March 24, 2009

It has been a while since we have returned so I thought I would update the Blog and get ready for a new cruising year.

We have been out a couple of times this winter.
November
Bremerton for Thanksgiving and I can sum it up in a few words. Windy. Docking at Bremerton with a south wind is quite a challenge. There were a dozen boats from the club with us and I managed to get it stuffed into a slip on the third try. Bremerton is like only a 5 minute run for us so we hardly even warmed up the engines. Had a great time despite the cold weather.
Took a tour of the USS Turner Joy, a Viet Nam era destroyer that is on display as a museum. Amazing ship, well worth the 10 bucks to get inside.

January
I decided to skip work and we went out on a Foggy Friday. Fog so thick at home that you could not see 100 feet. By the time we got to the boat however we left the fog behind and it was cold, clear without a cloud in the sky and no wind.
Went out to Blake Island for the night. They have now added 30 amp power to the docks so it makes for a great winter stop. It will be even harder to find a spot there however in the summer months. There is rumor now with the economy that they are going to close the park so that would be a terrible loss to the boating community.

Fuel prices are finally down. We ran up to Brownsville to get fuel as it was below $2 for the first time in several years. I filled up for $1.98. What a bargain since last time I put fuel in the boat in August I got it for $4.04 a gallon and I thought I was in heaven.

March
Cruise again to Bremerton. Such a long distance to go and again the best way to describe the trip was "Windy". The weather service was predicting winds 15 to 25 for the afternoon so I wanted to get there early. We left at about 2 pm and got there about 5 minutes later and got tied up to the breakwater without any problem. There were several of the club members already there for the St Pattys day cruise who helped with the lines. We were visiting on Glens boat when the winds picked up in ernest. My awning that worked so well in Alaska to keep the rain off the rear door tore loose and was flapping in the wind like a loose sail. I clocked the winds at the boat at 30 mph steady. The marina and one sailboat clocked 54 mph gusts.
A couple boats arrived at the peak of the wind and it was a boat rope. One of the boats tried to get turned around and the wind took him broadside down the fairway out of control. He piled into a piling and was getting blown into the slip next to me, we got a line on him to the dock from the stern but could not get the bow line before the wind caught him and swung the bow into my boat. His bow flare caught my aft railing and bent in into my aft cabin and pulled the screws right out of the deck. Damage was light but will require someone with more skill than I have to repair it. the other skipper was quite concerned and said to send him the repair bill when I get it.

The next day was glorious, no wind and blue sky but cold. Had an othewise great time all weekend.

getting ready to take the boat north to Bellingham next month. Will be haveing a hard top installed to replace the 8 year old canvas enclosure. Surfside Marine is doing the work, will keep you appraised of the progress and end result.

the Spot tracker is getting passed off to Jeff and Fran for a new adventure. It is going back to Alaska with them but this time up Mt Mckinley. Check out the new link and follow their adventures up the mountain.

August 31, 2008 Port Orchard

running under the Tacoma Narrows Bridges

We are home!!!
We have put exactly 400 hours on the engines and have travelled just over 3000 miles in 4 months minus 6 days and with two weeks off when we had to return home for family and business. It has all gone by way too fast. We have seen amazing stuff, been to amazing places, shared it with great friends and travel partners and are home in one piece with virtually nothing bad happening throughout the trip.

We spent the last few days in Longbranch with the Roche Harbor Yacht club in one of our famous wagon wheels. 25 boats formed the circle on Friday in relatively stiff breezes. For a while we were not sure the wheel would hold but after Glen, Dave, Nat and I put out a few extra anchors it would have held even in Dixon Entrance, well maybe not but it held together and the winds abated later that night. We had three wonderful days hanging out with old friends, that is just figuratively speaking, and having a grand old time. Three days if the longest we have spent in any one spot in the last four months by the way.



the Wagon Wheel and a jet powered Kayak

We went to the Labor Day dance at the Longbranch improvement club and had a good time listening and dancing to good old 60s and 70's music. Jim Valley of the old Paul Revere and the Raiders group showed up and played with the band for a while and it was really quite good.

Today James and JJ came down and rode back with us to Port Orchard. The water was perfect and except for a small thunder storm with a little lightening and a bit of rain we had a prefect run home.

We had to move the sailboat that was taking up our space at the dock but I found the email rom June telling me who he was and called him and he will move it out of here tomorrow. Until them we are sharing the space.

It is bittersweet to be home. Nice to have the journey safely behind us but it all went by so fast and there is so much more to see and do that were sorry it is over and we have to unpack and go back to work.

So, for now this will be the final entry into the blog for a while. We will perhaps pick it up again the next time were out but thanks for following along on our trip nd sharing it vicariously. we enjoyed keeping you entertained and hope you enjoyed the adventure as much as we enjoyed sharing it.

August 28, 5 days left

Were anchored in Gig Harbor today. Got in last night after a long rund from Port Ludlow on perfect waters. Hardly any breeze until we rounded Southworth and then we ran into 15 knot head winds and a nice chop but prior to that there was hardly a ripple on the water

We stopped at Brownsville for some fuel, they were selling it for the rediculous low price of 4.02 a gallon, wow what a deal.

The two tall ships, Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chief were there and whe we pulled out they were just leaving and were putting up full sail which is quite a sight.






further south we found more evidence of a windy night. Another sail boat driven aground after its anchor drug in the night. Not a good place to be but better than the two fishing boats in Port Ludlow.



The weather is not sounding all that great for the weekend, go figure its a holiday.
We will try to find Glen and Liz today and hook up with them for the evening.

August 27

Well, It blew fairly hard here in Port Ludlow. I have always thought of this place as windy and it lived up to its reputaion last night with a gust of 29.9 at the dock.

These two boats drug anchor with some serious consequences. Chris was happy we were not hanging on an anchor last night. For a while I thought we were going to tear the top canvas off it was rattling so hard.

August 26, Port Ludlow

We left Roche Harbor this am about 10 in perfect blue sky and calm wind conditions. The crossing of the straits went perfect on almost flat water all the way with the exception of a few lumps off Lime Kiln Point. The currents there were contrary to wind and out direction but by going further off shore we got out of the back eddie and eventually got a push south bound.

We had a free night of moorage at Port Ludlow that we won at the Mainship Rendevous last year that we thought we would use up so we are here for the night. The weather is changing again and it has started to rain and the wind is picking up.

At Roche we ran into Jim and Marcia Krell on Chinoo again. They arrived shortly after we did after running all the way from Campbell River. In talking to them about the weather it was a good thing we took shelter at Maple Bay and in Tod Inlet. They said the night we were at Maple Bay that they were in 35 knot winds on their anchor and woke up to a dragging anchor. They listened all night as numerous boats called for coast guard assistance and they heard of several boats that went on the rocks during the night. We never felt a ripple all night. Apparently it was not much better the next night when we were in Tod Inlet.

While walking the dog I ran into Gail Stewart, they were also at Roche, docked over on the guest dock after spending a couple nights at the outstation. Never did find Doug.

Weather and wind permitting we will head south tomorrow and maybe grab the illegal anchor bouy out in front of Steves house at Horsehead Bay. Yes Liz they have one of those over the top houses you mentioned in your blog and no you don't want to know what it costs.

And yes, I know it is a four day weekend and I don't have to go back to work till Tuesday but I am still going back with a bad attitude and Tuesday is only a week away.

August 25 Roche Harbor

Were back home in Washington!

We left Maple Bay on Sunday Morning in heavy rain and with strong winds forcaste. the winds never materialized and we had a flat sea all the way to Tod Inlet where we anchored for the night.
We decided to go tour Buchart Gardens late in the afternoon and evening since they are open till 11pm and the trails and gardens are all lit up and the rain eased up in the evening so we were able to spend about 3 hours wandering around the grounds and had a great time. It is the first time either of us have ever been there and it was well worth the time albeit a bit pricy to get in. The days of sneaking in the back way are gone with security fences and a credit card swipe at the gate and remote control cameras and speakers. You never have contact with an actual person but they get your money anyway before you get in.

We left Tod Inlet about 10 this morning in bright sun and perfect conditions and got to Roche and Customs about 1:30. customs was a breeze, about 15 minutes and we were through. the Roche Harbor Outstation was open so we slid in there for the night and will mosey south across the straits tomorrow, wind permitting.

Were winding down and getting close to the end of this amazing experience and have had virtually no problems throughout the trip that amounted to anything serious. count our blessings and keep our fingers crossed till were home and the trip is complete.

Not looking forward to going back to work but alas not much choice. Gotta pay for this little endeavor now and restock the bank account for the next time. Yes there will be a next time.

August 23, Our 34th anniversay

Our next boat, in our dreams

34 years ago today we were married. After four months together on the boat we may make it another couple of years. I think we still like each other and have not tried to throw each other overboard more than a couple of times.

We left Nanaimo this morning about 10 and ran Dodd Narrows just after flood began with about a 2 knott current. No problems



Dodd Narrows

We sitting in Maple Bay at the Maple Bay Yacht Club Reciprocal dock. Nice place and I am a bit surprised we found an opening here at all. But we got here fairly early and there was plenty of space. Its full up now however.

James, we are seeing a bunch of 26 tollys up here. We have actually seen a couple f McGregors as well but far more 26 tollys are in service in the Gulf Islands and Alaska for that matter.



26 foot tollys are popular boats

Steve we found a new boat for you and you would not have to change the name.



The bees have finally arrived. We have had virtually no bugs and no bees throughout this trip but today we have bees flying around. Chris bought two of these paper fake wasp nests that are supposed to scare away bees. I think they are nesting in them now.

Were supposed to get more wind tonight, winds up to 35 mph forcast for after midnight so we decided on a dock rather than a new untested anchor that I picked up in Nanaimo.

I picked up a 40 lb bruce since Glens seemed to do all right the whole time we were in alaska and then Iread all the anchor tests and found out that the Bruce Anchor faired worse than all others combined for holding power. It sets everytime but drags an very low forces. so when I get back I guess I will contact the manufacture of my other anchor and see if the will send me a new one or go check out second wave to see if they have a CQR for cheap. That is what I had on the old boat and it seemed to do quite well and faired better in all the tests than the Bruce except it did not have as high a percentage of sets as did the Bruce. Too many variables to be sure what to use but for sure heavier is better.

Schedule is Todd Inlet and Buchart Gardens weather permitting Sunday or Monday.
Friday Harbor and customs on Tuesday
Wednesday cross Straits of Juan De Fuca to Port Townsend area
Thrusday run down to Quartermaster or all the way to Cutts Island
Friday Longbranch for the club cruise.
Sat and Sun at Longbranch
Sunday home
Monday Back to work if I remember what it is, where it is and what I do?
It will take about two weeks to unload the boat and clean it after living on it for four months.