Folks who might wonder just what we PNW boaters actually
enjoy doing besides motoring around in our fur lined parkas, praying
the diesel furnace doesn't act up, and waiting for 10 minutes of clear
weather between weeks-long rainstorms might be interested in this list
of a few activities available just a few hours' cruise from Seattle.
Warning before wading in- it's long. :-)

*****************

An Excellent "Case" For South Sound Boating


It's going to be summer very soon. Most Puget Sound boaters will be
heading "north", of course, with a wide array of generally defined
destinations. "North" can be as nearby as the San Juans for some
boaters, while others won't feel the least bit northerly until
crossing the international border into the Gulf Islands. Still others
will insist that nothing closer than Desolation Sound, The
Broughtons, Johnstone Strait, the Queen Charlottes or SE Alaska can
be a worthy destination for a summer cruise. Our definitions of
"north" may be highly subjective, but there are some common elements
we will be seeking regardless whether our intended cruising waters are
as near as Orcas Island or as remote as Glacier Bay.

Every boater would have different priorities, but if we were to all
compare lists of desired amenities and experiences many would include;

1. Protected waters.
2. Wild or underdeveloped shorelines.
3. Relatively uncrowded conditions
4. Good fishing or foraging.
5. Some access to fuel and perishable provisions.
6. A wide array of moorage and anchoring options.
7. Quaint waterfront villages unspoiled by tourism.

All of those reasons for heading "north" are valid. A cruise to the
San Juans or beyond won't disappoint any boater looking for any
combination of the seven items listed above.
It appears that this will be another year when the dials at the fuel
dock pumps will be spinning faster than the reels on a Vegas slot
machine, so many boaters will be considering how to realize the
majority of their desired cruising experiences just a bit closer to
home. There's some good news on that front- simply squirt through the
Tacoma Narrows on a flood tide and you'll find one of the most
pleasant and under-utilized cruising areas imaginable. In fact,
there's no reason to wander all around the south sound looking for
bits and scraps of an interesting itinerary. Nearly everything on the
list of 7 commonly desired amenities can be found within a few mile
radius in Case Inlet. It would be entirely possible to spend several
idyllic days in Case Inlet, and never run out of new things to see and
do.

General Location and "Protected Waters":

At trawler speeds and with some attention to predicted currents in the
Tacoma Narrows, Seattle area boaters can raise Case Inlet in about six
hours. Speedier boats and vessels departing from points farther south
will make better time, of course. Once in the inlet, there will be no
need for high speed operation. Case inlet is a place where a laid back
approach and some spontaneity will enhance the sensation of escape and
relaxation.

Case Inlet runs primarily north and south, and is bordered on the east
by Key Peninsula and on the west by Harstine Island. The southern end
of the inlet might defined as somewhere along the range where the
Briscoe Point light on the south end of Harstine becomes obscured
(somewhere near 47.10.80 N) and most vessels would find the extreme
northern reaches anywhere beyond the Allyn town dock (near 47.23.05N
and 122.49.60 W) too shallow for any but very carefully timed
navigation.

There are few areas in the south sound where the wind can develop a
lot of fetch. The fjord-like waterways flow around the edges of
several dozen islands and protruding peninsulas. Our summer winds tend
to be northerlies on the sunny days and southerlies during lousier
weather, so Case Inlet is somewhat more susceptible to a bit of froth
and chop than many nearby south sound areas. On the positive side,
there are so many worthy experiences waiting to be enjoyed in such a
small area that an appropriate anchorage will nearly always be
available regardless of the prevailing winds.


Wild or Underdeveloped Shorelines:

Between State Parks, Department of Natural Resources tidelands, City
and County Parks and Native American reservations there is a lot of
natural landscape in the south sound. Case Inlet is no exception.
There are indeed some homes along the shoreline, and in some areas
they appear to cluster up. The overall shoreline density appears to
the casual eye to be comparable to many of the San Juan Islands, and
an exploration of Case Inlet will reveal no shortage of opportunities
to go ashore and enjoy the rural or forest environments.


Relatively Uncrowded Conditions:

Case Inlet may be a relatively small area, but there is normally
plenty of room for the few boats that appreciate the secret joys of
cruising there. Expect to encounter a variety of sail and power boats-
but few folks will be in such a hurry that they will be piling up a
minor tsunami for a stern wake. Sailors will find an abundance of room
to tack back and forth across the inlet, and power boaters will enjoy
the luxury of more than enough space to avoid them. There is almost
never any commercial traffic to dodge, and the only ferry run in the
inlet is a private boat on a couple of hundred yard run between Herron
Island and Key Peninsula.


Forage and Moorage:

Case Inlet may not be the most commonly considered "hot spot" for
salmon fishermen, but fishing is reported to be fair or better for
salmon during particular seasons and pretty good for a variety of
bottom fish. Shellfish are particularly plentiful in Case Inlet, and
the first location we will mention as we proceed from the mouth to the
head of the inlet is Joemma Beach State Park. (Immediately north of
Whiteman Cove). Originally named to commemorate Robert F. Kennedy, the
park was renamed Joemma Beach back in the mid 90's. Joe and Emma were
the original pioneer residents of the uplands here, and the new name
was more locally significant as well as less politically
controversial.

Joemma Beach is a clam digger's paradise. At low tides, there is an
enormous clam bed just north of the park pier. Blowholes are only
inches apart, and a squish-step stroll across the shimmering satin of
a damp clam village invokes a plethora of aggravated squirts in
response. Moorage here is available from about Memorial Day Weekend
through sometime after Labor Day at a set of park floats. The floats
are hauled up to the parking lot and stored for protection during the
remainder of the year. Beach combers will enjoy picking among the
drift and debris along the high tide line at the base of nearby
cliffs. Yacht clubs, rendezvous groups, or power squadrons can reserve
the picnic shelter ashore. Lest anyone become complacent about the
"benign" conditions prevailing in the south sound, we noted the
forward section of a broken up fiberglass boat washed ashore near the
base of the beach steps during a recent visit to Joemma Beach.

McMicken Island is on the west side of Case Inlet, and is technically
an island only at the highest of tides. At moderate or low tides, it
is possible to walk a narrow neck from McMicken to Harstine Island and
McMicken could then be accurately considered a spit. There are mooring
buoys around the perimeter of McMicken, as well as a serious hazard to
be avoided on the south side. Proper charts of Case Inlet will show a
"boulder" on the SW edge of the island. My friend Neil Eastvold will
probably hunt me down and shoot me for mentioning this, but oystering
on McMicken can be incredibly productive. (Neil never misses an
opportunity to load up on oysters when they're in season and he's
anywhere near McMicken Island). Boaters who go oystering on McMicken
(on anywhere else, really), should take a moment to shuck the meat
from the shells on the beach. The "scat" required to seed the next
generation of oysters is typically clinging to the shells, so removing
shells and all from the beach is likely to diminish future harvests.

Clams may be found at Stretch Point Marine State park, at the NE
corner of Stretch Island. Washington State Parks maintain five mooring
buoys here, and there are several hundred feet of public beach
available ashore. The village of Grapeview is immediately ashore from
Stretch Island, with vineyards and wineries in this vicinity that date
back as far as 1872.

One of the Grapeview wineries has been converted to a private museum,
(The Museum of Puget Sound). The curator, Charles Somers, actually
worked aboard many of the old steamships in the once ubiquitous
"mosquito fleet" that provided most transportation in Puget Sound
before the era of decent roads and the Washington State Ferry System.
We can enthusiastically recommend the museum, but as Somers is retired
hours may be irregular, and it may be prudent to inquire about access
with Fair Harbor Marina.

Fuel Dock and Light Provisions:

Fair Harbor Marina is tucked behind Reach Island near the NW corner of
Case Inlet. There is a fuel dock, a convenience grocery, and a basic
inventory of fishing gear and marine supplies. If a night with
shorepower and hot showers sounds inviting after a few days at Joemma
Beach, McMicken Island, or Stretch Point, Fair Harbor Marina is sure
to please. We have stayed at Fair Harbor during several visits to the
South Sound, and always found the staff and management very
accommodating and the facilities first class.
Fair Harbor staff can arrange visits to the Puget Sound Museum, as
well as shuttle boaters to a nearby golf course.

Quaint Waterfront Village:

Just north of the Fair Harbor Marina is the seaside community of
Allyn. What a delight!
Approaching Allyn is a bit tricky at the lowest tides, and charted
depths are about a fathom and a half (9 feet) at the guest dock during
Mean Low Water. (Many boaters dinghy to Allyn from Fair Harbor Marina
or Stretch Point Marine State Park). The best approach for a vessel
with any serious draft is to stay well into the middle of the inlet
until opposite the town dock. There is no shorepower or water on the
Allyn town floats, but there is a pump out. A sign at the head of the
gangway from the floats to the pier illustrates the laconic pace of
boating in Case Inlet; the maximum allowable stay at the typically
empty Port of Allyn floats is two weeks. There is a picnic area with
kids' playground at the head of the pier.

A historic church at the head of the access road to the marina is one
of the interesting sights in Allyn. Boaters with a huge appetite for
old fashioned burgers, fries, and shakes will enjoy a visit to Big
Bubba's Burgers across the road and perhaps 200 yards down from the
church. If the plywood sided burger barn at Bubba's weren't already
sufficiently anachronistic, there's an actual phone booth- apparently
still operable, at the edge of the parking area.

A highlight of a visit to Allyn has to be the Chainsaw Carving Gallery
and School, located in a building that also houses "Twisted Angel
Biker Wear" and a shop filled with electric guitars. (The combination
inspires visions of Hazard County's Daisy Duke meeting Johnny B.
Goode). We can't speak to the biker wear or the guitars, but some of
the carvings accomplished with a chainsaw are extremely artistic.
Bears, eagles, gnomes, human figures, and other natural as well as
imaginary shapes are displayed for public enjoyment, and there is no
charge for admission. Be forewarned, however; the proprietor of the
chain saw gallery reports, "We do get a few boaters in here from time
to time. I often find myself wheeling a bear or something down to the
dock and helping to load it onto a boat. Our carvings are particularly
popular among people with a casual or country style décor, more likely
to be found at a retirement house along the beach somewhere than in a
formal garden in Seattle or Bellevue."

Also found in Allyn are a medium size grocers, a state liquor store,
and a couple of more formal restaurants for those whose taste may not
gravitate toward Big Bubba's Burgers. While it's not on the list of
the top five cruising destinations in the Pacific NW, Allyn has most
of the elements one expects to enjoy in a waterfront village but
without the blatant tourist hustle buck or several hundred other
boaters stumbling over one another on a typical summer weekend.
Conclusion:

For a different summer vacation cruise or perhaps a mini-vacation
during long weekend, consider a visit to nearby Case Inlet. You may
find yourself involved in a conversation similar to:

"We had a great time! We enjoyed sheltered waters, gathered clams and
oysters, walked along deserted beaches, watched the sun set from a
mooring buoy, spent a night at a little country marina, and visited a
small town where we were the only visiting boaters on the dock!"

"Really, how far north did you have to go to find all of that?
Desolation Sound? The Broughtons? Johnstone Strait?"

"Not at all. Case Inlet."

"Case Inlet? Where the heck is Case Inlet?"

A picture is worth 1000 words.........................................
Jim

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...
Folks who might wonder just what we PNW boaters actually
enjoy doing besides motoring around in our fur lined parkas, praying
the diesel furnace doesn't act up, and waiting for 10 minutes of clear
weather between weeks-long rainstorms might be interested in this list
of a few activities available just a few hours' cruise from Seattle.
Warning before wading in- it's long. :-)

*****************

An Excellent "Case" For South Sound Boating


It's going to be summer very soon. Most Puget Sound boaters will be
heading "north", of course, with a wide array of generally defined
destinations. "North" can be as nearby as the San Juans for some
boaters, while others won't feel the least bit northerly until
crossing the international border into the Gulf Islands. Still others
will insist that nothing closer than Desolation Sound, The
Broughtons, Johnstone Strait, the Queen Charlottes or SE Alaska can
be a worthy destination for a summer cruise. Our definitions of
"north" may be highly subjective, but there are some common elements
we will be seeking regardless whether our intended cruising waters are
as near as Orcas Island or as remote as Glacier Bay.

Every boater would have different priorities, but if we were to all
compare lists of desired amenities and experiences many would include;

1. Protected waters.
2. Wild or underdeveloped shorelines.
3. Relatively uncrowded conditions
4. Good fishing or foraging.
5. Some access to fuel and perishable provisions.
6. A wide array of moorage and anchoring options.
7. Quaint waterfront villages unspoiled by tourism.

All of those reasons for heading "north" are valid. A cruise to the
San Juans or beyond won't disappoint any boater looking for any
combination of the seven items listed above.
It appears that this will be another year when the dials at the fuel
dock pumps will be spinning faster than the reels on a Vegas slot
machine, so many boaters will be considering how to realize the
majority of their desired cruising experiences just a bit closer to
home. There's some good news on that front- simply squirt through the
Tacoma Narrows on a flood tide and you'll find one of the most
pleasant and under-utilized cruising areas imaginable. In fact,
there's no reason to wander all around the south sound looking for
bits and scraps of an interesting itinerary. Nearly everything on the
list of 7 commonly desired amenities can be found within a few mile
radius in Case Inlet. It would be entirely possible to spend several
idyllic days in Case Inlet, and never run out of new things to see and
do.

General Location and "Protected Waters":

At trawler speeds and with some attention to predicted currents in the
Tacoma Narrows, Seattle area boaters can raise Case Inlet in about six
hours. Speedier boats and vessels departing from points farther south
will make better time, of course. Once in the inlet, there will be no
need for high speed operation. Case inlet is a place where a laid back
approach and some spontaneity will enhance the sensation of escape and
relaxation.

Case Inlet runs primarily north and south, and is bordered on the east
by Key Peninsula and on the west by Harstine Island. The southern end
of the inlet might defined as somewhere along the range where the
Briscoe Point light on the south end of Harstine becomes obscured
(somewhere near 47.10.80 N) and most vessels would find the extreme
northern reaches anywhere beyond the Allyn town dock (near 47.23.05N
and 122.49.60 W) too shallow for any but very carefully timed
navigation.

There are few areas in the south sound where the wind can develop a
lot of fetch. The fjord-like waterways flow around the edges of
several dozen islands and protruding peninsulas. Our summer winds tend
to be northerlies on the sunny days and southerlies during lousier
weather, so Case Inlet is somewhat more susceptible to a bit of froth
and chop than many nearby south sound areas. On the positive side,
there are so many worthy experiences waiting to be enjoyed in such a
small area that an appropriate anchorage will nearly always be
available regardless of the prevailing winds.


Wild or Underdeveloped Shorelines:

Between State Parks, Department of Natural Resources tidelands, City
and County Parks and Native American reservations there is a lot of
natural landscape in the south sound. Case Inlet is no exception.
There are indeed some homes along the shoreline, and in some areas
they appear to cluster up. The overall shoreline density appears to
the casual eye to be comparable to many of the San Juan Islands, and
an exploration of Case Inlet will reveal no shortage of opportunities
to go ashore and enjoy the rural or forest environments.


Relatively Uncrowded Conditions:

Case Inlet may be a relatively small area, but there is normally
plenty of room for the few boats that appreciate the secret joys of
cruising there. Expect to encounter a variety of sail and power boats-
but few folks will be in such a hurry that they will be piling up a
minor tsunami for a stern wake. Sailors will find an abundance of room
to tack back and forth across the inlet, and power boaters will enjoy
the luxury of more than enough space to avoid them. There is almost
never any commercial traffic to dodge, and the only ferry run in the
inlet is a private boat on a couple of hundred yard run between Herron
Island and Key Peninsula.


Forage and Moorage:

Case Inlet may not be the most commonly considered "hot spot" for
salmon fishermen, but fishing is reported to be fair or better for
salmon during particular seasons and pretty good for a variety of
bottom fish. Shellfish are particularly plentiful in Case Inlet, and
the first location we will mention as we proceed from the mouth to the
head of the inlet is Joemma Beach State Park. (Immediately north of
Whiteman Cove). Originally named to commemorate Robert F. Kennedy, the
park was renamed Joemma Beach back in the mid 90's. Joe and Emma were
the original pioneer residents of the uplands here, and the new name
was more locally significant as well as less politically
controversial.

Joemma Beach is a clam digger's paradise. At low tides, there is an
enormous clam bed just north of the park pier. Blowholes are only
inches apart, and a squish-step stroll across the shimmering satin of
a damp clam village invokes a plethora of aggravated squirts in
response. Moorage here is available from about Memorial Day Weekend
through sometime after Labor Day at a set of park floats. The floats
are hauled up to the parking lot and stored for protection during the
remainder of the year. Beach combers will enjoy picking among the
drift and debris along the high tide line at the base of nearby
cliffs. Yacht clubs, rendezvous groups, or power squadrons can reserve
the picnic shelter ashore. Lest anyone become complacent about the
"benign" conditions prevailing in the south sound, we noted the
forward section of a broken up fiberglass boat washed ashore near the
base of the beach steps during a recent visit to Joemma Beach.

McMicken Island is on the west side of Case Inlet, and is technically
an island only at the highest of tides. At moderate or low tides, it
is possible to walk a narrow neck from McMicken to Harstine Island and
McMicken could then be accurately considered a spit. There are mooring
buoys around the perimeter of McMicken, as well as a serious hazard to
be avoided on the south side. Proper charts of Case Inlet will show a
"boulder" on the SW edge of the island. My friend Neil Eastvold will
probably hunt me down and shoot me for mentioning this, but oystering
on McMicken can be incredibly productive. (Neil never misses an
opportunity to load up on oysters when they're in season and he's
anywhere near McMicken Island). Boaters who go oystering on McMicken
(on anywhere else, really), should take a moment to shuck the meat
from the shells on the beach. The "scat" required to seed the next
generation of oysters is typically clinging to the shells, so removing
shells and all from the beach is likely to diminish future harvests.

Clams may be found at Stretch Point Marine State park, at the NE
corner of Stretch Island. Washington State Parks maintain five mooring
buoys here, and there are several hundred feet of public beach
available ashore. The village of Grapeview is immediately ashore from
Stretch Island, with vineyards and wineries in this vicinity that date
back as far as 1872.

One of the Grapeview wineries has been converted to a private museum,
(The Museum of Puget Sound). The curator, Charles Somers, actually
worked aboard many of the old steamships in the once ubiquitous
"mosquito fleet" that provided most transportation in Puget Sound
before the era of decent roads and the Washington State Ferry System.
We can enthusiastically recommend the museum, but as Somers is retired
hours may be irregular, and it may be prudent to inquire about access
with Fair Harbor Marina.

Fuel Dock and Light Provisions:

Fair Harbor Marina is tucked behind Reach Island near the NW corner of
Case Inlet. There is a fuel dock, a convenience grocery, and a basic
inventory of fishing gear and marine supplies. If a night with
shorepower and hot showers sounds inviting after a few days at Joemma
Beach, McMicken Island, or Stretch Point, Fair Harbor Marina is sure
to please. We have stayed at Fair Harbor during several visits to the
South Sound, and always found the staff and management very
accommodating and the facilities first class.
Fair Harbor staff can arrange visits to the Puget Sound Museum, as
well as shuttle boaters to a nearby golf course.

Quaint Waterfront Village:

Just north of the Fair Harbor Marina is the seaside community of
Allyn. What a delight!
Approaching Allyn is a bit tricky at the lowest tides, and charted
depths are about a fathom and a half (9 feet) at the guest dock during
Mean Low Water. (Many boaters dinghy to Allyn from Fair Harbor Marina
or Stretch Point Marine State Park). The best approach for a vessel
with any serious draft is to stay well into the middle of the inlet
until opposite the town dock. There is no shorepower or water on the
Allyn town floats, but there is a pump out. A sign at the head of the
gangway from the floats to the pier illustrates the laconic pace of
boating in Case Inlet; the maximum allowable stay at the typically
empty Port of Allyn floats is two weeks. There is a picnic area with
kids' playground at the head of the pier.

A historic church at the head of the access road to the marina is one
of the interesting sights in Allyn. Boaters with a huge appetite for
old fashioned burgers, fries, and shakes will enjoy a visit to Big
Bubba's Burgers across the road and perhaps 200 yards down from the
church. If the plywood sided burger barn at Bubba's weren't already
sufficiently anachronistic, there's an actual phone booth- apparently
still operable, at the edge of the parking area.

A highlight of a visit to Allyn has to be the Chainsaw Carving Gallery
and School, located in a building that also houses "Twisted Angel
Biker Wear" and a shop filled with electric guitars. (The combination
inspires visions of Hazard County's Daisy Duke meeting Johnny B.
Goode). We can't speak to the biker wear or the guitars, but some of
the carvings accomplished with a chainsaw are extremely artistic.
Bears, eagles, gnomes, human figures, and other natural as well as
imaginary shapes are displayed for public enjoyment, and there is no
charge for admission. Be forewarned, however; the proprietor of the
chain saw gallery reports, "We do get a few boaters in here from time
to time. I often find myself wheeling a bear or something down to the
dock and helping to load it onto a boat. Our carvings are particularly
popular among people with a casual or country style décor, more likely
to be found at a retirement house along the beach somewhere than in a
formal garden in Seattle or Bellevue."

Also found in Allyn are a medium size grocers, a state liquor store,
and a couple of more formal restaurants for those whose taste may not
gravitate toward Big Bubba's Burgers. While it's not on the list of
the top five cruising destinations in the Pacific NW, Allyn has most
of the elements one expects to enjoy in a waterfront village but
without the blatant tourist hustle buck or several hundred other
boaters stumbling over one another on a typical summer weekend.
Conclusion:

For a different summer vacation cruise or perhaps a mini-vacation
during long weekend, consider a visit to nearby Case Inlet. You may
find yourself involved in a conversation similar to:

"We had a great time! We enjoyed sheltered waters, gathered clams and
oysters, walked along deserted beaches, watched the sun set from a
mooring buoy, spent a night at a little country marina, and visited a
small town where we were the only visiting boaters on the dock!"

"Really, how far north did you have to go to find all of that?
Desolation Sound? The Broughtons? Johnstone Strait?"

"Not at all. Case Inlet."

"Case Inlet? Where the heck is Case Inlet?"

Jim wrote:
A picture is worth 1000 words.........................................
Jim

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...


You want to see photos of people in parkas?

On 24 Apr 2007 08:06:35 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Every boater would have different priorities, but if we were to all
compare lists of desired amenities and experiences many would include;

1. Protected waters.
2. Wild or underdeveloped shorelines.
3. Relatively uncrowded conditions
4. Good fishing or foraging.
5. Some access to fuel and perishable provisions.
6. A wide array of moorage and anchoring options.
7. Quaint waterfront villages unspoiled by tourism.

What?!?!?

No pillaging, looting, raiding and general mayhem?

Good lord man - that's no fun.

lol, Its not "Scat" clinging to the shells, its "Spat". UD

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
. ..
Jim wrote:
A picture is worth 1000 words.........................................
Jim

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...


You want to see photos of people in parkas?
Don't be silly.
Did you know that Chuck lives further inland than I do?

And your line reply isn't. Sni next time.
JR

Jim wrote:

A picture is worth 1000 words.........................................
Jim


--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth

On Apr 24, 9:28Â*am, (UglyDan®©™) wrote:
lol, Its not "Scat" clinging to the shells, its "Spat". UD

Right you are!

That's a pretty funny error.

Thanks for spotting it. :-)

On Apr 24, 9:46?am, "Jim" wrote:


Don't be silly.
Did you know that Chuck lives further inland than I do?

You must live on or pretty close to the beach.
As the crow flies, I'm about a mile and a half from Puget Sound.
Of course that's considered an "inland" waterway, so a lot might
depend on how "inland" is defined. Sort of like the definition of
"is", you know. :-)

On Apr 24, 9:46?am, "Jim" wrote:


Don't be silly.
Did you know that Chuck lives further inland than I do?

You must live on or pretty close to the beach.
As the crow flies, I'm about a mile and a half from Puget Sound.
Of course that's considered an "inland" waterway, so a lot might
depend on how "inland" is defined. Sort of like the definition of
"is", you know. :-)