22 Sep 18

The first day of fall, although it has felt like fall for about 3 weeks. I rained all night, but dawned clear, sunny and warm. After breakfast, we walked over and donated our herb plants (which we cannot carry into the USA) to Paul and Nans on “Amara Zee”. Then we got away about 11:30 and headed for Friday Harbor, WA. As soon as we got out of Canoe Cove, the SE10 - 15 wind was fine for our crossing of the Haro Strait, so we sailed for the next two hours until we got into the lee of San Juan Island. After motoring down San Juan Channel, we tied up to the US Customs dock at 14:38. Just as we were coming alongside, the transmission jammed in reverse; the transmission cable became disconnected from the transmission lever. Fortunately, the Admiral had already got a breast line on the dock’s bull rail, so we were able to work the boat up to the dock, in spite of the 15 kn wind pushing us off. Also fortunately, it was just the keeper ring that had somehow worked off of the pin allowing the pin to drop off the lever; this was quickly replaced with a new split ring and we were back in business. Then, at Customs, I had trouble finding the current copy of the US Documentation certificate and the customs decal; they were both there, but it was embarrassing to not be able to lay hands on them instantly when requested by Officer Dobie. He was very accommodating and nice about the delay while I tore the boat up looking for these documents; he probably looked at my age and just put it off to a senior moment. After these two issues were resolved, we moved over to a slip at Friday Harbor Marina, tying up at 15:45. Back in the good old USA after more than 3 months abroad. We walked into town to Herb’s sports pub to watch the Astros game, but they did not have it on, so we came back to the boat for a light meal; Astros won 10-5. Early to bed.

48-32.345’N, 123-01.005’W; Log = 19.2, Sum (2018) = 1228.9 N-m