Stormy heaven deep away

 We go and wonder not knowing but trusting that no matter what weather or events it will be not only as it should, but as is needed. We go wild not for mere scenery, but for the way it facilitates the transformation of our urban selves into our feral selves. We are capable of so much more than waking up in soft beds and being comfortable in climate controlled houses and offices. 

This trip was only a weekend on the calendar and yet in boat life terms it lasted many days. We took friends and went to Jones, with E and SE winds forecasted, and the north anchorage was empty but for us. Dropping my new anchor and going ashore took two trips in storms seas. Fetch from the NE into that northern cove can be quite treacherous. And it was. 2-3 foot chop was making life interesting. We nevertheless went ashore and did our favorite walk around the West side of Jones. Spotting critters and cactus! 

The rocky balds are so majestic. It's all I can do sometimes to keep walking and not just stop and spend a few nights in those spots. 

Stormy day with gusting winds and some rain. Seas choppy wind against current clapotis. 

Back at Aeolus she was heaving and bouncing pretty good and so we decided to raise anchor despite it being 4pm and headed over to Roche Harbor, which provides all weather anchorage like Reid Harbor. It's only an hour to Roche from Jones for us 5-6 knot boats. We dropped in the standard 40 feet of water some little ways off the Roche harbor docks. The lights of the company town make it festive at night, and the forecasts called for 15-30 knots of E or SE winds. 

We had some gusty conditions last night, but slept well. Rain would sometimes pound on the cabin top, reverberating like a drum inside the boat. Snug as bugs we snuggled and slept. 

Morning dawned with a sun break and saw Amy row over to the docks with puppers and friend. We were soon underway at 9am headed back to Friday Harbor. We were the only boat we saw through Spieden and San Juan Channels. Amazing people don't go out. 

Quite important to note that we saw a good number of Western Grebes for the first time in what seems years. There were some good bait balls happening, and the Grebes were in there along with the gulls and cormorants. 

Back in slip and put away, Aeolus rests until her next adventure. How lucky are we? Supremely.