Is it necessary to go to the San Juan Islands, Desolation Sound, or further North to have an enjoyable boating vacation? Not at all. Last summer Vela, in company with Looking Glass, did not go North of the Edmonds port.
Most days we traveled 25 miles, except for the lay days. Enough distance to have a good sail each day, but also time to do some exploring on shore.
First to Gig Harbor, Port Madison, then through Agate Pass to the Paulsbo YC. We enjoyed that town and moorage so much we decided to stay a second night. Everyone at the Club was so friendly they really made us feel welcome. There are many interesting shops and eateries in Poulsbo. Noteworthy is the Mexican restaurant not far from the Poulsbo Bakery. You walk through a narrow ‘alley’ to the back and the restaurant. The Cafe Internationale is also very good. It’s ethnic menu changes daily. Go through the downtown, almost to the curve in the road as you walk to the NW.
Then we had a good sail down Port Washington Narrows and up Dyes Inlet to Silverdale. Since there were not any strong winds we stayed at the dock overnight. We had dinner at the YC Broiler, very nice.
Winslow was the next destination so that two crew from Looking Glass could catch the ferry to Seattle and on to other travels. We had always anchored out in Eagle Harbor, but this time we tried the reciprocal moorage, Eagle Harbor YC.
The next day we made the big trip to Edmonds. The marina was very busy and noisy, but that gave us lots to watch.
The following day was very wet. So we decided to motor to Shilshole and CYC’s facilities. In route we met friends from Winslow heading North, hunkered down in their rain slickers.
The wind was light for our sail back to Port Madison. We looked up friends for a short visit, until the current was running South in Agate Pass. Then we continued on to Illahee State Park for an overnight stay.
Port Orchard was our next stop. We found we could go to a city bus and buy a day pass for a dollar (coupon book). That gave us unlimited travel in both Port Orchard and Bremerton, plus a pass to the little ferry that goes to and from. We rode the ferry to Bremerton to tour the battleship Missouri.
The next day Looking Glass headed for Blake Island and a little R & R in the sunshine on the south side. Vela sailed in the wind, but caught up in time to let the crew set foot on the island for a bit, before proceeding. We dropped the hook along Flageria in Colvos Passage that evening. It was a little on the deep side for anchoring, but it was okay. We had a good night.
On a good light breeze we sailed to Dockton in Quartermaster Harbor. It was raining by the time we arrived, but fortunately not for too long. We could walk to the store at Burton and pick blackberries along the way. The reciprocal dock is very nice and very near their club house.
In the morning it was raining again. So we motored out into Commencement Bay. Then we sailed South, in moderate to heavy rain, fetching up in Wollochet Bay, where it seemed like buckets of water were coming down. Wollochet Bay is lined with private residences, so we couldn’t go ashore — at least we did not know where we could.
By this time we were getting close to home. After battling more rainy days than dry ones we motored home, passing up the last two days of the two week cruise and all of the Southern Sound destinations.
Vela has been to all these places several times before still we could have spent more time enjoyably at some of the docks or anchorages this time. Just the same, we counted twenty-one things along the way that we had not done in years past.
It was relaxing going just around twenty-five miles a day, either sailing or motoring. In fact we came home with Olympia gas in our tank. We had a good time and fond memories.
Betty Hansen, Vela