Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Miramontes Family Visit

It's hard to believe it's been almost a month, but the Miramontes family (minus Dad) came to visit during their Spring Break. We met in Bremerton, where it was only a one-block walk to such fine establishments as Starbucks, Subway, and Coldstone. We walked a bit farther, in the wind and rain, to the Navy museum, but it was Tuesday -- the only day of the week they are closed!

Well, let's try to do that when we come back to Bremerton to drop you off. Maybe Uncle Mikey will be around to visit then too.  Off to Blake Island State Park!


Blake Island is one of our favorite places. But this is not the view you like to see when you have 6 people cooped up on a boat, three of them kids aged 6, 8, and 10.

Blessedly, the sun came out on Wednesday afternoon! And what do boys love to do?
Throw rocks, of course.

And make faces at Grammie! But he's got such a CUTE face...

It's nesting season for killdeer -- is there a nest nearby?

The kids are not stopped by the HUGE puddle under the play structure.
Madalyn loves the zip-line-like feature.

Sailing Vessel Carlyn is in the area. At dinnertime, the crew adds a lot of color to the view.

One of my favorite subjects.

Oh no! Where is Evergreen State going??? She is our 'favorite' ferry, and we are at first distressed to see her being pushed south. We knew she had been up for auction. Al googles to find the answer:  she is going to the Caribbean!  We are happy she will continue to be a ferry. 

The kids are delighted to watch the raccoons.  Casey even got a photo of one climbing onto Viking Star. (This is old hat for us, but it's a thrill for the kids)

The next day there is still sun in the morning, so Casey and I and the kids head for the west point.
It's fun to explore at low tide.

The kids try to look as bored as possible while they take a rest.

We brought snacks, but that didn't keep Madalyn down for long!

Milo and Casey

Evan and Madalyn


Dig dig dig!
The rain held off ALMOST until we got back to the boat. I don't remember what we did all afternoon (probably watched a movie), but after supper we had a campfire in the shelter that the Carlyn had vacated that day.

The next morning Papa and I begin to ready the boat to go back to Bremerton while everyone else is till in bed. It doesn't take long for heads to pop up, though. Micah DOES meet us, and we DO go to the Navy Museum, and we all have lunch together before we all go different directions -- Miramontes back to Hillsboro OR, Micah to his place, and Al and I take Viking Star to Poulsbo for a gathering with the Cascadia Sailing Association.

A passer-by takes a group shot for us!

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Cruising Again!

We departed Friday Harbor and as we usually do, went directly to Blind Bay. It is our 'happy place' in the San Juan Islands. We like to drop an anchor and just relax for a few days -- or weeks. But this year we were on our way to Bellingham to meet up with friends, so we caught a mooring buoy and only stayed one night.

From there we went to Inati Bay on Lummi Island -- we'd never been there before. It is a tiny bay, and seemed crowded by a log tow, and a big hunk of steel.

A new experience for us this year is using yacht club reciprocals! We joined the West Sound Corinthians and have already earned back the cost of the initiation and first year's dues. We've enjoyed time in Bellingham, LaConner and Everett.

We'd never been into the marina at Everett either, so we are having new experiences, even after 6 years of cruising in the area. It is a wonderful facility, and we hear it is the largest on the West Coast! Here are two different perspectives from the two sunsets we observed in Everett:

We were the only boat at the guest dock the first night. And the sun broke through dark foreboding clouds near sunset.

Sunset the second night was a bit brighter. Here the windows appear to be glowing with light from inside, but it is the reflection of the sun. Notice the white submarine. We saw a TV news story about it the next day. Read more here:  http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2017/03/14/visit-the-titanic-in-oceangates-carbon-fiber-sub-only-105129/