Safely in Humboldt Bay (Eureka, CA)

Photo: Punta Gorda as the fog was lifting.

I made such good time to Shelter Cove that I decided to press on to Humboldt Bay (Eureka, CA). It looked like I would arrive just before dark. After I rounded Punta Gorda the seas and winds were still very benign. The swells were in the 8' range but they were far enough apart that it was a very gentle motion. Here's a video of the view from the bridge in those seas:



Then almost suddenly the fog lifted. Remember the last post where I said that fog generally means little or no wind? Well as the fog lifted the winds started blowing. It basically turned the 90 minute run to Cape Mendocino into a 3 hour slugfest. The waves weren't too terribly big but the wind made for a lot of spray and the waves had no pattern and kept coming from every direction.
It also put me far enough behind schedule that my arrival into Humboldt Bay was well after dark. It is not fun entering a strange harbor after dark with a significant sea running over the bar. If you want to get an idea of what I was facing, Google Earth it and take a look.
Anyway, I finally got tied up and went to bed around 1am....definitely past my bedtime!
The Captain has declared a day of rest and napping.....