I’m writing this in the red glow of the wheelhouse courtesy lights on this calm night at Spencer Spit on the northwest side of Lopez Island. Lisa and Connor have retired to their respective staterooms, bushed from a long day of sea air. I’m tired, but I want to capture some of this experience while it’s fresh in my mind.
I’ve dreamt of moments like this. All around me is calm water. A half-dozen other boats float nearby at anchor. All is silent except for the small sounds of the ship: a creak from somewhere as the boat gently rocks, a soft slap of a wave. The waxing crescent moon provides a shimmering runway of light from the boat to shore, ever changing in the ripples, mesmerizing. I smell the faint odor of a campfire on the beach and something else – a primordial salty smell that reminds me of beaches and seaweed and boats. I am happy.
Spencer Spit has long been a favorite spot of ours in the San Juans and it nice to be back here early on this trip. Sandy beaches, driftwood forts and walking trails make this a fun place to visit with kids. The protection is surprisingly good, even with a frequent ferry that runs through Lopez Pass. The scenery is breathtaking. Here’s a view south over the spit from the flybridge:
And here’s shot of Indiscretion looking north. What an incredible backdrop to take in. You can see why this part of the world is a favorite for boaters.
Spencer Spit has no dock, so we’ve used our anchor buddy to keep the heavy tender floating while we go ashore. I’ve been wanting to try this out and it’s dead simple to use. I’m kind of amazed that it works so well. We’ll see how I feel about it tomorrow at six in the morning when the dogs need to go ashore.
