The wind is blowing about 10 knots in the anchorage when we arise this morning. We can’t see what the seas look like in the Strait from here. So, we decide to head for Partridge Point, and if the seas get ugly, we’ll change course for Deception Pass.

After about 30 minutes of being bounced around, we altered course for Deception Pass. We’d have to anchor outside Deception, in Bowman Bay, until slack tide. We’d never been in Bowman, but a friend recommended it. The closer we got to Bowman, the less we liked the looks of it. You had to be very careful navigating around Coffin Rocks and Gull Rocks, which lie across the entrance to Bowman. We made it into the bay, assessed the situation, and decided against anchoring. The swell rolling into the bay was really uncomfortable. So, we looked at the tide tables and decided we’d risk going through Deception Pass a little early since it was a neap tide. And, as it turned out, Deception was a piece of cake. We won’t be returning to Bowman Bay anytime soon.

Our run down from Deception to Port Madison was delightful. The wind just kept getting lighter and lighter the further south we got. By 1530 hrs, we had our anchor down in our favorite spot in Port Madison, where we had enjoyed the raccoons gamboling on the beach last year.

It’s my birthday today.  My friend, Marilynn Evans, always sends me a birthday gift before we leave each year, to open on my birthday.  And, my friend Marilyn MacGillivray gave Al a card to give me on my birthday also.  So, after dinner, we celebrated with a glass of wine as I opened my gifts.  Outstanding birthday!