After ten days of cruising
through the San Juan Islands with each day as beautiful as the day before, we
are now on our way to Pender Island to check in with Canadian Customs and then
will anchor at Ganges on Saltspring
Island for two days. We hope to peruse their Farmers’ Market on
Tuesday to provision the boat with healthy veggies and fruit.
We had a solemn farewell this
morning… Ashley and Ada left in a taxi for the Bellingham Airport. David will miss playing cribbage with Ashley
and his tickling matches with Ada.
We have so enjoyed having our little ones aboard with us. Both Lewis and Ada certainly earned their
boating merit badges!
Bryan, Jessica, Nicky and Brandon heading back from Eastsound.
We were able to explore
Eastsound and Orcas on Orcas Island, Friday
Harbor on San
Juan Island and Blind Bay on
Shaw Island with Lewis and the gang. Lewis
had his first ride in the little skiff when we all went to breakfast in
Eastsound. He wasn’t too crazy about having that life jacket buckled around him
but as hard as he tried, there was no squirming out of it! We walked past the
Odd Fellows Hall where Brandon
and Nicky will be married next year. We are hoping to bring our boat over to
join in the festivities. A favorite destination of ours is the old Orcas Hotel
where we always order calamari to accompany our drinks. The deck looks out at the harbor and ferry
dock. Luckily, Lewis found some grass to play on…tough being on the boat for so
long with so little space for a proper romp.
With Ada
and Mom we wandered to Sucia Island, Stuart
Island, Roche
Harbor on San
Juan Island and again
to Blind Bay
before returning to Bellingham’s
Squalicum Harbor Marina. We walked a trail on Stuart
Island, a “bird walk” as Ada would say. Our little
girl really enjoyed riding in the skiff and loved hanging over the side reveling
in the many bubbles caused by our wake. She got pretty soaked trying to put her
hands in the water. No fear. There was definitely some gleeful screams when
she spotted ducks and a curious seal in the water. The amount of energy these
little grandchildren have is unbelievable!
The adults would be slumped over at the end of the day ready for bed,
and they were just revving up!
We took on diesel fuel this
morning at $2.92/gal. I always love it when there are helpful hands on the dock
to assist in guiding and securing us, and we were in luck this morning. We have
had lots of practice pivoting the boat with the bow line remaining secured as
David swings the stern out to turn her around. Upon leaving the fuel dock, we
expertly executed that maneuver with at least a 9.5 for style!
However, the first time
leaving the Squalicum Marina, we no sooner swung our stern out putting us
perpendicular to the dock when an untimely parade of sailboats and a massive
yacht decided to pass behind us. When we started this pivoting maneuver, there
were no moving boats in sight! Still
tied to the dock, we weren’t going anywhere, but I was surprised that the
boaters were pushing ahead with little concern for our 60 ton boat. Not sure
many boaters realize just how difficult
this boat is to maneuver, let alone, stop quickly! We gave our passengers an unexpected thrill,
and we hadn’t even left the marina yet!
The waters are “pancake
smooth” as we head across the border. We have about a seven hour cruising
day…nautical miles and nautical miles to go before we sleep.
Fun boat names: Living on a Prayer and Frankly, Scarlett
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