July 19-22 Neah Bay to Port Angeles

July 19-22 Neah Bay to Port Angeles

At 0900 we launch so we can fish before catching the flood current.  Aiden makes the only catch of the day, a China rockfish that he releases since it is one of the species that we cannot retain.  We head out into the West Entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the flood current and ride the very large, rolling swell eastward. 

Crescent Bay Anchorage "I can picture my Dad building a house here."

Across from Seiku we hail Earl and Holly on Max Jazz.  They are headed back to Portland after a nice voyage up into the San Juans.  We chat for quite awhile and then continue onto our Crescent Bay anchorage.  The wind is from the east but predicted from the west.  Given this we set anchor in a typical west wind hole and anchor watch until the wind turns from the west.  Anchoring at Crescent has pros and cons.  It breaks the twelve-hour trip from Neah Bay to Port Angeles so that you don’t have to fight the strong current on the Strait.  However, it is a little roly poly and our particular spot is quite laden with kelp!  Note to self, find a different spot!  

Seaweed Oh My!!

We do however enjoy watching the Eagle, Great Blue Herons and deer along the shore and spot a large “Fried Egg” jellyfish.  Weighing anchor was a frustrating endeavor given the amount of seaweed but by 1230 we are headed out into the Central Strait on the flood.  

We tie up in Port Angeles for two days given the (fairly normal) gale force warnings.  We like Port Angeles Boat Basin and the friendly Harbor Master Erik Widsteen.  A few years ago I wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper and discussed the pros and cons of the Boat Basin.  The primary con was the lack of a laundry facility.  The Boat Basin now has a wonderful, typically small laundry just outside the ramp gates; two sets of machines, a laundry sink, change machine and the quintessential book trading library.  It is always nice to get the salt water influence washed out of our clothes after the trip up the coast.

Clothes washed, bodies washed, we commence to reading books and relaxing.  Aiden learns what a “mosey” is.  We tell him it is like a walk-about or an out and about.  As we “mosey” up town the streets of Port Angeles are similar to those of home, many small businesses closed, restaurants open for take-out, masks required.  We do manage to have an excellent grilled cheese sandwich at Lola’s café.  My Mom Lola would have been pleased.  Grilled cheese sandwiches were often turned out on her stove as well.  We then of course made our way to the ice-cream shop and enjoyed a waffle cone.  Aiden snapped a bunch of photos of the candy selection to send to his friends, explaining to me that it was an “incredibly weird” selection of candies associated with computer games.

The masked candy shopper :)

Back at the boat we pass the time reading and talking with dock walkers, learning a variety of information about local fishing, crabbing, sailing adventures and the differences between our boats.  A center cockpit boat tied behind us turns out to be the same Pearson 385 that we had made an offer on about 9 years ago.  This is the second owner since then.  He likes the boat for all the same reasons that we did.

Today we will head out into the Central Strait for the short hop up to Sequim Bay to meet family who will be camping for a few days.  Erik says we can stay tied up until around 1400 when the currents are more favorable.

Enjoying ice cream in the Port Angeles street parkway