Scott and I didn’t waste too much time being boatless. Last weekend we headed up to my family’s place on Camano to do some kayaking, crabbing and paddle boarding. Every year for the July 4th Celebration, we all gather for the festivities at Tyee Beach where my aunt and uncle live.
I’ve been coming to the beach for over thirty-five years and things sure have changed over the years. In 1951 my uncle and his dad built a tiny studio cabin on about two acres. We used that cabin for years and as more people joined us, we ended up camping in tents around the property. In 2007 they torn down the cabin and built a new home. Scott and I are very lucky to be invited every year and to have such an awesome place to spend the holiday weekend.
Let the festivities begin!
After being cooped up for months with no family contact, we were ready to have some fun and go crabbing. All of us made sure to practice safe distancing as best as possible. When we arrived on Friday, the weather was looking pretty grim. Still, Scott and Jason needed to go check on the crab pots since that was our dinner the next day.
The irony of the situation, was we had planned on using my nephew’s Boston Whaler 170 Montauk to go crabbing. But earlier in the week, he felt the motor was missing and worried it would stall on him. Instead, they used my uncle’s dad’s 1987 Gregor aluminum boat.
It worked great, but then Jason remembered in the evening that it had a small leak and the weather had taken a turn for the worse! My nephew Jake, jumped into a kayak and was able to tow it to shore in 15 knot winds. It was crazy! Thank God he did, as it would have been under water otherwise.
Crabbing – Catching our limit
For the first time in years, we actually caught our limit! The daily limit throughout Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6ΒΌ inches. Fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across.
We had more dungeness crab than we knew with what to do. Plus, we put the pots back out, so we would have to pull them the next day. It was interesting talking with my uncle Dick on how he cleans crab. He boils them (alive) first, then splits them in two to clean out the insides. Some people prefer to cut them down the middle (alive) and kill them that way; then clean out the insides and boil them. We’ve heard that if you boil them intact that they taste better. I guess it’s all up to the crabber. You also want to make sure you keep them in saltwater after you catch them, prior to boiling them.
We went crabbing the following day and I asked my nephew Jake, how do you know which crabs you can keep? He told us to feel their legs….is the shell hard? If it’s soft, then they are too young and there’s no meat. Throw them back!
Then you want to make sure you only keep male crabs – NOT females. How do you know the difference? Check their undersides, see image below:
Lastly, you need to measure their body width. Measure all male crab with a crab gauge. In Washington State, legal dungeness crab must be male and at least 6 1/4-inches across the back (NOT including the spines) or wider. When measuring make sure you measure in a straight line across the back immediately in front of, but NOT including the last points.
Too close for comfort
Since it was a celebratory weekend, we had tons of boats on the water and lots of crabbing boats too. However, I was shocked to see so many boaters not following proper boating etiquette. First, Scott and I were nearly run over by a boat while kayaking. Then later, there were boats going inside the buoys going 20mph through the crab pots. It was so rude and made for an uncomfortable ride for the smaller dinghies.
Time for some water sports – wait for it!
The following morning Port Susan was flat calm and the weather was gorgeous. Time to explore in the kayaks. When you haven’t gone kayaking in a year, you forget how much exercise it can be. Within an hour, my arms were sore! The day before, orca whales had been swimming nearby the shore. We had hoped they would have returned, but no sightings for us.
One thing I have never done is paddle boarding. We plan on trying it on our trip in the BVI’s, since the water is warm and clear. I wasn’t too keen on trying it in Puget Sound, with the water being only 52 degrees and full of sea grass! After a lot of convincing, I finally agreed. How hard can it be? Wonder if I fell into the water? Be sure to watch our next YouTube episode to find out.
Boat parade!
Normally the beach celebrates the July 4th holiday with a street parade, but due to the covid-19 virus, they opted for a boat parade instead. It was fun to be on the beach and see everyone go by! Be sure to check out our Facebook Page or Instagram account for a video of the parade.
We also took a ton of drone footage of the beach and Port Susan, so be sure to watch our next YouTube episode for the full coverage.An eagle was circling above me while I was trying to paddle board, as if I was its’ next meal!
Spending time on the beach
There’s something about hanging out on a beach, that brings a sense of peacefulness and serenity. It doesn’t matter if you are in the PNW or the Caribbean. It’s especially great in the NW when it’s warm and sunny! Last weekend was ideal! It always amazes me how much driftwood shows up each day on the shore.
Firework Celebrations
Watching the fireworks up close with an orange moon in the background made for the perfect setting. Scott and I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.
It was another great July 4th weekend in the books and we’re so grateful to have been able to spend quality time with my family. We’d love to see more of them this summer, but with the pandemic we understand we have to limit our time with each other. We’re hoping to get back up to Tyee Beach this Fall.
Stay tuned for our next blog and episode – we’ll go over the cost of ownership for our last boat, our 2002 Bayliner 4087 Aft Cabin M/Y during the time we owned it. In the meantime, Thank YOU for following our journey.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram @BoatingJourney, so you can see our stories and get current updates on our progress. Also, check out our YouTube channel at @BoatingJourney and subscribe for future episodes. Cheers, Scott & Ally
