Stella Maris
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2008
- Messages
- 1,500
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-24 C
- Non-Fluid Motion Model
- Helmsman PH38, 11' Boston Whaler, 9' Boston Whaler
- Vessel Name
- Destiny
Our first Thanksgiving aboard Destiny! The original plan had us heading for Bedwell Harbor and Poet’s Cove Marina in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia for the long Thanksgiving weekend. The weather gods had unfortunately made different plans. A series of low-pressure systems moving through southern Canada were producing strong southerly winds along with heavy rains throughout the Puget Sound area. The fronts started passing through on Sunday and lasted right up through late Wednesday.
The original plan had called for me to take Destiny to Anacortes on Wednesday. Maureen would fly in from Denver that afternoon, take a shuttle to Anacortes where she would rendezvous with Destiny and I. We would then make the 30-mile trip to Bedwell from Anacortes on Thanksgiving morning.
Well, as I said, the weather gods had a different idea. Wednesday came and went and Destiny was still tide securely at her slip in Shilshole Marina. Thursday though, broke with partly cloudy skies and no winds what so ever! Time to go!
Over the years, we have learned, when boating you must be flexible. Our new destination would be South Sound. Our original thoughts were to head to Olympia for Thanksgiving evening however, the Garmin told us we would not arrive until after five that meant we would arrive after dark. While we do not steer away from being out after dark, with the dicey weather and having never been to South Sound, we opted to stop into Gig Harbor for the night. We were able to locate us a nice cozy little spot right at the end of the dock at Arrabella’s. This location gave us a great view of the entire harbor. We spent the late afternoon in the pilothouse enjoying a beautiful bottle of wine selected from the cellar.
Maureen prepared us a nice Thanksgiving dinner of Turkey Breast, Potatoes, Broccoli, Cranberry, and a nice Apple Crisp for desert. Our first Thanksgiving meal on Destiny!
We awoke Friday morning to the sound of a steady rain beating on the deck above. No worries though, Destiny is nice and dry and toasty inside. We sat at the table in the pilothouse and ate a nice leisurely breakfast. Once breakfast was done, we cast our lines ashore and headed out. We were off to Olympia where we planned to overnight at Swantown Marina.
We cleared the narrow channel at Gig and pointed Destiny’s bow south. It was not long and we were crossing under the Tacoma Narrows Bridges. These spans have quite a history as, the first had collapsed in a wind storm not long after its opening.
As we made our way south, we were very surprised at the beauty of South Sound. There are numerous pine-covered islands with meandering waterways through out. This will just be a very brief trip south however; it has enticed us to return again.
Our journey today covered 28 miles from Gig Harbor to Olympia. Along our way we saw a tremendous amount of sea life including Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, Dolphins, and Eagles. We passed a total of three other boats in the entire distance. It always amazes me that people put their boats away in the winter when you have all of this great water to enjoy! They say the weather is not appropriate for boating in the winter. I was once told “There is no inappropriate weather in the PNW, just inappropriate clothing”…. I must say, I agree.
The approach to Swantown can be a bit confusing as the main channel splits into two. The channel to the east leads you to Swantown while; the channel to the west leads you to Port Plaza Dock as well as Percival Landing. It is a narrow channel and the chart indicates it shallows quite rapidly if you wander out of it. As usual though, Maureen did a great job of getting Destiny into the marina while I prepared lines and fenders. As if planned, the skies let loose just as we entered the marina. No worries though, I had prepared for it. Wearing rain pants and along with my water proof coat and boots, I stayed dry while getting Destiny secured and the power hooked up.
I would be remiss here though, if I didn’t mention that the true name of Swantown Marina should be “Seagullville Marina”! There are hundreds of seagulls on the docks and in the water. Fortunately, where we have chosen to tie up, there are very few. On our next trip to Olympia, we will try out either Port Plaza or Percival Landing.
Our plan for this afternoon is to put on our rain gear and wander up around town. Then we will retire back to Destiny, mix up a pitcher of Margaritas and enjoy another nice evening aboard in the pilothouse just watching the world pass us by.
Tomorrow, we plan to head north again stopping at the Dock Street Marina in Tacoma where we will overnight.
The original plan had called for me to take Destiny to Anacortes on Wednesday. Maureen would fly in from Denver that afternoon, take a shuttle to Anacortes where she would rendezvous with Destiny and I. We would then make the 30-mile trip to Bedwell from Anacortes on Thanksgiving morning.
Well, as I said, the weather gods had a different idea. Wednesday came and went and Destiny was still tide securely at her slip in Shilshole Marina. Thursday though, broke with partly cloudy skies and no winds what so ever! Time to go!
Over the years, we have learned, when boating you must be flexible. Our new destination would be South Sound. Our original thoughts were to head to Olympia for Thanksgiving evening however, the Garmin told us we would not arrive until after five that meant we would arrive after dark. While we do not steer away from being out after dark, with the dicey weather and having never been to South Sound, we opted to stop into Gig Harbor for the night. We were able to locate us a nice cozy little spot right at the end of the dock at Arrabella’s. This location gave us a great view of the entire harbor. We spent the late afternoon in the pilothouse enjoying a beautiful bottle of wine selected from the cellar.
Maureen prepared us a nice Thanksgiving dinner of Turkey Breast, Potatoes, Broccoli, Cranberry, and a nice Apple Crisp for desert. Our first Thanksgiving meal on Destiny!
We awoke Friday morning to the sound of a steady rain beating on the deck above. No worries though, Destiny is nice and dry and toasty inside. We sat at the table in the pilothouse and ate a nice leisurely breakfast. Once breakfast was done, we cast our lines ashore and headed out. We were off to Olympia where we planned to overnight at Swantown Marina.
We cleared the narrow channel at Gig and pointed Destiny’s bow south. It was not long and we were crossing under the Tacoma Narrows Bridges. These spans have quite a history as, the first had collapsed in a wind storm not long after its opening.
As we made our way south, we were very surprised at the beauty of South Sound. There are numerous pine-covered islands with meandering waterways through out. This will just be a very brief trip south however; it has enticed us to return again.
Our journey today covered 28 miles from Gig Harbor to Olympia. Along our way we saw a tremendous amount of sea life including Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, Dolphins, and Eagles. We passed a total of three other boats in the entire distance. It always amazes me that people put their boats away in the winter when you have all of this great water to enjoy! They say the weather is not appropriate for boating in the winter. I was once told “There is no inappropriate weather in the PNW, just inappropriate clothing”…. I must say, I agree.
The approach to Swantown can be a bit confusing as the main channel splits into two. The channel to the east leads you to Swantown while; the channel to the west leads you to Port Plaza Dock as well as Percival Landing. It is a narrow channel and the chart indicates it shallows quite rapidly if you wander out of it. As usual though, Maureen did a great job of getting Destiny into the marina while I prepared lines and fenders. As if planned, the skies let loose just as we entered the marina. No worries though, I had prepared for it. Wearing rain pants and along with my water proof coat and boots, I stayed dry while getting Destiny secured and the power hooked up.
I would be remiss here though, if I didn’t mention that the true name of Swantown Marina should be “Seagullville Marina”! There are hundreds of seagulls on the docks and in the water. Fortunately, where we have chosen to tie up, there are very few. On our next trip to Olympia, we will try out either Port Plaza or Percival Landing.
Our plan for this afternoon is to put on our rain gear and wander up around town. Then we will retire back to Destiny, mix up a pitcher of Margaritas and enjoy another nice evening aboard in the pilothouse just watching the world pass us by.
Tomorrow, we plan to head north again stopping at the Dock Street Marina in Tacoma where we will overnight.
