Sausalito

 Aaaah the old foggy bay. As we approached the gate the fog started to lift and made for dramatic scenery.

 Finally after two days the skies cleared as we sailed under the Gate.

 Sundown in Sausalito. Not as many boats in need of attention this year as the last time we landed. Have heard several went up on the rocks.

Moon rise over Angel Island.

Drakes Bay

 After two days at sea since leaving Crescent City we were looking forward to Sausalito and the San Francisco Bay. Was not to be as the tide was wrong at the Gate. Full moon time and the max flood approaches 5 knots, so we decided to stop at Drakes Bay near Pt Reyes and spend the day and leave for SF in the morning, with the tide. We were in the fog for 30 plus hours so nice to see land and a little clearing.
Having the new radar and the AIS in the fog was a real help reducing skippers anxiety levels.

The standard welcoming committee was present during our approach to the bay.

 Double click and enlarge to see the elephant seal beach. They bellowed most of the day

and night.

 panorama of Drakes Bay

Couple we met on the trip down the coast from Canada. Gary and Karina of Sea Rover II.

More Crescent City

 Went for a run one morning and discovered why it is called Crescent City! Beautiful crescent bay with nice beach just south of port.

 Another view of the "crescent"

 Mural outside of the bathrooms. Tile mosaic of the St George Reef Light on castle island. We were too far south of reef as it was dark to get a picture of the light . Gorgeous old structure.

As we were leaving Crescent City this schooner was c oming ashore.

Crescent City, California

Shortly after clearing the Umpqua bar we were sailing nicely in moderate seas at 5 knots. It was a beautiful Oregon Fall day. By the first dog watch the wind was blowing 20-25 and we were doing 8-9 knots. The gribs called for even more wind into the night so we shortened sail and still maintained 8-9 knots.

While underway my watches are the 1800-2200 and 0200-0600. So I get four hours sleep if all goes well. Before hitting the rack at 2200 I lowered the main and rolled in all but a handkerchief on the head stay. We were still doing 8.5 knots directly down wind. Prior to that we were doing a consistent 10 knots but the ride was a bit wild.

My wind instrument is defective so I estimated the wind to be 20-25 as it was dark it was  hard to see the sea state. When we got to Crescent City the boat in front of us told us they recorded 33 knots sustained.

 After crossing the Oregon border , heading South you have to  go around Point St. George. The reef in front of the Point stretches for miles and lots of sailors met their end on this reef. Tough stretch of water.

 Crescent City Lighthouse.

 The marina was wiped out by the tsunami generated by the Fukishima earthquake and the port of Crescent City has just rebuilt with the latest and greatest in docks designed to withstand another tsunami. Notice how close together the pilings are and they are made out of schedule 120 plastic with Teflon slides.

Sunset view of light house from the marina.

 

Winchester Bay ,Oregon

When heading South from Astoria if weather is a bit dodgy, I will pull into Newport and visit the Rogue Brewery while waiting for conditions to settle. Weather was clear and cool. After a perfect crossing of the Columbia River bar, meaning six foot swells we sailed to Winchester Bay and averaged about 5.5 knots for the trip. The weather was supposed to bring rain so we chose to drop into Winchester Bay.

Bars on the Oregon coast are notorious for more excitement than I usually like while sailing but we timed this crossing with the flood so was a non event. An added bonus was Eldon Best, who I had not seen in 30 years. He is living aboard his boat in the marina.

 Le Chat Beaute tied up to transient dock with storm clouds building in the back ground.

 Playing with our new camera and another shot of the dock.

 Not only is Winchester Bay a great salmon catching area but every year they have a huge chainsaw carving contest and several of the entries become a permanent part of the area around the small downtown.

Sometimes when it is time to go it is time to go! Such was the case after rain subsided and winds turn Northerly. Coast Guard posted no restrictions on the electronic board so at 1030 hours we headed for the bar. The Umpqua can be unpredictable and as we approached the bar all I saw was white water at 6-8 feet. I moved closer to the South jetty and saw the calm water. As we left the confines of the jetty there were 10-12 foot waves. Fortunately they were not breaking and only lasted a couple of hundred yards. The view heading South is of these high sand dunes. Quite popular with the four wheeler crowd.

Watmough Bay, Lopez Island

My favorite anchorage in the San Juan Islands.

 Le Chat Beaute in her anchorage.

 The rocky walls of the anchorage.

 The anchorage with the steep rock walls makes for a very pleasing vista. Trees seem to grow everywhere.

 The trail to main road. A perfect area to go for my run. Really enjoyed the running through the forest.

 

Jumping around a bit. Lost my camera on Lopez Island and am finding some photos I want to include. Anacortes was a very pleasant surprise. The city has several museums and some very unique parks.

 This park was built by the citizens of Anacortes in the late twenties under the direction of the artist.

 Another part of the park.

 One of the libraries built by robber baron Carnegie to buy his way into heaven. Now a good museum.

 Statuary of a pregnant woman that is a depiction of the artists wife.

 All around the town are these cutouts of people who uised to be movers and shakers in Anacortes.

 

On to Astoria

 Upon leaving the Straits of Juan de Fuca , Tatoosh Island is the last bit of land you see before turning south for Astoria. We plan to haul boat in Astoria and give it a bottom job. Always fun!

 $23 a night to tie up at city docks in Astoria. That includes power.

 LCB getting dry for the first time in over 2 years.

 After sanding the hull for three days we really needed a break. Astoria was the place Lewis and Clark wintered in 1805 on their voyage of Discovery.It is also where Union forces built a fort towards the end of the Civil War. Fort Stevens also saw increased activity during WWII when the only attack on the US mainland occurred. A Japanese submarine  shelled the base during the war. US forces did not return fire as the CO determined waste of time because sub was out of range of the antiquated armament.

 Willys Jeep fromWWII

 Gun emplacement. One disappearing six gun is left from the heyday.

Six inch disappearing gun. Called disappearing because it raises on jacks above parapet then drops down after firing. Technology dates fron WWI.