The Schooner Adventuress: Coupeville to Bellingham, WA Part One

         We couldn’t see the double masts of the Schooner Adventuress peeking above the building at the end of the long Coupeville wharf where we’d seen them the night before.  Now, a little after five in the morning we couldn’t see much beyond the pier through the mist and rain but we knew the ship should be there.  DB, Sally, Rob and I were to travel the Coupeville to Bellingham leg of the People for Puget Sound voyage on the Adventuress marking the 20th anniversary of the organization.  This eight hour voyage was heralded as the most spectacular of all the legs because it included traveling through Deception Pass, the treacherous narrow opening between Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island through which many a ship had spun out of control by powerful currents and tidal forces and crashed against the adjacent basalt cliffs.

Publicity photo of Deception Pass noticeably lacking

RAIN, MIST, and FOREBODING

As a child I’d been warned about the dreaded “Deception Pass” when cruising with my family from our Whidbey Island beach cabin and that was the reason the four of us were shivering on the pier at the crack of dawn because the tides wouldn’t allow a safe passage later at a more respectable time of day.   I had many misgivings that morning; the least of which was the absent schooner.  We’d celebrated my 63^rd birthday well beyond my normal bedtime the night before and we’d celebrated with numerous toasts.  The weather was typical PNW: wet, cold, with a forecast of more to come.  We’d been advised that all food served on board would be vegan and no alcohol allowed.  Green tea with a spritz of cayenne wasn’t going to do it for my head and stomach both of which were staging personal coups.

“It’s not here; let’s go,” grumbled Rob.  “Oh, come on, it’s gotta be near” Sal replied leading us out on the pier.  Each of us pulled our coat hoods tighter as the rain noticeably increased.  Two other travelers snuggled under the roof overhang of the wharf building awaited us at the end of the pier.  “Waiting for the Adventuress?” “Yup,” they replied in unison and took sips from their cans of Red Bull.  “There it is,” Sal blurted, pointing to a bank of mist out of which the tall masted long narrow shape emerged and slowly made its way toward us under diesel power.  “Oh, they must have needed to anchor further down Penn Cove,” Sal remarked cheerfully.  “Well, it’s too cold and too wet and I’m not going,” Rob responded, voicing my thoughts.  “It’ll be an adventure,” Sal countered.  And it was. 

Does the unnamed person in the middle look like she's enjoying her adventure?  Notice the careful route plotting in the foreground and super tanker in the background.  Thanks to Josh, PPS board member, for documenting this moment.  Our camera was left at home with hats, mittens, red meat, and the other ten essentials.