Two days after we arrived in Seattle, we were scheduled to haul the boat out for new bottom paint, and to switch out the old props for the newly repaired props.  Meanwhile, I was busy doing most of the provisioning. Everything finally came together, and it looked like we had a weather window this morning, so we took it.  

We got away from the dock at 0645 hrs, bidding farewell to the sights of Seattle.  

I spotted bright yellow mustard blooming on this bluff.

We were loving the fact that the wind was calm.  However, when we checked to see whether the tide was rising or falling, we discovered that today is a spring tide!  That’s all we need.  Luckily, the current would be going with us.  OK.  That’s good.  Pretty soon we were doing 10 to 11 knots and loving it.  

I decided to ask Siri what the wind speed was at Smith Island, out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  Siri replied, “The wind speed at Smith Island is 2 knots.”  Sounds great.  Just to make sure Siri knew what she was talking about, Al turned on the weather channel.  According to the weather channel, the wind at Smith Island was blowing 12 knots.  So, who do you believe?  We had to choose between going the long way to Blind Bay, up through Deception Pass; or gamble that Siri knew more than the weather channel.  Al decided to put his money on Siri, and headed straight up Admiralty Inlet, which would save us 15 miles.

We were doing great until we got into the tide rips off Point Wilson.  Al headed for the eastern shore, where the rips are less severe, and we toughed it out.  

I took this shot of Partridge Point, where the rips were starting to subside.  Luckily, the wind was still calm, and we were making good time. Even so, it was like riding a bucking bronco.

Once through Lopez Pass, we opted to head for Blind Bay, rather than spending the night at Hunter Bay, since we were making such good time.  Getting around Spencer Spit was a bit of a squeeze, because of the spring tide.

By 1420 hrs, we had the hook down in Blind Bay, where we were the only transient boat in the anchorage.  Life is good.