We arrived in Newport, OR on Saturday morning. The trip from Neah Bay was good with all types of seas, winds, and a few lessons learned.

We headed out of Neah Bay at 4:00 am on Wednesday morning. The sky was clear and the stars were out, a nice way to begin the trip. The wind was fairly strong and the seas a bit messy as we rounded Cape Flattery and KIST rode them like she’d been doing that all her life rather than sitting on blocks for 25 years in the city of Spokane. As we began moving along the Washington Coast things settled down somewhat. I love the feeling of the swells and we had some large ones but far apart so to me it is a bit like a gentle rocking chair feeling! Most of the time we were within 3-8 miles off the coast and visibility was clear. We could see land during the day without any problems.

The winds seldom cooperated so we have not been able to do much sailing much to Kevin’s disappointment. It also meant that we weren’t able to go as fast as necessary to make it to Newport prior to sunset on Friday, instead arriving at about midnight. Transitioning from the ocean through the jetties can be tricky due to opposing current and waves, and changing channels due to the silt runoffs. Because we didn’t make it until way after dark we waited about 8 miles outside of the entrance until daylight before crossing ‘the bar’. It was a long, boring night just drifting around, watching for any traffic and to be sure we didn’t get too close to land. In the morning we listed to the VHF for the bar report and were relieved to hear that there were no restrictions which we learned meant that we could enter no problem. We arrived to a welcome from Kevin’s Mom and Dad who came to Newport to celebrate their 61st anniversary.

One of the things I’ve discovered is that I know more than I thought I knew as well as I don’t know as much as I thought I knew! One of the interesting things was that we were in the vicinity of the Columbia River entrance at dawn and there were a few ships waiting outside the entrance. They had been stationary for an hour or so as I watched them on the radar and then once the skies became lighter I was able to see them on the horizon. I was thinking there were waiting for a tug boat and hadn’t seen any so assumed they would stay put. As soon as the sun came up those ships came alive and two more came barreling in, man, was I glad that I wasn’t any closer or in between them and the entrance! I knew better waiting outside of Newport as I watched the only ship I’d see on the radar since I’d taken over the watch at 4:00 am come on the screen about 30 minutes before sunrise. Sure enough the ship bee lined for the harbor entrance and as the sun came over the hills made its way up the river.

Next stop is Coos Bay which we were hoping to leave for tomorrow but there are a couple of systems coming in so we’ll hole up here until Tuesday or Wednesday which means we’ll have some time to explore.