MV Dirona travel digest for Pacific Northwest Summer 2012

Position: 48°45.53'N, -122°53.95'W

Sucia Island is one of our long-time favorite anchorages in the San Juan Islands. A few early-season boats are here, and the beautiful tractor tug Lindsay Foss preceded us in. We suspect it is waiting for a ship to escort into Anacortes.

Position: 48°30.79'N, -122°36.38'W

At Anacortes for Trawler Fest. We'll be presenting Saturday morning.

Position: 48°30.70'N, -122°32.63'W

Maersk Cameron at the Anacortes refinery near our anchorage in Padilla Bay

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.87'W

The Pier 57 Ferris Wheel, still under construction, viewed from our moorage at Bell Harbor.

Position: 47°25.14'N, -122°25.88'W

Beachcombing during low tide at Point Heyer.

Position: 47°25.14'N, -122°25.88'W

Calm waters off the KVI tower.

Position: 47°25.14'N, -122°25.88'W

Scuba divers at the fish haven off Point Heyer.

Position: 47°38.60'N, -122°30.11'W

Landslide off our anchorage at Murden Cove. Shoring that up looks like an expensive operation.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.87'W

Celebrity Infinity leaving its berth at pier 66 as we leave ours.

Position: 47°38.61'N, -122°30.11'W

Seattle Traffic radioed us as we were anchoring. They noted we were well west of the lanes north of Yeomalt Point and wondered what our intentions were.

Position: 47°38.61'N, -122°30.11'W

The Hanjin Geneva en route from Seattle, viewed from our anchorage at Murden Cove.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.87'W

The classic wooden yacht Olympus coming alongside for the Bell Street Classic Weekend shortly before we left the marina for Murden Cove.

Position: 47°39.96'N, -122°23.87'W

Returning out through the big lock after picking up a a load of fuel this morning at Covich-Williams. The small lock temporarily is closed. They sure pack a lot of boats in there--and this isn't even a busy day.

Position: 47°35.70'N, -122°30.17'W

Going to stay out an extra night.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

... don't like starting.

Position: 47°36.76'N, -122°21.19'W

When the cruise ships leave pier 66, you can almost touch them from the Edgewater Hotel patio.

Position: 47°20.04'N, -122°29.26'W

Anchored with a view to the lights of Tacoma.

Position: 47°6.75'N, -122°44.79'W

Position: 47°23.83'N, -122°26.93'W

Position: 47°23.83'N, -122°26.93'W

Mini hydroplane tearing through Quartermaster Harbor.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

Celebrity Infinity coming alongside at pier 66 early this morning.

Position: 47°31.27'N, -122°30.75'W

Sunset from Yukon Harbor.

Position: 47°31.27'N, -122°30.75'W

Looking west from Yukon Harbor in the early morning light.

Position: 47°31.27'N, -122°30.75'W

Department of Fish and Wildlife on a boat inspection.

Position: 47°35.26'N, -122°26.51'W

Kitsap Transit's fast ferry Rich Passage I en route from Seattle to Bremerton.

Position: 47°32.86'N, -122°30.20'W

Position: 47°32.86'N, -122°30.20'W

Sunset from the anchorage.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

The piracy threat level is probably about -2 at Bell Harbor today with the 418-foot US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton moored alongside.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

The US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton heading into a foggy Puget Sound this morning.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

Testing the pumping systems off Pier 66.

Position: 47°35.72'N, -122°30.17'W

David Baker sent us this picture he took of Dirona anchored at Blakely Harbor with the Seattle skyline in the background.

Position: 47°38.42'N, -122°41.17'W

We're anchored at the head of Dyes Inlet for Silverdale's annual Whaling Days. The public dock is packed for the event.

Position: 47°38.42'N, -122°41.17'W

Friday-night fireworks at Silverdale's Whaling Days. The show was impressive: we were only a few hundred yards away from the barge and felt like we were right underneath.

Position: 47°38.42'N, -122°41.17'W

The Joey James Dean Band on stage Saturday night at Silverdale's Whaling Days.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

A nearly-full moon rising over the Seattle skyline next to the mast of the HMCS Oriole.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

HMCS Oriole in front of the destroyer USS Halsey. They're here for Seafair weekend.

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

Bringing in the colors on the USS Halsey.

Position: 47°38.53'N, -122°30.11'W

Position: 47°39.53'N, -122°22.20'W

Position: 47°39.53'N, -122°22.20'W

Getting lifted for anti-fouling paint at Canal Boatyard.

Position: 47°38.70'N, -122°30.21'W

Position: 47°32.82'N, -122°30.15'W

Position: 47°32.82'N, -122°30.15'W

Racoons gathering breakfast at low tide off Blakely Island. At least a dozen are out there.

Position: 47°36.60'N, -122°21.97'W

Parasailer just lifting above the city, viewed from the dinghy in Elliott Bay.

Position: 47°35.88'N, -122°23.95'W

Sunrise over Seattle this morning.

Position: 47°43.62'N, -122°39.16'W

Position: 47°36.62'N, -122°20.86'W

Last night we watched the occupant of this tent stow all manner of gear in his craft, moored along the tribal docks at Bell Harbor. It looks like he's heading of for a big trip.

Position: 47°25.12'N, -122°25.92'W

Position: 47°35.73'N, -122°30.13'W

Position: 47°36.40'N, -122°22.12'W

Seattle at dawn as we approach Bell Harbor this morning from Blakely Harbor.

Position: 47°42.50'N, -122°31.84'W

Moonrise over Port Madison.

Position: 47°43.68'N, -122°29.99'W

Dawn as we leave Port Madison heading towards Hood Canal.

Position: 47°54.83'N, -122°31.02'W

Fishers packed Point No Point this morning. Even more are outside the picture frame.

Position: 47°53.44'N, -122°36.48'W

This driftwood sea monster has been on Pt. Hannon as long as we've been visiting Hood Canal.

Position: 47°52.01'N, -122°38.03'W

Heading under the Hood Canal bridge. The clearance is 30', but we had about 5' to spare on a 7' tide.

Position: 47°45.65'N, -122°44.25'W

Fog lifting over the Ballistic submarine sevice hanger at Bangor.

Position: 47°24.84'N, -122°52.93'W

Position: 47°24.84'N, -122°52.93'W

Enjoying the warm weather and calm seas off Sunset Beach.

Position: 47°24.84'N, -122°52.93'W

The head of Hood Canal is a much cozier-feeling anchorage than the chart implies--we quite like it. We were here two years ago for July 4th and had a great time. A few small boats buzz about during the day, but nobody else is anchored--the place is calm and silent at night. And this time we had a visitor: Rachel, who co-owns one of the nearby houses, paddled out with a bottle of wine to introduce herself, and came on board for an enjoyable visit.

Position: 47°27.56'N, -123°6.48'W

With the narrowness of the Hood Canal waterway and highway 101 nearby, this anchorage reminds us a bit of the Columbia River trip. Much like our anchorage last night, it's much cozier feeling than the chart implies. And we actually like having the highway nearby-- the noise isn't a problem and we enjoy seeing the diversity of vehicles going past.

Position: 47°27.56'N, -123°6.48'W

Sunrise from Lilliwaup Bay.

Position: 47°48.69'N, -122°49.07'W

We're tucked against the shore in a small cove off the Whitney Point spit. The anchorage is a little deep and tight for swing room close to shore, but its such a pretty spot that we had to make it work.