Chapter 33 Neah Bay to Winter Dock End of Trip
4:30 AM sure came fast. Slack tide at the Columbia River Bar is 6:56 PM, after that it was an negative ebb tide.
Our friends Carl and Vickie of the Vickie Lynn gave me a "crab free" route from Neah Bay to the Columbia. This route would take us about 15 miles off shore and save us some time. My route back in May was 33 miles offshore. Mmmmm crab trap free huh, we will see. The weather was calling for NW 4ft swells at 7 seconds with wind waves less than 2 feet. I throttled up ASD to 2100rpms at a speed of 14.4mph once we cleared Neah Bay. We were scooting pretty good.
We left Neah Bay under darkness, something we have not done very much. With everything tied down we headed for the Pacific Ocean. It was daylight by the time we hit the Cape Flattery buoy. The current was on a flood to Juan De Fuca so as we rounded the marker it was a bit of confused seas. Our route took us in a southwest direction for about 10 miles this put the swells at our starboard stern. Little bit of rocking but not much and lowering the trim tabs a bit also helped with the rolling.
As we turned to more of a SSE direction Kay screamed in delight! Orcas! Finally! This entire trip we have seen zero killer whales. We began to think this animals were a myth. Well the sightings were brief, but my wife was now a happy camper. Unfortunately no pics as it was that quick.
Our course took us down a straight line all the way to the Columbia River. The swells were now following seas, so smoother, but we don't have auto pilot, so you are working the wheel a lot to keep a course. We did see 6 crab traps but they were between Cape Flattery and Cape Elizabeth. This is not a crab area. Good thing Kay could take over at the helm from time to time to give me a break. On one of those breaks, I looked at our wake and wow it was huge! If you stood in the main aft cabin the wake was higher than the window I was looking out of. Good think there were no sports fisherman as they would be saying a few choice words.
Kay and I were enjoying the ride. As we got closer to the Columbia, at our speed we would be over an hour early. Good deal. The wind also started to pick up. About then Kay shouts Crab trap!!! I turned the wheel hard to the right, then hard back to the left! Sh#t we are going to hit it!! Kay was looking back and we it with the aft starboard corner of the boat and heard a thump... man that was close. These derelict traps have disabled boats wrapping around their props and shafts and rudders. The mouth of the Columbia River is not a place to break down due to a crab pot. We were very very lucky!
As we rounded the 3rd green buoy on the Columbia River entrance we went port beam to this wind and the waves they were pushing. It wasn't all that bad, but we pushed to get up the river. Kay and I were talking about the one thing we thought made this entire trip North. As we were discussing the different areas and the many beautiful things we had seem, it happened. Just inside the bar in front of the light house a humpback whale rolled and then brought up its tail, shaking it side to side. This happened within 30 yards right in front of our boat! It seemed the whale was waving good bye, thanks for the visit. This was by far the best incident of the entire trip. I looked over at Kay she had tears in her eyes as I did.
We continued up river to Astoria. On the way were hugh flocks of pelicans and other sea birds. The salmon were here! This would also explain the whale inside the river. We decided to push for the winter dock. I have never run the boat at this speed up river. We met a couple of ships. By the time we made it to Fisher Slough it was pitch black. As I slowed and pushed into the slough I started to look for our dock. I then realized, I had never docked the boat here in the dark. Just then Kay ask if I knew where we were. I thought why is she asking me this stupid question as we pass our dock! Oh that why. I stated yes I do, that's why I am turning around.....sometime she can be so........right!
We made it from Neah Bay to the Columbia River Bar in 12 hours and to the winter dock in just under 15 hours.
I will share some final thoughts on our trip with numbers on the next and last post. I need to refuel ASD first and that will hurt.