New Favorite Place - Watmough Bay

P

Pat Anderson

New member
On the southeast shore of Lopez Island. An amazingly pristine and secluded anchorage with a public beach (federal Bureau of Land Management) where we can land Baxter for - ahem - shore duty, and an absolutely awesome (in the true sense of the word) trail. Here is a shot of Toni and Russ on the trail, I just love this picture!

Toni_and_Russ_on_Watmough_Traiil_7_21_10.jpg
 
looks nice on the map and found a youtube video of the trail. looks like you would have to be careful of the wind if it was out of the northeast, but other wise a nice over looked bay. Is this the area that a grey whale is seen in all winter?? Pat what is the bottom like?? does it hold a anchor well?
 
Waggoner says "a northerly could be a problem." The holding is good, depth over most of it at high tide was 18-20 feet with a mud bottom. Don't know about the gray whale, we didn't see one. This is just such a cool spot, it seems nuts to us that everybody is rushing to Sucia and Jones to compete for the limited dock space and buoys, or to the marinas and spending the $$$. For us anchoring types, this is really as good as it gets!

starcrafttom":25d1pna7 said:
looks nice on the map and found a youtube video of the trail. looks like you would have to be careful of the wind if it was out of the northeast, but other wise a nice over looked bay. Is this the area that a grey whale is seen in all winter?? Pat what is the bottom like?? does it hold a anchor well?
Click to expand...
 
El and Bill introduced us to Watmough Bay a few years ago. It is one of their favorites as well. We've anchored up at the head near an impressive sheer cliff at low tide There was good holding. The only issue is some rocks about 50 feet off the cliff face. They were no hazard to us just something to be aware of.
 
We have idled through this spot twice in the last two years on the way back to Deception Pass. Always said "next year". "next year" is here. It is going to be our first stop the second week in september, on our way up the inside passage.
 
I've been through Watmough Bay a number of times ever since one of the crew members on the Sylvan Spirit (the passenger ferry that goes between Decatur and Anacortes) told me that it is her favorite spot in the Islands. Indeed, it is beautiful with sheer cliffs rising right out of the water. I've never been ashore there, but I'll make it down one of these days. It's a quick trip from Decatur and sounds like it is worthy of an afternoon at least.
 
really? can you see the northern lights from there? i have never seen the northern lights and did not think that you could from our area. How do you know when they will appear?? is their something that has to happen, a set of conditions that I can monitor, or is it just luck??
 
Tom asked about seeing the lights in the San Juan Islands. Yep, we have seen them there - on a dark middle of the night. Also at Lake Powell, Utah and along the Tennessee River.

Certainly not the brilliance of the north country, but beautiful all the same. We lived in a cabin on the shore of frozen Hudson Bay in January some years ago - brilliant. And, of course on winter trips to Alaska - twice we have had to look south for the aurora - north of the Brooks Range and again on the arctic shore of NW Canada.

Keep an eye to the north anywhere you are - they are not a winter treat - simply that it's dark earlier and folks see them - but, any time in the dark night they are possible.

I'm sure there's an Internet site to tell you when probabilities are highest (solar storms) -

They are one of the joys of anchoring put in dark coves while cruising.
 
starcrafttom":25d5ygdd said:
i have never seen the northern lights and did not think that you could from our area.
Click to expand...

I have seen several displays of the the Northern Lights from our homestead in Arlington. One evening in particular the display rivaled any that I saw in all the years I lived in Montana. (You need to move out of Marysville.... :wink ). (But then, you are closer to the Everett Launch Ramp than we are). Next time I see them, I'll call you on the phone.
 
Over the years I have seen them several times in puget sound and up in the islands. Many times you might not recognize them as they aren't always very colorful. To me, most of the time they were hazy, whitish/bluish sort of. Hard to describe, but in the dark you knew they weren't clouds.
 
Good morning! Couldn't sleep obviously.

We are on our 1st full day of vacation. Eventually heading up to the Montague CBGT along w/ other Brats and then to points nearby in the Gulf Islands perhaps (if they caan tolerate us) hanging out w/ Roger and Janet on dreamer. We put in at Port Townsend's Boat Haven yesterday afternoon where we happened to run into Plan-C's Dave McQuethy (Nice seeing you Dave!).

Inspired by Pat Anderson's thread we spent the night here at Watmough Bay. Regrettably, even though it is mid-week, about six other boats had the same inspiration (no doubt also loyal follower's of the C-Brat website!). About 4 sail boats and 2 other power boats - all bigger then us - are here.

Anyway, fortified by Barry's (Colobear) suggestion to add some more chain to our anchor line (now have 40 foot of it), I had been wanting to try to anchor out. This is our 1st time on the hook (I know... such darn newbies even though we have had the boat for a couple of years).

Real pretty here as everyone stated. Hopefully, once the sun comes up we can get the Zodiac down and get ashore for a look around. Eventually gotta get a small outboard for it since those inflatables row so poorly.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing some folks at Montague and hopefully some descent weather (in spite of the minor cold front coming in a few days).


Take care,
Dan & Tanya on C-Renity
 
I am sure some of you saw this months Northwest Yachting
magazine. The beautiful picture on the cover (with the yellow
Alaska Series Inflatable pulled up on the beach) is Watmough
Bay. Dan, I am sure this added to the number of boater that
you shared the Bay with!

Also in this months NWY, there is a feature on the new Ranger 27.
Nice!

Robbi
 
This is not Watmough Bay, I took a picture of Traveler and Daydream rafted there but haven't uploaded it yet. Not much prettier sight than a CD25 and a Ranger R27 rafted anywhere though. This is at Matia. The R27 is an incredible boat

am_and_Traveler_at_Matia_Cove_Another_Shot_7_18_10.jpg
 
Pat

Nice photo, they are up to unit #19 on the Ranger 27's, so they are selling well and with an intro price in the 140's that really makes it a sweet deal.
 
Hull #19 yes but, as someone who will go unnamed here told me, they didn't start with Hull #1 but Hull #11. A slick way to look like you're selling more boats than they are. Doesn't bother me, that's one fine looking boat!

Charlie
 
Robbi.... Had not seen the cover story w/ Watmough previously. Perhaps that is indeed why there were so many folks there (more likely then all of them having read about it on the C-Brats website!).

Pat.... Even though the picture of Traveler and Daydream was not taken at Watmough, your comments - and the fact it is about the closest destination in the San Juans from Port Townsend - were enough to entice us to try it.

Take care and thanks for the additonal comments. Sorry we will not have the pleasure of either of your company at the Montague Gathering.

Be good,
Dan & Tanya
 
Here is a photo of how the trail enters Watmough. You can see the sheer cliffs on the left.
Good swimming there for those who can tolerate below normal water temps,
but it's warmer than the open water. For me it's the best place to swim on Lopez.

Watmough.sized.jpg
 
Back
Top