we head west promising to start planning for a potential buddy boat trip to Alaska. Thank you Walt and Odile for your companionship, feisty senses of humor and the outstanding example you set for sailing and enjoying the Salish Sea.
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