Going and coming delightful, in between a bit rough

As any who frequent my blog know, we are frequent visitors to Jones Island and have been for over 15 years now. It's a go to spot anytime outside of summer, and is rather perfectly positioned and laid out to avoid the prevailing winds in either the south or north facing coves. For obvious reasons, the south cove is rarely used for more than a night in winter since our storms are predominately southern winds. However, the biggest winds and by far the most fetch lies to the N. Be ware any mariner who anchors in the north cove without a good eye to the forecast in winter. 

Is it just me? 

On this long weekend we went to Jones and had a delightful time as always. We had both our boys and Elliott's buddy James, who is like family too. Our journey there aboard Aeolus on Friday was smooth and calm, no rain, despite it having poured rain the entire drive up from Olympia. Classic island rain shadow. Forecasts were for winds building Saturday night to 25-35 SW to W.  So we went to the North Cove. On Friday afternoon we were greeted by a dramatic skyline and direct sunshine, rewarding our efforts to get to the islands. 

Just go

On Saturday it dawned cloudy and remained that way, with winds building through the day. Not a peep on the boat until 9:30am, a remarkable thing for students and employees who are normally up and at it far earlier. We had grand adventures on Jones, going cross country to new unseen places and discovering hidden spots off the trails. One of the many joys of Jones is that the entire island is State Park, allowing free wandering. And not too big so you really can't get lost or go wrong far, since any direction will take you to the trail that circles the island. 

Forecast called for strongest winds after midnight on Saturday night. Sure enough. We were asleep and dead to the world when I was awakened at 1:30 am by strong gusts hitting the boat. From where we were in the North Cove, we were fully protected from all SW and even W winds, with nothing more than eddies and wrap around gusts possible, no fetch. But what I woke to was a determined N to NW wind. Trouble! I got up and checked the latest wind speeds at nearby locations and forecasts. As is often the case when low pressure systems approach the Salish Sea, the winds in the Straights of Georgia will be N or NW, and in Puget Sound, S or SE. Hope you know why as I don't have time and energy to explain it here. But it's true. 

Warming a father's heart

So in this situation, we were getting the southernmost push of the Straights of Georgia NW winds for a while. Seas were building, and if it had continued, I was about to raise anchor and depart as that northern cove on Jones is a notorious lee shore in those winds. Nasty, nasty place to be when the Fraser River outflow is happening. 

Fortunately, and mysteriously, those strong NW winds just stopped. As the front moved through, the wind shifted back to W and then dissipated altogether. We didn't have to move, and got back to sleep. 

Our Mantus anchor never disappoints. Our still new Cubic Mini wood stove is such a delight. The cabin is 75 degrees and dry! We've been burning compressed sawdust logs that work well. Not the type with wax, duraflame, but the kind without wax you can buy at hardware stores made locally here in Western WA. 

Look closely and you'll see Elliott

Amy had us eating like kings with Thanksgiving leftovers (OH MY GOSH that stuffing and turkey!) and we played cards and read books all night long. Elliott swam back to Aeolus on Saturday, a full 90 meters by my estimation, in 42 degree air and water. That man has mental strength. Even after that long journey, he went further and just swarm around the boat and explored. So impressed by him.

Our trip back to Friday Harbor Sunday morning was glass calm and sunny. Just gorgeous. Going and coming were calm and sunny. In between, a storm.  

Aeolus, our space ship. We love you. 

 

Thank you Veteran's-A grateful escape

Freedom, liberty, democracy, justice, all remain rare in the world, and though we have fought too many wars without good cause, and engaged in no end of foreign interference to the great suffering of many, we remain a nation of better potential and hope than most, and I'm grateful for the role veteran's past and present played in making the United States a possibility. Now, let's get to the work of perfecting our union so that this version of a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people, does not perish from the Earth. 

With this in mind, we traveled the Salish Sea this weekend and had a perfectly normal incredible time. The skies were grey on Friday, but clear after that. Warm sun greeted us Saturday morning on Jones. There are no words to express our deep love for these trips. We feel so far away, so refreshed, so connected to each other and what is important. No distractions. A wild feeling. 

A Jones Island view

Jones. Stuart. 

We saw Orca's in San Juan Channel from Jones. We had all the usual seals and sea lions and surf scoters and kingfishers and terns and...lichens and moss and ferns...and cedars and firs and maples and yews. Aeolus is our space ship, and she is so stout.