Southern Gulf Island Cruise

Saturday, June 19th

The morning broke sunny and clear. Looks like it is going to be another tough day in paradise. The crews of the Ranger Tugs all make their way up to the Market in Ganges. It is quite an event. I do have to say, Ganges has some very interesting people that call it home. While speaking with one of the merchants about his wares, his fellow merchant friend sat on a log smoking a joint….. Very interestinggggg.

After a stroll through the market and a few small purchases, we headed back to our tiny ships to prepare to depart. As planned we were away from the docks by 11:00 with Friday Harbor as our destination. We will clear back through customs there and then spend the night on their docks.

The cruise to Friday was uneventful with beautiful weather all the way. Just after departing Ganges, John on Port Nut turned north to continue his adventure.

Clearing Customs in Friday Harbor was easy, a few questions over the phone and then instructions to wait with the vessels for a look see from the Custom Agents. The Friday Harbor Custom Officers were polite and well mannered. They reviewed our passports, welcomed us home, and wished us fair winds and following seas.

We motored over to the fuel dock where we took on 78 gallons of fuel into our main tank. We will fill the generator tank once we get back to Port Orchard. Fuel in Friday Harbor was $3.35 per gallon including tax. Fuel in Poets Cove was $4.45 per gallon….

After we got all squared away and the boats cleaned up in Friday, we were about to head off when we looked up to see Lobo coming through the breakwater. It seems he just can’t get away from us! We took a stroll up through the streets of Friday Harbor where I purchased a nifty little hammock to hang between the uprights on the hardtop. Now I have a place a little more comfortable to take my afternoon nap.

Sea Sweeper and Karma plan to depart Friday Harbor at 5:30 am for the run across the Straits of Juan de Fuca. The weather forecast calls for 10 to 15 knot winds with one to three foot seas. We shall see……

Sunday, June 20, 2010
I was up at 4:45 getting the coffee started. Can’t head out without that first cup of coffee…. Herb is up and about on Sea Sweeper preparing her for the journey home.

Once the coffee is done, and Maureen’s cup is poured, it is easy to get her out of bed. I go outside and do our final preparations for our departure and crossing of the Straits. Everything needs to be put away and secured in the event the weather should turn out rough.

Once all is secured, the first half of the cup of coffee downed, we fire up the engine. We try to do so quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping crew of Zuma. Maureen nudges Karma out of the slip and June and Herb are quick to follow. We come out into the San Juan Channel and all looks well, smooth water, light breeze from the west. As we approach Cattle Pass, we start to take on huge rolling waves coming through the inlet. We attribute it to the outgoing tide with the opposing winds. Not to be so. Once outside, it continues to get rougher. We make the decision to head for Deception Pass. The drawback to going through Deception is the fact that we will arrive right in time for the maximum flood current, 5.7 knots today! However, while still a couple miles out of Deception the waters of the Straits started to flatten out a bit. We make the decision to run to Port Townsend. For the most part the ride was just slightly bumpy with some confused seas. As we make the turn in to Admiralty Inlet, we spot another tug! It was R-Matey heading north! We exchange greetings, snap a few pictures and then we continue on our separate ways. June and Herb head through the Port Townsend cut to the Hood Canal while Maureen and I continue down Admiralty Inlet. We get a nice boast from the incoming tide gaining some speed and saving some fuel! That’s the kind of thing I like.

Currently we are two miles from Port Madison. We will cut through Agate Passage and then down Port Orchard Channel. Total time for the run from Friday to Port Orchard should be seven hours. We cruised at an average of 11 knots burning and average of 7 gallons per hour.

It has been a great week and a great adventure. People came and went as their schedules permitted. We enjoyed evening cocktails and just being with great people. Now that this adventure is over, it is time to finalize the Points North Cruise!

Thank you to all that joined us and allowed us to be in their company!
 
It’s hard to believe that it is over. The past 9 days have gone by too fast. We made new friends, ventured to new ports via new routes for us, found new anchorages, and enjoyed great foods including some very fresh crab – thanks Connor and Taylor (Zuma). And, thanks to all the tugs that participated. We especially want to thank David and Maureen for organizing and leading us. It was a very nice cruise.
Herb and June
 
Karma":24lc9mds said:
Sunday, June 20, 2010

As we make the turn in to Admiralty Inlet, we spot another tug! It was R-Matey heading north! We exchange greetings, snap a few pictures and then we continue on our separate ways.

David and Maureen,

What a nice surprise seeing you out there in Admirality Inlet. After we'd left you and had almost made it into Squalicum Harbor we fell right in behind another Ranger Tug. It was ZUMA! Once we'd gotten R-MATEY all settled in her slip and things put away, we were able to stop by and say a quick hello to the ZUMA crew just as they retrieved their tug.

Sure sounds like everyone had a great time up in the Gulf Islands and everyone had a safe trip. Reading your posts brings back some great memories of our visits up there in our C-Dory. When time permits we're hoping that we can get back to that area for some more adventures.

Ruth and Joe
R-MATEY
 
Zuma made her way back to Bellingham this afternoon... solo. Felt a little odd looking out our window and not seeing a fleet of Ranger Tugs. However we were rewarded with a meet-up with Ruth and Joe of R-Matey!

I'll be posting pics of our grand adventure soon...
 
Greetings all, the Portugeezer also wants to add a few words. It was Port Nut's first outing with company and it was fun to cruise in formation and have such pleasant company throughout the days. My companions were gracious in every way and of particular value was the learning experience this novice boater had.

As we parted ways on leaving Ganges, the Port Nut turned north and cruised into Ladysmith. The trip was placid, sunny and of spectacular scenery. Even the salmon were jumping with joy. When I got there, I discovered there is no fuel in that harbour and did not want to backtrack to Chemainus. The next day would be Sunday and Chemainus, being a municipal facility would be closed at the fuel dock. My choice would be to pay for more expensive fuel at Thetis Island which is a cruising stop and open on Sundays - at least in summer. I visited with a friend and he happily took me to a local gas bar where I filled 30 litres of diesel into Jerry cans. This almost topped off my reservoir. Today, Sunday, I cruised the 43 nautical miles back to Crescent Beach under cloudy skies and slightly ruffled water. On my way home I topped up the tank at the neighbourhood gas station with a further 39 litres (which worked out to 3.8 litres per hour). 1 US gallon per hour.

In Active Pass, I saw about 2 dozen seals feeding in the 3 knot current. South of Point Roberts, I saw a dolphin. When I cross the strait, by the way, I go full throttle to minimize my time in the traffic lanes and the chance of encountering a change in weather. Still, from Pt. Roberts to Crescent Beach is always rough with chaotic water. This leg takes me one hour and I always get home tired. The return was uneventful otherwise. The Port Nut ran like a Swiss watch.

I just wanted to report to the others on my last days without them and to thank them for making my cruise a very pleasant experience. Thanks to Dave, the "Supreme Leader" who does so much to make things happen. Great to reaquaint with so many folks I had met at Bremerton 2009 and to meet new ones. Nice to meet the Canadians of That's It. You live in a very cool place: Ganges rocks! Don't stand downwind from the smoke, eh!

Still buzzing from the trip and wearing a great big smile ... now to bed - for 10 hours! Oh yes, the first mate liked the earrings. She lived the trip vicariously through the photos and would have liked Poet's Cove and the activities there.

John the Portugeezer
 
For our first real trip out in the open waters, it ended up being a wonderful way to make memories. We really enjoyed being with the ban of Tugnuts. We want to thank Dave & Lynn (Lobo) for the tour of Victoria and lunch at the Yacht Club. Thanks to Lyman, Janenne, Connor and Taylor (Zuma) for friendship and for the boat wash. June & Herb (Sea Sweeper) thanks for your friendship and bring good neighbors.) John (Port Nut's) Thankfor showing up, love the R21. David & Maureen (Karma) Thanks for making this trip a go for us, for your leadership and help. Oh by the way we came home by going through Deception Pass at 3000 RPM and doing 18 MPH.

Dennis Darleen
Tug of My Heart
 
David and Maureen,
Although you had 5 or 6 actually Ranger tugs in your "fleet" at any one time, judging by the almost 700 viewings of this Post, you had a lot of "virtual" tugs following along the past week or so. I am one of them, and I want to thank you, plus your other contributors, for a great voyage by computer !!!!!
One question: what happened to your Spot finder in Ganges? At that point, no further progress on that website.
That's just a mystery not yet cleared up. The mystery of why you all turned back into Victoria has been fully vetted, and we all learned about intake valves, etc., and yes, it is humbling to be working on your own tug, at times.
Great Cruise; great narratives; great fleet in the Gulf Islands.
THANKS,
Charles
 
We are not sure as to what happened to our spot messenger.

Since my first day back from vacation was the first day of a week long meeting that I am hosting for all of my managers and company staff out of Chicago, I have not had time to look into this.

We had a great time on this cruise with our fellow Tugnuts and are looking forward to the Points North Cruise at the end of August. Hopefully we will have our Spot back in place by then.

We look forward to continuing to organize long and short cruises for our fellow Tugnuts and appreciate all of the positive feedback we have received.

See you on the water!
 
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