A booming voice calls out "Good morning, boys!" My wake-up call as the ferry workers arrive before dawn. Tuck away the sleeping gear and bring down the boom tent. A windless morning, calm, light overcast. Push away from the dock 6:25.
Motor out of Silver Lake following the channel that heads briefly south and then east. 6:40 decide to take the Nine Foot Shoal Channel, turn to the southwest.
6:55 green "5" shows are are motoring against the tide as we run alongside a string of orange and blue crab pot floats. Glassy calm water.
7:45 turn to port, leaving the channel to cross the shallows of Royal Shoal. The sun begins to break through the overcast.
8:10 crossing the shoal, Portsmouth Island in the distance to the east and the Cedar Island ferry headed should to the west. Thin overcast and the slightest hint of a breeze out of the southeast, not enough to help. Stop to refuel the outboard.
8:55 at marker "WR7" turn to West Bay. 9:10 the tree line of Cedar Island shows on the horizon to the south. 10:10 can see the entrance to West Bay in the distance. 10:25 no wind at all.
10:35 see white dunes below the tree line on Cedar Island, houses along the beach and a ferry coming out of the docks.
11:25 can see the channel markers to West Bay. Jelly fish and cownose rays in the clear water. 12:10 entering West Bay and feel the caress of a breeze. Sails up, making 2.1. Suddenly hot and sunny. Wind falters, motor sailing. 1:25 wind fills in from the east, sailing against. The entrance to Old Canal in sight. A few dark clouds and with the clouds comes more wind. 2.6, then 3.4, then 5.4. Feels good.
2:20 the wind carries us into the canal. 2:35 out of the west end of the canal, turn to port on Turnagain Bay.
Anchor down 2:50.
Late at night, jolted awake by a noise and the boat shuddering. I listen, wondering, worrying what it could have been. Hear large fish jumping in the bay. Decide it was probably a good sized fish that hit the side of SPARTINA. Go back to sleep.
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