Thursday, August 20, 2009
August 14
Fisherman's Bay (still). Doug checked the batteries again and we motored to the dock for the night to recharge again. We discussed more options and extremes to avoid power drains, obviously giving favor to Doug's business needs and navigational/safety tools. My emails and web posting will stay in the picture but all web searches except business is gone. Other wise a pretty uneventful day. We got showers, some supplies at the marina store, and Doug walked to Lopez Village (about a mile away) to explore and buy some groceries, and enjoyed eating blackberries from the side of the road.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
August 12-13
August 12, 13. Checkout time came and we had to leave before the boat batteries were completely charged up. We thought no big deal we'll anchor out and if we need more parts can row back. The anchor area was very bumpy and congested, with lots of traffic in and out, not conducive to working in the lockers, hanging upside down, etc. so we decided to go to Fisherman's Bay just across the San Juan Channel and back to Lopez Island on the west. We had tools and mess everywhere so motored in perfectly good wind. Nearly killed us but kept the boat flat so we didn't have to spend ½ hour putting everything away to take it all back out or watch it fly across the cabin. 48 30.673'N 122 55.247' W we got every thing done yesterday in another beautiful day of summer. Stayed parked for a second night. It's mellowing us all and and we're learning to ignore the sea planes that roar past us 10-12 times a day. A cool start to today so Doug created his own warmth by rowing to land to post letters . He was going to get some breakfast and let me sleep but $10 for a bowl of cereal and no decaf coffee so he got himself an ice cream, and came back and caught some crabs. Yummy lunch!
The rains are back in earnest and we are holed up with fresh batteries and ability to keep them charged so I took the time to type this and he and Squishy are napping. The Islands in general have definitely become much more commercial and chaotic. This is quite busy with boats buzzing through frequently. Certainly not a first choice for a weekend. We will find a quiet place with cell range tomorrow.
On the personal notes, it's been a very good week for contact with our kids. Andy sent email. He is living with his birth mom and working for her doing janitorial while he tries to get a “real” job. He will try to start school in the fall but not sure of details there, waiting lists, money, course work, etc.
Jessa sent a letter which Gina read to me. She is happy she decided to joint the marines and I quote “It's actually kind of fun.” She has been at boot camp 2 weeks now. It was a sweet letter that has opened that door again. Praise God!
Love to all,
Cindy, Doug & Squishy
The rains are back in earnest and we are holed up with fresh batteries and ability to keep them charged so I took the time to type this and he and Squishy are napping. The Islands in general have definitely become much more commercial and chaotic. This is quite busy with boats buzzing through frequently. Certainly not a first choice for a weekend. We will find a quiet place with cell range tomorrow.
On the personal notes, it's been a very good week for contact with our kids. Andy sent email. He is living with his birth mom and working for her doing janitorial while he tries to get a “real” job. He will try to start school in the fall but not sure of details there, waiting lists, money, course work, etc.
Jessa sent a letter which Gina read to me. She is happy she decided to joint the marines and I quote “It's actually kind of fun.” She has been at boot camp 2 weeks now. It was a sweet letter that has opened that door again. Praise God!
Love to all,
Cindy, Doug & Squishy
August 11
August 11. We motor out into the clear but as we rounded a corner it was pea soup so we found a place off to the west side to anchor and wait out the fog. Sailed off of anchor into our first beautiful day of summer and went to Friday Harbor.
One of two tourist meccas of the Islands and we try to avoid them. Sometimes the benefits outweigh the chaos or at least force the hand. San Juan County fair started the 12th so we wanted in and out. Showers, provisions, recharge all batteries, investigate why our batteries and charging system weren't keeping up with recharging batteries and research cell signals on the Islands (Hauling a deep cycle marine battery up Spring street for testing is not exactly our idea of fun, but it was good exercise). We don't remember this much difficulty the last trip. I think that implies only the best memories stayed with us. Naturally the local Ace, Car Quest, Radio Shack, and West Marine, the grocery store, and a very nice restaurant were glad to see us. Oops didn't write down coordinates so here's the marina entrance with promise we did not park in the middle. 48 32.48' N, 123 00.78'W
One of two tourist meccas of the Islands and we try to avoid them. Sometimes the benefits outweigh the chaos or at least force the hand. San Juan County fair started the 12th so we wanted in and out. Showers, provisions, recharge all batteries, investigate why our batteries and charging system weren't keeping up with recharging batteries and research cell signals on the Islands (Hauling a deep cycle marine battery up Spring street for testing is not exactly our idea of fun, but it was good exercise). We don't remember this much difficulty the last trip. I think that implies only the best memories stayed with us. Naturally the local Ace, Car Quest, Radio Shack, and West Marine, the grocery store, and a very nice restaurant were glad to see us. Oops didn't write down coordinates so here's the marina entrance with promise we did not park in the middle. 48 32.48' N, 123 00.78'W
August 10
August 10th We motor out and around to Hunter Bay, in the interior of Lopez Sound, at 48 27.64' N, 122 51.42'W on the west side. Really enjoyed it to. It was raining, Doug rowed out to the rocks to try fishing, but ended up just wet. Next set of phone batteries dead by morning, and the anchor light seems to be running the batteries down faster than they should. Boats with inboard motors can keep up with the house battery drain, but our little outboard only charges at 65 watts, so we had to go find power.
August 8-9
August 8-9 Doug finished the client update and we moved the boat south of town to escape the boat traffic. We had a peaceful night. Next morning we decided to head across the Straight of Juan de Fuca to the San Juan Islands (about 25 miles). We had some wind so got to motor for a while. Visibility was not the best, we had to be very watchful for other traffic. The excitement but not necessarily fun time came when a very off course little brown bat started buzzing us off. It tried to hang on to the sail canvas but every time it fell off it buzzed us. Hard to focus on sail trim when its flying through. Finally we started the motor to out run it. Like a bad omen, that killed the wind, so we motored the rest of the way.
We made it to the San Juan Islands Sunday before the three days of rains were to come. Aleck Bay on the South end of Lopez Island (48 25.61' N, 122 51.57' W) is a very quiet little anchorage. Even Squishy felt comfortable and came to hang out in the cockpit with me, of course before the rains started. Wow! This is what I remember appreciating. Peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful. Only known problem was cell coverage was questionable. Doug went out rowing the bay looking for better signal to move to. Didn't find any but we decided to stay for the night knowing Monday morning we would have to move for business. Phones appeared to roam all night and wore down one set of batteries. I think we got all three days worth of rain overnight. Washed all the salt water off the boat. Squishy is getting used to the rain on fiberglass just above her head.
We made it to the San Juan Islands Sunday before the three days of rains were to come. Aleck Bay on the South end of Lopez Island (48 25.61' N, 122 51.57' W) is a very quiet little anchorage. Even Squishy felt comfortable and came to hang out in the cockpit with me, of course before the rains started. Wow! This is what I remember appreciating. Peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful. Only known problem was cell coverage was questionable. Doug went out rowing the bay looking for better signal to move to. Didn't find any but we decided to stay for the night knowing Monday morning we would have to move for business. Phones appeared to roam all night and wore down one set of batteries. I think we got all three days worth of rain overnight. Washed all the salt water off the boat. Squishy is getting used to the rain on fiberglass just above her head.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
August 7-8
August 7-8. Port Townsend Marina. Hi to all. Sorry it has been so long between posts. Doug has one outlined but work keeps interfering, hard to fight with that. His job gives us this opportunity, but also sets its limits on us.
Are we having fun yet? Believe it or not, Yes! But it’s very weird. We thought the head (marine toilet) rebuild would take a few hours yesterday but did it wrong first and had to sit on hold for customer support, (think Verizon). They talked us through that. We corrected and did it right. Then had to call them back to hold some more because the operating handle was soooo stiff we thought it had to be wrong and were afraid of breaking it. An extra day later, they are east coast and marina’s have checkout times like hotels, all’s good just push the little lever harder. Laundry is clean, bodies are clean, Worst (West) Marine is richer and we are not! But we are gone as we motor out of clean, noisy, moorage to a quiet anchorage where we each could get some work done.
Wrong again. We spent much time looking for the elusive curser that went into hiding with each bob of he boat or the typo created by her bobs. We had small motor vessels weaving in and out of anchored boat at full speed. Sailboats bounce and rock LOTS when wake is created. It that wasn’t enough other sailboats were “racing” around anchored sailboats to practice racing skills and boat trim. Where’s my privacy bubble? Not to mention the evil kitty eyes glaring at me because of course, we all know it is all my fault.
Doug’s 3-hour estimate for a software update at a client site turned in to 6 1/2 so far and has no ending in view, but in an available window we ran away deeper into the bay for some peace and quiet. Forecast sounds like we made a good choice as we may be here a few days, lots of potential for rain. It’s only 7 but Squishy and I will soon go to bed and be up when the sun gets to us.
Doug will post this after his work is done. We're now peacefully anchored at 48 06.092 N 122 46.78 W.
The Straight of Juan de Fuca is the path to the San Juan Islands. It is known for major but variable currents so we choose our direction and timing carefully based on Washburn Tables, statistics that tell us how much current, where and in which direction each hour of the clock. We are really praying that the atmosphere there is as positive as we remember it. We have had enough smelly fishing ports and noisy working ports to last a few months.
We have finally figured out the equation to conducting business without entering moorages so often. Anchoring out is where we find the peace, beauty, and pleasure without the chaos. Now all we need to do is pull in to shower and provision and be gone.
Trivia facts:
Did you know that a basic SS hose clamp is $1.39 in local hardware stores and $1.99 at Worst Marine?
Worst Marine is at the docks and hardware stores are ½ mile either direction. We walked lots.
At home our boat fits in, if not looks great because it gets used. (Seaweed and algae cling to those around us in the docks.) Here it looks dilapidated, old and uncared for. We make repairs as needed for functionality and safety, not appearance. Here lots of racers pay for all repairs to be done, including cosmetics, and hoist their boats out and pressure wash, paint, sand, or some combination thereof for speed every year. We slapped on 6 coats of bottom paint, with the bottom 2 layers being a different color to tell us when we had to repaint, 6 years ago in our drive way. We are changing color now and will have to pull and redo this year after we get back from the salt water. We’re cheap sorts but that’s what allows us to have a boat to play in.
Love and good night to all.
Cindy, Doug and Squishy!
Are we having fun yet? Believe it or not, Yes! But it’s very weird. We thought the head (marine toilet) rebuild would take a few hours yesterday but did it wrong first and had to sit on hold for customer support, (think Verizon). They talked us through that. We corrected and did it right. Then had to call them back to hold some more because the operating handle was soooo stiff we thought it had to be wrong and were afraid of breaking it. An extra day later, they are east coast and marina’s have checkout times like hotels, all’s good just push the little lever harder. Laundry is clean, bodies are clean, Worst (West) Marine is richer and we are not! But we are gone as we motor out of clean, noisy, moorage to a quiet anchorage where we each could get some work done.
Wrong again. We spent much time looking for the elusive curser that went into hiding with each bob of he boat or the typo created by her bobs. We had small motor vessels weaving in and out of anchored boat at full speed. Sailboats bounce and rock LOTS when wake is created. It that wasn’t enough other sailboats were “racing” around anchored sailboats to practice racing skills and boat trim. Where’s my privacy bubble? Not to mention the evil kitty eyes glaring at me because of course, we all know it is all my fault.
Doug’s 3-hour estimate for a software update at a client site turned in to 6 1/2 so far and has no ending in view, but in an available window we ran away deeper into the bay for some peace and quiet. Forecast sounds like we made a good choice as we may be here a few days, lots of potential for rain. It’s only 7 but Squishy and I will soon go to bed and be up when the sun gets to us.
Doug will post this after his work is done. We're now peacefully anchored at 48 06.092 N 122 46.78 W.
The Straight of Juan de Fuca is the path to the San Juan Islands. It is known for major but variable currents so we choose our direction and timing carefully based on Washburn Tables, statistics that tell us how much current, where and in which direction each hour of the clock. We are really praying that the atmosphere there is as positive as we remember it. We have had enough smelly fishing ports and noisy working ports to last a few months.
We have finally figured out the equation to conducting business without entering moorages so often. Anchoring out is where we find the peace, beauty, and pleasure without the chaos. Now all we need to do is pull in to shower and provision and be gone.
Trivia facts:
Did you know that a basic SS hose clamp is $1.39 in local hardware stores and $1.99 at Worst Marine?
Worst Marine is at the docks and hardware stores are ½ mile either direction. We walked lots.
At home our boat fits in, if not looks great because it gets used. (Seaweed and algae cling to those around us in the docks.) Here it looks dilapidated, old and uncared for. We make repairs as needed for functionality and safety, not appearance. Here lots of racers pay for all repairs to be done, including cosmetics, and hoist their boats out and pressure wash, paint, sand, or some combination thereof for speed every year. We slapped on 6 coats of bottom paint, with the bottom 2 layers being a different color to tell us when we had to repaint, 6 years ago in our drive way. We are changing color now and will have to pull and redo this year after we get back from the salt water. We’re cheap sorts but that’s what allows us to have a boat to play in.
Love and good night to all.
Cindy, Doug and Squishy!
August 7
Port Townsend, WA. Laundry and Showers. A cool little marine exchange store to get a spare fuel hose, map dividers, and a third hand dingy pump. Too bad the little outboard has a seized piston, would have been great for the dingy. West Marine for the head rebuild kit and some other parts. "123 Thai" has really good take away (you have to try their "fresh roll" with peanut sauce). The taco stand, not so good. We were able to get a crab "catcher" at the hardware store, not quite what Doug was after but it will allow us to revert the fish net back into a "cat scoop" in case Squishy goes overboard. So far, she's showing very little interest in going outside. And we can get everything recycled (except cardboard). It's noisy here, boats in and out and a guy across the way's been hammering on his boat all day. It takes us most of the day to get the head repaired. Doug has a software upgrade to do for a client tomorrow afternoon, we plan on anchoring out to do that.
The dingy had managed to take on many gallons of water. Still investigating where that came from, it might have been a wave that pooped the dink and sent the crab trap overboard, too. The (not) new dingy pump made short work of that, and I re-inflate the keel. Rides better now, but still checking in case of a leak.
The dingy had managed to take on many gallons of water. Still investigating where that came from, it might have been a wave that pooped the dink and sent the crab trap overboard, too. The (not) new dingy pump made short work of that, and I re-inflate the keel. Rides better now, but still checking in case of a leak.
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