We Don't Need No Stinking Crab Pots!

During the layover time in Brookings we rented a car and made several drives out along the stunning Southern Oregon and Northern California coast lines. We visited the Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City, Ca. We visited the Samuel Boardman forest district that had many small pullout areas with views of the ocean after a short invested hike. Believe me, it is worth it. Get out of the car and walk just a ways on the Coast Trail and don't be afraid to get a little wet or muddy. 

Miss Patty Wagon did a nice job getting us to the next leg of our journey. During our delay we washed and tidy our boat making her ready for the next leg. Captain Couch showed me how to start the genset by first pushing down the glow plug/shut down override and holding 10 seconds while I hit the starter, turning over the engine. Once started, watch the gage until oil pressure is reached then release the override. This generator makes it possible to run the electricity without being hooked up to an external power source. Another fascinating thing about boats... You can make your own fresh water! On board we have a reverse osmosis system that desalinates sea water! Awesome! I'm thinking a couple solar panels, run this on french fry oil and "Voila!" HOME

We left out of Brookings, Oregon on Sunday, Feb. 25. Around 10 a.m. to make our next harbor in Eureka, California by slack tide at 5:05 p.m.

 

 

This day was full of sun and warmth, much needed by us cave dwellers who have been waiting out the wind in port several days now. It felt wonderful to be making our way further south. We immediately passed gray whales on our port side headed north! Next we moved into the channel to make our way inside St George's reef. We see large swells that make for spectacular breaking waves against the backs of scattered remains of the sunken landmass. Chris tells me that this area was above sea level and extended miles out during the last ice age. Now we see peaks of rock with occasional spruce standing alone in the ocean while the water works the magic of rolling up their backs, casting a spray net out into the air several times a minute. Little worlds all by themselves. The sentinel known as St. George's reef lighthouse is out further, 10 miles. I can see it but my camera cannot. I borrowed a picture from the internet to show this grand ol' decommissioned courageous piece of nautical history. Someday I will get a closer look. Chris tells me he has climbed up on the island and around the lighthouse itself! Being out on the ocean most of his adult life he has seen the good and bad of this magical place, all.

We have boat, water, wind, waves, sun and the enemy ... Crab Pots! Now, there is a big ocean out the folks. Seems like the road would be wide enough for everyone but guess what, it's not. We have a navigational hazard almost every minute of the entire day. If we were not dodging them we were looking for them so we could avoid hitting these things. They are the cages that lay at the bottom of the ocean to ensnare crabs with long lines. Attached are 1, 2 or 3 floats marking their location on the surface, often floats submerged below the waves. They are laid out by boats in the ocean literally everywhere but mostly out to 400 foot depth, sometimes deeper, miles from shore. Now I like crab as much as the next person but after the day we had I think I'll avoid it for awhile. We missed them all ...except one. That little bugger snuck up on us while we struggled to see past the sun glare in our line of vision and direction.

After we connected with the crab pot my Captain immediately but the boat motors into neutral and watched out the rear of boat as the parts of the floats scattered out behind us. Dam. We could hear the change in the engine sounds immediately, we were entangled in the line. Chris worked the boat into reverse to clear what he could of the line, slowly tested, listened, watched and checked below. Finally he felt confident the boat was sound enough to proceed forward. Later Chris tells me that as Captain of the Coast Guard cutter he was often called out to tow in disabled boats that had been caught up, sometimes even in their own lines or cables. The sea on its own is an amazingly treacherous place and humans leave these obstacles all over in it.

We made it to our next bar at Humboldt Bay 5 1/2 hours after our departure from Brookings, Oregon. This was ahead of the slack during the tide. We arrived when the tide was still ebbing, causing large 14 foot waves to break in the entrance of the bar between the jetties. The water was rushing back into the ocean while the tide was receding, ocean covered very densely in crab pots. Large swells rocking us about lifting the boat high, sideways, rolling us side to side. Chris moved us away from the bar area after checking conditions with the Coast Guard and we waited until it was closer to 5 p.m. The report was small craft advisory, 10 to 12 waves, breaking at 14 feet. Hazardous bar conditions also required life jackets which he had out and ready. As we approached I was instructed to put on my life jacket. Now this dance with the water is like watching an athlete. Chris is a master at watching and timing these waves. He is intent, concentrating hard on speed, position, location of land, bar, wave and boat. He increased speed as we moved up the back of the waves allowing us to move into the safety of the sheltered jetty area. My hands held the back of my chair so tight that I only realized how hard after I tried to let go. This was my second big bar entrance with this boat and I can't tell you the terror, the thrill, or the joy. It is only something that can be experienced. Now we think the water is sheltered inside that bar? Nope, large enough waves for a huge wave runner type water craft brings surfers into the bar for a little action! Brave, crazy, thrill seekers? Maybe we all are to some degree.

All tucked in our safe little harbor at Eureka, California. Watching wind for the next couple, see when we can make another day happen on the beautiful place called the Pacific Ocean. Well done, Cap.