AquaticRV Day 5: Port Ludlow

Burner Point at Port Ludlow.

I never paid much attention to weather until I became responsible for everyone's safety on the boats I operated.  Weather is less of a factor ashore, where if I want, I can just pull the motorhome off the road and wait things out.  On the water, you spend more time thinking about whether the conditions are going to affect your schedule.  I, like many boaters, have exercised our worse judgment when trying to keep a schedule when foul weather got thrown into the mix.

All of my prior cruises in the San Juan Islands were aboard boats not outfitted with radar or AIS, and on every one of those cruises, we encountered fog.  Our cruise to the PYC Port Ludlow Rendezvous was a completely different story.  While fog was encountered, the Catalina 445 we were aboard was fitted out with the latest electronics.  Vessels would announce themselves on AIS which would show up on the chart plotter, and the boat's radar was illuminating everything from land masses and boats to the smallest buoy.

Sunday, August 5, 2018 - Port Ludlow

Sunday greeted everyone with fog.  Across the bay, you could just make out of forms of boats swinging at anchor.  Visibility was under one mile, and the air was crisp.

At anchor, Port Ludlow.

The harbor with the fog starting to burn off.

I'm a morning person, so even when I'm not at home getting up at 4 am to going swim 2,500 meters, I still tend to wake up early with or without an alarm clock.  One of the payoffs of being an early riser on cruises is getting to admire the splendor that is morning light.

PYC burgees adorn several of the boats.

Those not staying until Monday departed between 10 am and 1 pm, although Joannie and Nick Johnson bugged out aboard Molodez at the crack of dawn to get the boat back to Friday Harbor.  The crew of Forever More spent the day napping, visiting, walking, and kayaking.

Laura Mack and Samatha (Sam) Dubay

PYC hosted continental breakfast served on the docks.

Fog starting to lift in the bay.

The Olympic Mountains in the distance (25 miles).

Bob Dubay trying his hand at kayaking.

Our last full day in Port Ludlow was very relaxing.  As we waved farewell to departing members as they continued their respective cruises, we looked forward to our own trip up the east side of Whidbey Island, a stretch of water new to all of us aboard Forever More.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much