Pat Anderson
New member
OK, usual launch, Eddie Vine Ramp, between Shilshole and Golden Gardens, Seattle. There were about a gazillion little one-person sailboats racing aways out, and dang, if they weren't still there when we got back on Sunday. Full parking lot in the middle of November, I think I got the last open parking spot!
Across Puget Sound sort of southwesterly, down to Vashon Island, down Colvos Passage. MAJOR foggy, but water like glass! C80 chartplotter / radar got us through without a hitch, little Garmin GPSMAP76 backing it up...Around the south end of Vashon, up into Quartermaster Harbor.
This is one COOL place! Maybe 3-4 miles long, tucked in between Vashon and Maury Islands, very protected. We anchored off the Village of Burton, put the camperback up, and rowed the dinghy to shore for an Oscar break. Patty went in the neat little country grocery store there, and I was waiting outside with Oscar. The store lady (Sandy) came out and said "Dogs are welcome in this store, come on in!" I wonder what the Health Department thinks of that...she pampered Oscar with sausage treats and bacon treats, he was one happy puppy for sure! Sandy evidently likes company, because it took us a LONG time to make our purchase and get out of there, we now know all about her dogs too!
Back to the boat, a sundowner in the cockpit swinging on the hook, a little Roger Whitaker on the stereo ("A ship lies rigged and ready in the harbor, tomorrow for old England she sails") - it doesn't get any better than this! It was almost shirtsleeve-warm while the sun was still up amazingly. Blackbean soup and bread for dinner, and turned in early, with the Wallas going at a full tilt boogie.
Nice breakfast in the moring, then a quick run over to Commencement Bay, up the Thea Foss waterway, to check things out. They must have a law in Tacoma against putting up signs, nowhere did it say Visitor Dock nor was there any sign for a VHF channel to call, to all external appearances, they don't really seem to care for visitors there. Maybe somebody who knows the deal there can give us the straight scoop.
Then up to Redondo to check out the launch ramp there - it has been newly renovated, supposedly a floating breakwater and two floats - not in evidence this November day, however - one float, no breakwater. Might give it a try some time though. Out of Redondo, water was very smooth - running at 19 knots, covered some ground.
A bit further up, a HUGE change in conditions, encountered some pretty rough water, we wondered if a storm was blowing up - what I call "C-Dory weather!" After a little bit of a bumpy ride, back into Eddie Vine, about an 80 statute mile round trip. Easy retrieval, and back home to Fall City, just another great Daydream weekend overnighter!!!!
Across Puget Sound sort of southwesterly, down to Vashon Island, down Colvos Passage. MAJOR foggy, but water like glass! C80 chartplotter / radar got us through without a hitch, little Garmin GPSMAP76 backing it up...Around the south end of Vashon, up into Quartermaster Harbor.
This is one COOL place! Maybe 3-4 miles long, tucked in between Vashon and Maury Islands, very protected. We anchored off the Village of Burton, put the camperback up, and rowed the dinghy to shore for an Oscar break. Patty went in the neat little country grocery store there, and I was waiting outside with Oscar. The store lady (Sandy) came out and said "Dogs are welcome in this store, come on in!" I wonder what the Health Department thinks of that...she pampered Oscar with sausage treats and bacon treats, he was one happy puppy for sure! Sandy evidently likes company, because it took us a LONG time to make our purchase and get out of there, we now know all about her dogs too!
Back to the boat, a sundowner in the cockpit swinging on the hook, a little Roger Whitaker on the stereo ("A ship lies rigged and ready in the harbor, tomorrow for old England she sails") - it doesn't get any better than this! It was almost shirtsleeve-warm while the sun was still up amazingly. Blackbean soup and bread for dinner, and turned in early, with the Wallas going at a full tilt boogie.
Nice breakfast in the moring, then a quick run over to Commencement Bay, up the Thea Foss waterway, to check things out. They must have a law in Tacoma against putting up signs, nowhere did it say Visitor Dock nor was there any sign for a VHF channel to call, to all external appearances, they don't really seem to care for visitors there. Maybe somebody who knows the deal there can give us the straight scoop.
Then up to Redondo to check out the launch ramp there - it has been newly renovated, supposedly a floating breakwater and two floats - not in evidence this November day, however - one float, no breakwater. Might give it a try some time though. Out of Redondo, water was very smooth - running at 19 knots, covered some ground.
A bit further up, a HUGE change in conditions, encountered some pretty rough water, we wondered if a storm was blowing up - what I call "C-Dory weather!" After a little bit of a bumpy ride, back into Eddie Vine, about an 80 statute mile round trip. Easy retrieval, and back home to Fall City, just another great Daydream weekend overnighter!!!!