Day 5: Port Ludlow: Mats Mats Bay

5 July 2014 Saturday

0645 departure starts our return journey south and homeward bound. We unwind our way out of Mystery bay and have a spectacular view of the sharp peaks of the Olympics. The Port Townsend Canal has a big surprise awaiting us. As we pass under the bridge off in the distance there are 2 eagles  flying back and forth across the canal swooping down to the water as to catch a fish, but each time they come up empty talon-ed.
I can see water splashing with each swoop. As we get closer a mother mallard is escorting her 5 new chicks across to the other side. They are looking like little fuzzy golf balls. The eagles are approaching from the rears, but with each swooping effort the chicks simultaneously dive together and head off the thwart. This is nature at her best. I have never gotten to witness such an encounter. Thank you for this wonderful gift.

I lay out my hidden route to Too Tall. We are going to explore some Nooks and Crannies. I ask for definitions between the two. Too Tall who is an encyclopedia book on a dull day but today he is really a sharp shooter as he fires back as though he owns a Glock:  A Nook is a safe place where a Cranny is an opening or slit. He checks his phone for any data misses. Mats Mats Bay will be our perfect Nook and Cranny destination. We will have to go through the Cranny to get to the Nook. Mats Mats Bay is a little cove just north of Port Ludlow. I have always wanted to go int there but never had the time/nerve to get in with my larger sailboat Sabra. This would be the perfect day. My friends Anne and Lawrence Yeadon-Jones are Canadian authors of the Dreamspeaker Series of Cruising Guides. Their new Puget Sound has found a prime location on my nav station. Also there is Richard Blumenthal's  Place Names book. Together they make a perfect library for the Pacific Northwest cruiser. We spend a lovely 3 hours here. I fire off an email to thank them for this little nook and cranny adventure. They have recently added many new features of their website so please go and meander a while.www.dreamspeakerguides.com

Laurence draws all the charts

Lining up the red range markers on shore

Anchored on bay with lunch hook
just in time for lunch, nap and row.

We arrive  Port Ludlow at 1300 hrs and get a slip  near the office/showers/laundry. This tree was estimated to be 750 years old when it was found. The totem is beautiful.

Too Tall Finds his ship,
The Elmore-built in 1890
His name is Elmore.

Too Tall gets started on Haiku Poetry and gives me a starter lesson. Ok, I can do this, I say to myself.
The first line has 5 syllables
the second line has 7
the third has 5

Nook versus Cranny
Narrow slit is a safe place.
Oh boy, Mats Mats Bay

Too Tall then writes one for the ducklings and eagles

Eagles out for lunch
Both Mom's have young to care for.
Babe's dive for safety.

He adds another:
Hira's first Haiku
5,7,5 is difficult
Her mind is melting.

Shatoosh, what's it mean?
Himalayan finest wool
Both best in their class.

The afternoon drizzled, so we haiku-ed the day away. Late afternoon  turned out nice and we had a nice dinner in the fancy restaurant.

Total run: 84nm

Day 4: Mystery Bay

4 July 2014: Friday
Happy Fourth of July

We get an unusual send off from our slip. A lady across from us  has a major bubble maker with 2 wands a string. Wow is this something.

Coast Guard is Flying Flags   

We find one empty place at Mystery Bay State Park. The inside of the dock is filled with permanent dinghies for local residents who have their boats on mooring buoys. Uhmmm? How does that happen? I take Pashmina for a row down to Nordland General Store. Too Tall Walks. After Ice Cream he gets a lift back in a car and I buck the wind and skirt the shoreline to make it easier on my arms. While a quiet bay, there were lots of private fireworks.

Its crabbing season: Dodge Pots Everywhere- even in mid channel.

Note  shoaling and stay in the channel or you'll be aground.

Total Run: 66.4 nm

Day 3 Lay Over At PT

3 July 2014: Wednesday
We walk the docks and boat yard to get a look at all the finest of wooden boats. A drizzly day but not bad.

Day 2: Port Townsend Canal

2 July 2014: Wednesday

I have always wanted to take a route through the Port Townsend Canal which separates the peninsula from Indian and Marrowstone Islands. A bridge connects it all and the tides run fast through these waters. Good timing is a must.

Sunrise is beautiful and we are off early to catch our ebbing tide( 0550 hrs)

We cruise past Point No Point at 0700 hrs and pull in close to shore for some photos. We have north wind and it is chilly.

Too Tall enjoys his hot mug of miso soup.

We fly through the Canal at 9.1 knots and tie up at Port Townsend Boat Haven at 1000 hrs. We hoist Pashmina on the swim platform to get her out of the way. My old friend Mary drives over to spend the afternoon with us. We check out the Proposed Chatham Anchor that was discovered off Whidbey Island. I and many others remain skeptical that it is the anchor off the HMS Chatham.

Link and shaft from Anchor Proposed Chatham

Mary finds a boat she can handle

Dinner at Chinese Restaurant Pt Hudson Marina

Total run: 60 nm.

Too Tall Joins Me For A Week North to Port Townsend

1 July 2014: Tuesday

We departed Foss Harbor Marina at 0715 with clear skies, flat seas,no wind and an ebbing tide. This is perfect. We pull into Blake Island for a spell to have a bite to eat plus examine some site possibilities for the Puget Memorial. We had picked up some north winds after Pt Robinson which continued until we got to Kingston Marina at 1445. We spent the night here and had dinner ashore.

Too Tall Explores Our Planned Route.

Pt Robinson on Maury Island

Mt Rainier Astern

Tacoma to Blake Island

Blake Island to Kingston

Day's run: 35.5 nm

Gig Harbor

I got to Gig Harbor at 1630hrs and got the last spot on the dock. Hurrah. I met my ole Army friends for Mexican food and took an early to bed request from my body. The docks were busy as usual and I met some really interesting people. I met Jon Richards as he was biking and noticed Shatoosh. He and his wife always sees Albins while they are boating so he came aboard to look. He stated he was bringing his boat on Sunday and would stop by.

Pashmina and I took a row around the harbor Sunday morning. I met Georgia for lunch and then went back to do some chores but the boat traffic kept me busy. Then Deborah came to visit and meet Shatoosh. The Richards came so we had a nice tour of their aluminum dive and photography boat. Jon takes some unbelievable photos. They dive at night as well. Wow. Monday morning I ran across them fishing. What a pleasure to meet them.

Deborah and I walked to end of the harbor and ate at the Thai restaurant for dinner and discovered this sweet beach called Mussel Beach. 3 stone clams. It was delightful to get to know Deborah as we have just met at a conference in May. What a nice day meeting new people. Again I fell asleep at 9 pm.

As I approached the Foss Waterway on the way home I picked up a Channel 16 report that a Captain had fallen overboard in Elliott Bay. His vessel continued under auto pilot and rescue boats were being sent to retrieve the man and the boat. The ferries had been alerted. I did not hear the final results.

Tacoma Women's Sailing Association TWSA to Dockton

Saturday morning I made my way down to the launching ramps at Point Defiance to pick up Georgia, Laurel and Ann.

We had a wonderful time and I was so busy showing off Shatoosh, letting folks ride in Pashmina, getting donations for the Peter Puget Memorial Project that I did not take any pictures. I met lots of new people in TWSA. Georgia, Laurel and Ann can be invited back again. After I dropped them back at the launching ramp I made my way to Gig Harbor to meet friends for dinner. I got a phone call to see my location as one of the members engine had died. I hope she got back ok. I'm sorry I was out of the area as we love to tow.