A Hop, Skip, and a Boat Trip Around the San Juan Islands

     We pulled into Roche Harbor Marina guest side moorage this morning around 10:45.  Our aim was slip number 26, with a little help from some 13 knot wind and bad timing we missed our target and a piling by only a few centimeters and safety tied up in slip 27 at 10:55.  We plugged in for the first time in 9 days.  Scott gave the boat a fresh water rinse and we headed up the docks to pay moorage and get lunch (that I didn't fix).  Next and most importantly, we leisurely made our way to the playground for some sliding and swinging.  Naps, showers, laundry, and a little grocery shopping followed.  Dinner, which consisted of cheese, crackers, fresh pineapple, and pan fried chicken was made here on the Velvet Sky.  Electricity and internet was being utilized by 7:00 pm.  I started downloading photos as Scott started trip planning the next leg.  I joined him shortly as the internet is slow as molasses.  We will be in Canada midweek. 

     Here it is 11:38 pm.  Scott and Bucket are sleeping.  The photos just finished downloading (4 hours later) and still a few did not get loaded, some "error."  Tomorrow I will add captions to the photos and share more about the last 9 days.  For now, I will end the day by saying, "goodnight," and sending love to all.

  

This photo kind of depicts how the weather felt that day.  Although we stayed dry and I don't recall it raining that day, it was cold and damp and a little eerie as we made our way slow and steady through the Swinomish Channel.

This is the first Bald Eagle I spotted off the starboard side of the boat, then......

Then....off to the port side we see more than we can count, adults,juveniles, male, and female.....such an incredible sight.

This is the approach to a portion of the channel called "Hole in the Wall." It looked like such a tight fit (if any fit) for the boat.

I think this is where Scott announced we were moving along with a mere 17 inches of water below the keel.

We made through spotted the "Rainbow Bridge" that is the gate way to La Conner

Scott learns about jiggers and how they are used to catch smelt.

Nine little smelt and fresh pineapple made a nice meal

Hello sunrise....fare well La Conner

Good morning Capt'n and Little Crew Man

And onto Deception pass....

James Island....a tiny little island.  We had a small fire at the center of the island, we sat were we could enjoy viewing both sides of the island at the same time. 

I couldn't resist a photo op....

Hiking and exploring

Good idea?  Uh....maybe....

The Island so big it had a dock with enough room for 2 boats

Talking about finding deer, or hunting, dragons, or....

He makes it! All by himself....

I have been informed that they are "Kings of the Mountain"

OUCH! Fell off the teeter-totter!

On again......

Off again!

Decides playing on the beach with his shovel and pail is safer....

Approaching Sucia Island

On Stewart Island we decide to row our bikes ashore for some trail riding.  Turns out the trail is gravel and mostly up-up-up hill.....so we did some good trail pushing...

Totally worth the 3 mile hike/walk/run/bike pushing trip.....the view was spectacular and Bucket is proving himself to be pretty darn good at snapping a photo.
This is at Lover's Leap just before Turn Point

A swing in the middle of the woods?  COOL!

This was a heart pounding experience.....I made it to the top of the mast, monkey hugging it almost the entire way.  I felt likeI was so far up and if I fell, well...it was going to hurt, bad!  Next time will be easier, I know this because I look up at the top now and from down here, it truly is not as far as my mind made it out to be.....next time, less fear, more enjoyment.

Photo taken from the top of the mast

Our daily hike....this is our second day on Stewart Island....we left the bikes on the boat

Tree hangin' is a must!

Next stop, Coupeville

     It was a beautiful, sunny day, though no wind and the water had a glass-like surface, we would have preferred to raise the sails, it just wasn't in the cards.  Today was 3 and a half hour tour.  No cussing, no stress, just a nice pleasant day.  We left Langley at 9:30 am and arrived in Coupville at 1:10 pm.  18 miles in 3 hours motoring at 2000 rpm.  We had bologna sandwiches, fritos, and chocolate milk on deck while underway. It was pleasant.

     Oh! Yeah! I have to say that before we left Langley I practiced backing and jogging the boat in place, it was about a 45 minute lesson.  I feel much more confident about our next anchoring experience.

     We tied up at the dock in Coupville, walked into town, the boys had ice cream and I had a nice cold beer.  It was a good day.

The first leg

     We are doing it, really doing it.  We left Port Townsend at 8:15 am on April 12, 2014.  We are keeping a decent log so far, and kept on course surprising well.  We arrived in Langley, Washington at 4:30 pm.  We motored most of the way because we had the wind at our stern and it was one jibe after another.  It was pretty stressful and yes, there was some cussing. By the time we arrived we were ready to tie up at the dock and take a few deep breaths.  Funny thing though, there was a motor boat gathering in Langley that day and there was no dock available to tie up to.  We were instructed that we could raft up with one of the motor boats or anchor out.  We opted the latter.  Scott's words were, "How appropriate," My thoughts were, "What the *@##*, I am not ready for this!"

       I learned something....I didn't know that I didn't know how to back the boat with the wind pushing the bow.

     Our first attempt at anchoring in Langley was a failure.  Scott pulled the anchor back in and the chain pile fell.  Our no yelling rule (we try to use hand signals while anchoring) went out with tide.  There was yelling and I was quite sure I could not handle the job of backing to secure the anchor.  Eventually we prevailed and the anchor was secure.  The water was rough and the wind was windy.  We tossed the idea of rowing Fresh into town, but that was as far as we went with that. Tossed it and forgot it.

     This was our first experience of not being plugged into electricity.  It felt so primitive, yet so freeing.   We were self sufficient.  Our solar panels fed the batteries and we have a lovely lantern that lights the salon.  Plenty of propane and food for two weeks.  We had hamburgers (with catsup and pickles) and peaches for dinner.

     We snuggled into our home on the rolling waves our beloved diesel heater doing it's job and keeping us warm and cozy.  Around 8:30 we were ready for a good sleep.  Then came the thought of,  "What if the anchor isn't set and we drift ashore?"  Does this mean someone will stay up and keep watch?  Yes, that is exactly what that means.  And we will take turns doing it.  Long story short, the boat drifts with the current (we weren't aware of this fact).  At midnight we were up and outside ready to reset the anchor.  We checked our position, and although we appeared to be drifting, the boat was simply going with the flow and the anchor was firmly in place.  All was well.  Still I didn't rest too well.  Morning came and what a beautiful morning it was.  We survived our first day out and our first night anchored from what I would call civilization.  SUCCESS!

Looking in to Langley from Velvet Sky

Good Morning, Bucket....what do you see?
(leaving Langley)

   

Love to All

Ready.....OKAY!

Ahoy!
   
     Today we tie up the final loose ends.  Laundry, one more trip to the grocery, tie the bikes on deck, and say a few "fair-the-well."  We are ready to throw off the dock lines and set sail at 70 degrees NE (M).   We will leave Saturday or Sunday (tomorrow or the next day) early morning, around 8:30.  We will travel around Whidbey Island to Langley and that will be our first anchorage this leg. We figure about a 6 hour trip.  We will take photos, and update whenever possible.  I added a few photos to the gallery this morning.

Love to All!

Photo Gallery Update

Ahoy!

     I decided to relieve you of the thousand words for this blog and post the photos we have accumulated over the winter (you can find them under the gallery tab).  I have added a caption to each photo.

Fair Winds and Oceans of Love.

Bucket turned 4

     I was sure I was going to create the number 4 out of a white or chocolate
 rectangular cake and ice it probably blue.   Not the case.  I had a request from the birthday boy for a Batman cake.  He wanted the inside to be cherry flavored.  An easy task if we lived in a city with craft stores  and options upon options of cake flavors.
 
     This was an eye opener for the experiences we will encounter later on as we travel to foreign places.    
We are in Port Townsend.  A small coastal town (a very pleasant community), which, for as far as I know, one would find it hard to buy a pair of underpants, let alone black frosting for a batman cake.  There are a couple of "kitchen gadget" stores downtown.  I had to give the shelves a once over in hopes of finding coloring paste.  Long story short, no.  I did my hunting and searching, and came up empty handed.  Now it was time to throw a fit and stomp my feet like a four year old.  Back at the boat I did just that! The scene went something like this.

     Cindy is pacing the 20 or so feet of open floor space in the Velvet Sky.  She is opening the refrigerator and peering in (looking, just looking), pacing, pacing, straightening couch pillows, dusting the desk as she passes.  Pacing, pacing, like a caged wild cat.  At last, an explosion of frustration comes from her mouth in the form of words.
     "It used to be I had whatever I wanted, when I wanted it!" "I had convenience!" "Everything is a struggle!" "I live in a town that has nothing!"
     The search for black frosting and cherry flavored cake and coming up empty handed had broke me. But wait, here comes my Knight.  "Cindy," he says, "look around, we have everything." Shaking my head in frustration, "What are you talking about?" "We don't have black food coloring!" I heard the words come from my mouth. Then I heard his words again, "We have everything."  Then he continued,  "I laugh when you say this town has nothing."  "Wait until we get to other countries and it becomes hard to find eggs."  Reality Check.....(yeah, the idea is a bit frightening. We have only just begun this crazy adventure.  "Living the Dream," as some would say.

     I surrendered to the idea of combining all colors in the box to create grey icing. And surely the local grocery store would have cherry chip by Duncan Hines, right?  So off to the grocery store.....la la la la.
No cherry anything cake. But, would you believe....BLACK icing! Life is such a trip!  I picked up two cake mixes, to give the Bucket a choice.  He could have a rainbow chip or a tye dye Batman cake.

Two layer The Dye

Batman logo

I am 4 and can cut the cake

Taste better than it looks

 
   

Spring is Springing

(Yawn, stretch, moan, stretch)

     Whoa, whoa, whoa....what?  March? It's March?  Time to come out of hibernation.

      It has been a long, sometimes monotonous, no so eventful winter.  Although, thinking back, and recalling the photos that were taken (not yet loaded onto the computer), I believe there may be a few incidents and activities to report.

     We started out using electric heaters to keep us warm here in the Velvet Sky.  They did the job.  They also shot the electricity bill up about 120 dollars a month.  I certainly did appreciate the heat they created, however they did not do a very good job of keeping the moisture down.  And they were kind of in the walk way. Cords, and amp suckage, and space takers, oh my! Most importantly, they were not  something we could heat the boat with while we are underway.  Impractical on so many levels. So, Scott, being the caretaker he is began researching diesel heaters and installation.  He found the winner! I will have him do the report on the technical aspects of his great find.  It will eventually get on the blog under a different tab.  I will tell you what I know.  It is warm, convenient, and keeps the boat delightfully dry.  It has made this hibernation period much more pleasant.

Ahhh...the convenience of a thermostat

   

Space saver

Nice fit in the lazarette

   

Installed and ready to do it's job

      Now, we are ready to take on the inside passage to Alaska (planned to begin April 19-22).

     Although that was the most exciting thing added to the boat over the winter, there are still a few more things worth reporting.

     The Bucket made a visit to Idaho.  He spent a week with his Aunt Shawn and Uncle Gary and three weeks with his Aunt Hopey and her family.  A month was a long time for us to apart from that little guy, though I know he enjoyed his vacation.  While he was there he got some education materials.  He is learning to write the letters of the alphabet.

Super Bucket learning to write the letter "Z"

     

     I have to mention that when I went to Idaho to retrieve the boy, my Mom taught me to crochet.  So far I have made three headbands, one hat for myself, two hats for Zayden, and one hat for Scott.  We are covered on the cranium.  

     When Zayden returned from his vacation he began swim lessons.  He is now in level two of his lessons, and learning to hold his breath under water.

The Bucket's first day at "swim school"

     I am going to post this much for now.  I have a few more topics I would like to get out to anyone interested.  The sun is shining and it is fairly warm outside.  I am in the middle of stitching a leather wheel cover on the helm wheel.  I am going to take advantage of the break in spring showers, for we cannot use the helm until that job is complete.  So, "Cheers," for now to my friends and loved ones, I shall return to the keyboard soon.

Our New Addition

     January 2, 2014 we took the ferry back to Whidbey Island.   I fell in love with her the moment Dave  (The caregiver and previous owner) took the tarp off.  I think Scott did too.  She doesn't have a name (never has), and hadn't been in the water for 17 years.  Our new dinghy is a Montgomery 10.  It is everything we hoped for in a dinghy.  She came with oars, full sailing rig, and a beautiful white sail.  The Bucket is on vacation through January.  He will be the one to name her when he returns home.

     Originally we were planning to use an inflatable and have been watching the ad board here in Port Townsend as well as Craig's list for a used one.  Scott began researching and through that discovered that an inflatable just was not for us.  Together we decided that we wanted something lightweight and we could row, sail, or motor.  And this is what came into our life.  Lovely!  

   

The New Year

      Happy New Year!  It is January 3rd, I know, but if there is one thing I have learned living here in the Puget Sound, it is "Island Time" really does exist.  And it is the new year.  2013 is behind us and we have 365 days of new memories to create.

     We welcomed January 1st with open arms and determination to bring the Velvet Sky out for a sail.  We had met some new found friends of ours on the eve of the new year for a beer and good company.  They are just  beginning their adventures in sailing, the same as us.  They are Eric and Linda Ahlvin.  They are on a 42 foot Valiant, name Rover that just got splashed yesterday.  So, we had a beer, some peanuts, and good conversation, then went back to our own places to watch a movie and bring in the new year.

     January 1st morning Scott and I took the ferry over to Whidbey Island to look at a dinghy we were interested in purchasing.  We returned to Port Townsend around noon.  We were taking the boat out and it was a beautiful sunny day to do it.  The sun and the temperature were pleasant, however, the wind was not going to accommodate.  That was okay.  We would leave the sail cover on and motor out, ignoring the bad form of leaving the sail cover on.

     We were so pleased to have Eric and Linda join us.  We motored out (with our sail cover on) the sound was smooth and still with a mere 1.5 knots of wind.  No matter.  We were with friends, on our boat, on the water on New Year's Day. All was right in our world.

     Predictably, both Scott and Eric thought it appropriate to put the sails up, ("It is a sailboat." Said Eric).  It was made so.  Again, all was right in our world.  We returned to our slip around 2:30.

     It is my belief that if I am near the Ocean on January 1st, I must take the ceremonial dip.  We made the short trip to Fort Warden and I made my way into the icy water of the Sound.  I was refreshed and renewed as I allowed the salt water to embrace me completely and very briefly.

Going.....

Going......

Going.....

IN!

Blessed in 2014