Hi Alexandra,
Tides are not a huge factor; wind+tides can be challenging. If you leave in the morning, at 8 or 9 you will be paddling against peak ebb tide. It’s a substantial tide too, 4.3 meters down to 0.5 meters. That will require more work but it’s not out of the ordinary. There’s usually little wind in the morning, so you should be fine. Plus, tidal flow and wind will be more in your favor as you reach the Falls around mid-day.
But you can expect on-shore winds coming up the arm in the afternoon. If you return Saturday afternoon you will potentially face that wind and once again be paddling against the tide as it will be flooding in until 7:00-7:30. Again a strong tide from .05m to 4.7m. Tides are strongest in the middle, between the highs and lows. Google “The rule of 12ths” to see charts on how they move.
So all this would suggest you will have to paddle just a little bit harder and go a little bit more slowly on the way to Granite Falls. For the return, you might consider waiting as long as you can in the afternoon/evening to set off so hopefully the wind will die down and the flood tide will be nearer the slack period as you come in toward Deep Cove.
Check the Windy app Saturday morning to see what you might be in for coming back.