July 23 – 27 Port Madison to Poulsbo to Port Ludlow to Port Townsend to Sequim Bay

July 23 – 27 Port Madison to Poulsbo to Port Ludlow to Port Townsend to Sequim Bay

We have a few lazy days to pass before we get together with family at the Sequim Bay State Park. 

Leaving Port Madison we go through the narrow Agate Passage at slack.  What fun to see two innovative young men on surf boards as they ‘catch a wave’ on the wake of passing power boats.  Nicely tanned you can tell they have been doing this for quite some time.  We anchor out in Poulsbo, our first visit on the water here.  We looked at a few sailboats here years ago when we were on our three year quest to find our ‘perfect’ boat. 

The small Maritime Museum is nicely done with displays for the rich maritime history including an ancient video of life on a cod boat that fishes the Bering Sea returning with her hold full of cod for the local salt cod industry.  One panel shows the crew boat team that won the 1927 national title one of whom went on to help coach the U.S. team who rowed to victory against Germany in the 1936 Olympics, as artfully written about in the book “The Boys in the Boat.”  We have that book aboard, Carl having already devoured it and it is on Pam’s list to read. 

   We also visit the Longship Marine consignment store, one of few left on the west coast.  We put in a plug for Columbia Marine Exchange and ask the proprietor to spread the word about this wonderful business that is currently for sale.

We walk the aisles of the Liberty Bay Book Store, adding two used nautical books to the ship’s library.  We top off our shopping spree at the wonderful Sluys Bakery “Quality First from Little Norway.”  We enjoy a bakery delight each and grab a bag of their butterflake rolls that we enjoy for three nights, warmed by the barby or the engine heated hot water tank.   

We lazily spend the next few days catching as much of the ebb as we can and anchoring first in Port Ludlow and then in Port Townsend.  As always Port Townsend offers a display of boats of all shapes and sizes playing in the port from a tiny solar powered wood dinghy lazily fishing to early morning crew boats practicing.  Who knows, perhaps another Olympic gold medalist is in our midst.

Of concern in this area is timing travel to avoid perils at the Point Wilson rip which makes it a bit of a slow slog to Sequim Bay.  Tied up to the Sequim Bay State Park dock we await family for the upcoming weekend.  We chat with other folks who enjoy the dock, some sipping a glass of wine, others fishing and crabbing, each with their own unique stories to share.