We're tied up in Sidney right now at a friendly yacht club dock, but we had expected to be somewhere up in the Gulf Islands right now, even considering the favorable forecast of northwesterly winds (which puts them at our back, just as the southeasterlies were behind us on the way up here). The winds and our destination lined up perfectly and we crossed the Strait of Georgia in some moderately rough seas at speeds up to and over eight knots. Yes, that includes a little bit of a following current in places. But it meant we were routinely at hull speed, which is around seven knots in this boat.
Considering the progress we were making, we decided not to stop in the islands and anchor out, but come all the way on into Sidney and moor up again. I'm not sure why exactly, but it does allow one to sleep more easily when one is firmly attached to a dock and behind a solid rock breakwater, and hey, there is Internet and electric heat. The primary motivation is to put us as close as possible to the border, so we can make a fast crossing into the US in the morning and clear Customs. After that, much depends on the weather; we might strike for Deception Pass again, or try to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca for Port Townsend. Or, though unlikely, we might get trapped in the islands for the night.
Right now, the forecast is still favorable though; more northerlies, fairly brisk, and the clear skies and sunshine that comes with them. We made good time on the way up with the southerlies at our back, but southerlies bring rain and gloom, while the fresh northwest wind brings blue sky and lovely sunsets (such as the one we're experiencing now in Tsehum Harbour... sorry, no picture, I'm too tired to dig out the camera).
I have this problem, though, where when it comes time to head home, all I want to do is get home. I don't see the point of being on the trip anymore, and I rush. It's silly; there is no real reason we shouldn't hang out here and explore a couple of days (well, there is the cat; we have people looking in on her, but we don't like taking extra time imposing on them or to leave her mostly by herself for too long) but I'm all in a hurry to get back to Seattle before the weekend. I have work to do, but I could plug in and do most of it in any marina. Maybe it's just the cost; I spent what I budgeted, now we're done, time to go. But a lot of what we might do doesn't really cost anything extra.
Whatever it is, I need to figure out some way to get over it; half of any trip is the homeward leg, it's a shame to think I am wasting by exhausting myself to get back a little faster.
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