Chapter 4 Port Angeles to Friday Harbor

We departed Port Angeles under clear sunny skies for the 40 mile run to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. Seas were calm and like glass as we followed a tug with a tow out of the harbor. Our course would take through Cattle Pass and based on our speed 0f 8 knots, we would be at the pass just as the tide started to come in, or called a flood.  I didn't notice it for a while, but when I turned around to see Port Angeles......WOW!  The Olympic Mountains stood high and proud with a little snow on top.  They reminded me of the June Lake in California.  Just wow.... Oh and little brother no sign of Big Foot!!!

We called Seattle Traffic on 5A to give them our intentions to cross commercial shipping lane. These folks are like air traffic controllers, except for water.  It was a real pleasant ride to Cattle Pass.  Cattle Pass has a lot of rocks so you have to take the entrance mid-channel.  This was our first time going through a passage like this during a flood and wow.  We were doing 8kts and when we got into the pass our speed jumped to 14kts!  The heavy current pushed us around a bit, but a little power and we were ok.  In our up coming travels we will come across many of these passes, and we will have to wait until slack tide to cross.

We were now officially in the san Juan Islands.  As we rounded the island we called Friday Harbor for a slip assignment. BWB was it and we didn't know it at the time, but the primo spot!  You can see the sunrise and sunset off of Mt. Baker.  Nice warm sunny day.  I like this retirement thing.

After paying our slip fee for 2 nights, we walked the town.  Everything is so green and the old store fronts are in great condition with hanging baskets everywhere.  Kay visited art stores, I went to Ace hardware for a few things. We are looking forward to our day adventure.  Here is a link to the town:

http://www.visitsanjuans.com/about-islands/friday-harbor-san-juan-island

Port Angeles and the Olympic Mountains

U.S. Coast Guard Station

If we hit a log like that we would be calling the coast guard

This is going through Cattle Pass, notice the water

Cattle Pass with a light house

Water moving good and fast

This pic shows the current

Ferry Service from the main land

Parked in Friday Harbor

 

Large wood docks here

Park at the Marina

Cool Totem Pole

Looking down the dock at the marina

Showing Yacht Club Pride

Float Plane service

 

Sea life at the dock

ASD all snug and parked

Enjoying the good life

Our view from the boat.  Mt. Baker

Sunset