Tumbo Gumbo-Memorial Day Funbo

What joy! Both boys and a best friend aboard Aeolus for the three day weekend. To Tumbo we go. 20nm direct from Friday Harbor but a necessary stop at Bedwell Harbor customs adds a few. More importantly, that stop means you must traverse a good long way east to round East Point on Saturna and you had better have the current with you when you do that. We had bluebird skies on Saturday, warm and lovely. Caught the flood. 

Cabbage Island is sadly closed to day use, at least above the high tide line. This is evidently for preservation of cultural resources but I know of no other island paid for with public funds that is closed to public use for preservation of cultural resources. Surely all the others have that same claim. Surely Russel, and Portland and Jones and so on and so forth. While part of the Gulf Islands National Park mandate is obviously respecting and preserving First Nations cultural resources, this should be done by closing specific smaller places on Cabbage and not a blanket closure. Truly a shame. The signage says it is until further notice. Perhaps they are waiting for public outcry. It is outrageous to sea kayakers, and for other boaters. The solution is education and enforcement, not closure of the whole island. 

View into Reef Harbor

Best view in all the lower Salish Sea

The cycle of life-a harbor seal 

Found fun is all around on the south beach

Anyway, we enjoyed Tumbo as always. So special. Saw two river otters, loads of bald eagles, seals, norther flickers, swallows, and deer. It's the most fecund place we know of anywhere in the Salish Sea. 

The trip back was incredibly fast. It was a very strong ebb on the new moon day. Caught that ebb all the way back, with only the usual slowing and difficult as you transition to President's channel from the rush of water trying to go out Boundary Pass. Did 9.6 knots, sustained, in President's channel. Total travel time back to Friday Harbor was only 3.5 hours.