Summer Cruise 2021 | Days 34 & 35 | Windy Roche

I took the above photo to show the vigorous workout our AT burgee got on the way across the straight. You can also see our salt-sprayed windshield and the white-capped seas ahead.

We left Semiahmoo again on Saturday, waiting until a little later in the day when the wind seemed more moderate, and changing our trajectory from Bellingham, to Sucia...about half the distance.

It was rough, for sure, maybe 3 to 4 foot waves...enough to send water over the top of the boat and cause me to hold on to a grab rail. We powered through and made it to Shallow Bay unscathed although very salty.

We snagged a mooring buoy, spent a somewhat rocky night, and took off for Roche Harbor fairly early. More rough water through President's Channel.

We knew we probably wouldn't be able to get a spot on the dock. After radioing in, that was confirmed...30th on the day's wait list, with almost zero chance of a callback. We anchored in the harbor...a first for us, as we usually go through Mosquito Pass to Garrison.

It was windy, and we knew it would get worse. We were quite prepared to rock around for another night...and then the phone rang! They got us a spot..albeit a tightly packed one...and we motored in.

Boats, including large ones around us, were bobbing like crazy and the old wooden docks were creaking and groaning, but the wind calmed over night and this morning is partly cloudy but looking good.

Over the past few days, we've experienced and learned quite a bit about our boat, our skills, and our comfort levels. Part of this was deliberate...we need to push a little so we become more comfortable with ToG and variable sea conditions. (We are going to Alaska afterall!)

We had a great burger lunch at Lime Kiln Cafe yesterday, at a very busy Roche Harbor:

I took the following photo to shout out a hello to our niece Mandy and her husband Jon, who were enjoying a multicourse meal in San Diego. We were enjoying spaghetti...because we got zero crabs!

Mandy and Jon: