Making the Most of Low Tide
It’s been a year since we cruised in saltwater, and we were so happy to be back in shifting tides and currents. Our voyage started a little later than usual so that my sister and I could link it to a road trip that took my parents down the Oregon Coast to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and fulfill a long-delayed meetup with my mom’s big sister. Since Memorial Day weekend fell in the center of our sailing window, George and I scooted through the San Juan Islands in a couple of days and headed to the Outer Gulf Islands for some quiet, uncrowded anchorages and close encounters with wildlife.
With a minus-tide swing during the day for most of our trip, we saw lots of shore feeding from all sorts of creatures. My favorite prehistoric-looking birds were particularly successful at snagging lunch in many of our anchorages.
Guillemots, another bird that has become a favorite through our trips to these islands, also entertained us with their fishing antics.
It wasn’t until partway through the trip that racooning dominated the shoreline, with clear steps for catching and enjoying crab: trap, wash, splay, smash, chomp, and clean up.
The animals weren’t the only ones hard at work during our voyage. Even George was impressed by the concrete pour that we sailed past on our way up one of the channels, where the crew were replacing the base for the light marking an exposed rock.
For our part, we enjoyed a relaxing couple of weeks on the water, just watching all of the action. The trip featured a mix of sailing and motoring days, shifting from sun to rain and back. We had one rather bouncy night on a mooring ball during 40 mph gusts, but we were mainly gunkholing, tucking the Blue Mule into tiny, calm coves close to shore. We savored local shellfish, foraged for mushrooms on several islands, and even arranged a geocache adventure with family to a boat access-only island.
Setting out from Bellingham 
A kite parade showing our exiting wind angle 
The first of several lovely sunsets 
A gorgeous breeze to Sucia Island 
We were so distracted by fun rocks, an otter surprised us as it scrambled up the path… 
…but we caught up with the romp later 
Herons surely showing off dance moves 
Last point before crossing the Salish Sea into Canada 
Proper gunkholing at low tide 
Creatures blending in, large… 
…and small 
A new favorite spot at the head of Bedwell Harbor between the Pender Islands 
The Sea Goat’s passage through the Pender Islands might not be Blue Mule approved 
All is calm… 
…except when doggy visitors pass 
That riptide we sailed through looks so much calmer from the rocky shore 
Yet the rocks themselves impress 
As do the remains of giant trees 
Swimming lessons in the open sea 
This young eagle landed so close to our kayak… 
…I was too close to frame the shot 
The otter wanted his closeup too 
After fishing, there’s nothing like… 
…a nice sand bath 
How not to anchor your boat for the night amid 11-foot tide swings 
The technique works better for harbor seals 
Another lovely breeze 
The Sea Goat and George in their element 
Feral goat trimming the shoreline 
Always hopeful of spotting whales 
“Rock sausages” and ferries end up being our largest encounters 
Cozy low-tide anchoring in Wallace Island’s Conover Cove 
George’s arts-and-crafts creation, with the years of our visits, for the unofficial boat registry on Wallace Island 
A popular rock for starfish 
Fishing looks so good at low tide… 
…until someone else agrees… 
…and it’s time to seek cover 
Sailing in the sun with a chilly breeze 
A close ferry encounter 
When the rain stops and clouds lift 
Harlequins that may have traveled as far as we did 
Calm waters attract curious harbor seals 
A still night throughout Clam Bay 
George heads for “The Cut,” a decidedly Sea Goat-only passage 
A little handwashing before dinner 
A final calm night in Canadian waters 
Crossing the line back into the U.S. 
A welcome-back view of Mt. Baker 
Geocaching on Jones Island 
Treasure for everyone 
A secret waterfall we just discovered in a favorite anchorage 
Teeming with tiny fish… 
…and quickly growing goslings 
Do you have crab? 
We’re so cute, you must want to feed us crab! 
We’ll even perform for crab! 
The end of a fabulous adventure
Ditch the Dog 
it looks like you had so much fun!
That we did! It was a great trip.
A good read but mostly enjoyed the bird and raccoon photos and pictures of and legends with Melissa’s quilts!
Thanks! I had SOO many critter photos this time, it was hard to choose my favorites.
What pure joy. Are you looking away off to retirement and a coastal move? Happy gardening when you get home! ArleneSent from my Galaxy
Thank you! We had such a great time. No long-term plans as yet, but we’ll keep bringing the boat out as often as we can.