We left Oak Bay a bit early on Sunday when it looked like the winds were starting to build. We only had to motor out of the marina for about 30 minutes before the wind gauges showed enough wind to at least set the main. Shortly thereafter, the winds filled in more, and we were once again completely under sail with our genoa headsail. Unfortunately the currents were pushing us too far to the west to make a rhumb line direct to Port Townsend, so we pulled out the spinnaker and launched it so that we could maintain a more easterly course. It, too, fell short but only about 2 miles too far west. We turned and furled the sails just as we had a good look at Whidbey Island and Mount Baker in the background.

Before long we were passing the lighthouse at Point Wilson, the official entry into Puget Sound.

We continued on the short distance to Port Townsend where we set anchor just offshore of the downtown area almost in the exact spot when we first anchored there with Jeff and Melody our first season aboard Lion's Paw in 2014. We launched the dinghy and went ashore, tying up at the temporary dock. We walked to the drydock area of the public marina where we tried to go into the building containing the Western Flyer of Steinbeck's "Sea of Cortez," but the doors were locked, and no one was there. Steve did get a peek at the transom through one of the windows, but that was the extent of that outing. We returned to the downtown area and hit the local pizza joint for dinner. We returned to the dinghy dock, and to our surprise, our dinghy had been untied by someone. Fortunately, the current kept it pinned to the dock, so we avoided a major disaster. We called it a day after that.

We awoke this morning to overcast skies and cooler temperatures. We returned to the dinghy dock, but this time we brought a cable lock and locked it to the dock. We did not want a repeat of yesterday's incident. We walked the beach shore out to the Port Wilson lighthouse and returned to town to catch the annual Memorial Day concert at the American Legion Hall performed by the local band which has been in existence for the last 25 years. The quality of the music was marginal at best, so we slipped out after only 3 songs and headed for lunch at Sirens. The sun had finally come out, so we sat on the second floor balcony overlooking Lion's Paw. We returned via dinghy and weighed anchor as we set out for today's destination-Port Ludlow. The winds were once again favorable, so we sailed most of the way, gybing back and forth across the sound as the wind was blowing directly down the Sound. We hoped to be able to use my reciprocal privilege at the sole yacht club slip, but it was unfortunately already occupied, so it was anchoring for the stay here. We finally launched the kayaks for the first time on this journey, and I was able to show Steve the inner harbor which has an entrance too shallow for Lion's Paw. The winds were relatively calm, and the water had only a slight chop. We finished the kayaking with a visit to the marina where I saw an Outbound 46 moored there. It looked relatively new, much like Lion's Paw, so I noted the VIN hoping to figure out its hull number and therefore its age. Unfortunately, the numbers did not help when compared to Lion's Paw's.

We finished the day with Steve's final dinner aboard. We travel tomorrow to Lion's Paw's new home in Eagle Harbor, and Steve will head off to visit his son and daughter-in-law who live just south of Seattle proper. I have my "to do" list which will keep me busy until Debra arrives on the 10th. I will also be spending a few days with Jeff and Melody in Kirkland, who invited me for a stay. I will also be picking up the new Volvo which has been waiting for me since May 6th.

I will try to keep up with blogs in the interim but only if events warrant them. Thanks for following along with my adventures.