April 08, 2012 - Decatur Island/Lopez Pass

Finally we got to use our boat again.  The weather was great too.  No skiing this weekend, but we will try to get in another trip or two before Grouse Mtn closes for the season.

I (Steve) drove over to Moses Lake on Friday to meet Kathy's parent and to get our kids back.  We left them there on Monday so they could spend some of their spring break with their grandparents.  Its so great that they get opportunities like these to get to know Kathy's parents.  They had a great time skiing, playing in the snow, playing games, etc.


Now, on to boating!


As soon as I returned from my 9 hour round trip to eastern WA we headed down to the boat to get underway.   It was a nice afternoon and the forecast for the weekend was great.  Almost no wind with lots of sunshine.  Unfortunately the current at Deception Pass was just about at it's peak with a current of more than 8 knots.  In an 8 knot boat that's not going to work so we headed for our usual staging location; Kiket Island.  We anchored there for the night.  After dinner we played a few games of "Clue" and "Phase 10" then retired for the evening.

After breakfast Saturday morning we pulled anchor so we could arrived at Deception Pass for slack current.  Then across Rosario Strait to Lopez Pass to one of our favorite off-the-beaten-path locations on the south end of Decatur Island.  We have heard that it is called Tumbalo, but it isn't names on our charts.  We dinghied over to the spit for some beach time, and an Easter Egg hunt (a day early).

Playing the game "Headbandz".
You ask other people questions so you can figure out what card is on your headband.

Kids having fun on the beach

Kevin and Cindy pose for the camera

Adagio anchored at Tumbalo.  Olympic Mountains behind.

Looking southwest toward Mud Bay/Hunter Bay and Lopez Island

Kevin finds some Easter Eggs - Decatur Island

You find some interesting creatures underneath the rocks

Our friend Steve S. is out with his daughter Aubrey and her friend.  They come by to say hello so we head back to the boat to assist with tying our boats together.  But they had it under control by the time we arrived.  We visit with Steve for several hours until it is time for them to leave so they can get home before dark.

Steve and Aubrey (and her friend) leaving after a nice visit

 We BBQ chicken and asparagus for dinner.  Food always tastes better on the boat :-)

On Sunday we sleep in until about 8:30, which is pretty late for our family.  After breakfast Kevin and I (Steve) go for a dinghy ride around Center Island.  It's a little cloudy and cool, but we go around Center twice.  Kevin drives the entire time.  He loves to drive the dinghy, FAST!

Kevin ready to take me for a ride

                                        Kevin checks the depth sounder, then scans the horizon

It's a lazy afternoon on the boat.  I take a little nap while Cindy, Kevin, and Kathy watch a Harry Potter movie.  We need to be back to Deception Pass around 5:30 for slack current so we pull anchor around 4:00.  On the way back Cindy reads a book while Kathy and Kevin play monopoly.

Kevin beating Mom at Monopoly.  Kathy looks a little concerned  :-)

What a wonderful trip.  It was only two nights, but the weather couldn't be beat for this time of year.  It's been so long since we've been out that we were starting to forget how nice boating is.  We never seem to have this much time at home to be with the kids, without distraction.

For us, this last picture is what our boating is all about:

Too bad Kathy had to step back to take the picture -- Great family time!