Fender Clip

One of the things I am not fond of doing is last minute fender repositioning. It can be difficult any time but add a moving, rocking boat and the need to do it quickly, and it can become a major pain. I have been looking at various clips and finally decided to try the Taylor Made Tidy Ups version. I liked it so much I went back and bought a second one. Easy enough to use but the real test will be the next time I have to move a fender in a hurry.

Lovely, warm, bright morning in Gig Harbor, where we decided to spend a second night. There was an SUP event yesterday, with what looked like 100 people on boards all at one time.

How do you like my improvised "lamp?"

Human-powered Watercraft

We motored to Gig Harbor yesterday afternoon...a nice early fall day after a few days of chilly temps and occasional downpours. Winter-like weather seemed to come out of nowhere!

The Gig Harbor gondolier is still going strong. It must be a success, as I think he's been in business for a couple of years now. Who knew that was a niche market waiting to be tapped. The gondola did a fairly full tour of the harbor...although we didn't hear any singing...

There were also many young members of the Canoe & Kayak Team on the water in the late afternoon, accompanied by several coaching boats.

This morning, we woke to calls of, "stroke...stroke...stroke" as one of the local dragon boat teams practiced.

Rendezvous Trip Day 11 (of 11)

We're almost home. 11 wonderful days!

We left Port Townsend just as the sun was rising.

I took a photo of a large boat...although not the largest of the three we saw this morning. Is this a commercial crabbing boat?

At last...I got a few Orca shots! These were just north of Kingston...and there were zero whale watching boats around. A bonus for us...not to mention the whales.

Rendezvous Trip Day 10

Nothing like watching whales while making lunch. Yep, that's what I did yesterday as we cruised Haro and Juan de Fuca straights on the first leg of our journey home. Didn't get very close but those whale watching boats sure do! I have very mixed emotions about that industry.

Our crossing of those waters was the calmest yet. And marine fog can be fun...if you can watch it from a distance! My photo shows the very top of a container ship peaking through.

Our stop in Port Townsend was a perfect plan, as the Wooden Boat Festival was still going and we had a chance to walk around and see the sights.

The other photos are shots of a quiet but packed Boat Haven Marina as the sun was going down. Last time we were here we stayed at the Port Hudson Marina. Both are nice but the latter is right in town. Boat Haven docks A and B are some of the nicest we've experienced, as they were rebuilt about 8 years ago.

That last shot shows a small catamaran with pedals. People think of everything when it comes to boat building!

Rendezvous Trip Day 9

Yesterday (Saturday) was the last full day of the Rendezvous with lots of activities (that we didn't participate in) despite the rain and drizzle that stuck around until later afternoon. It was a good day for sleeping in and catching up on some reading.

It was fun to have drinks and dinner with the Browns and other RT/CB acquaintances - and especially good to finally catch up with the Beards. Little did we know that Tom is a Coast Guard historian! Can't wait to get our hands on a couple if his books. We look forward to meeting up with them in their home port and hearing more fantastic accounts of their world travels on so many sailboats they've lost count!

Rendezvous Trip Day 8

Thank goodness for the Rendezvous Scavenger Hunt for getting us off our rear ends and experiencing a lot of what Roche Harbor has to offer. Did not know there is a mausoleum nearby...until today.

Got a couple more crab today and had Captain Nick's delicious crab rolls for lunch. It was fun to offer our crab cooking equipment and methods to others...although the pickins' were slim.

I didn't have my phone with me at dinner tonight. If I did I would have included a photo of the whole roasted pig! Also delicious.

After a bit of rain overnight, it turned out to be a decent day with some blue sky instead of smoke.

Thanks to RT's Kevin for doing some work on Europa.

Rendezvous Trip Day 7

Need I say more.

Rendezvous Trip Day 6

The smoke and ash continued to be a problem yesterday. Makes for some really pretty images of the sun but it's just gray and ashy outside...not great to look at.

As we left the Port of Victoria we passed a huge cruise ship; the closest we've been to one in a boat. I prefer our style of "cruising" thank you very much!

I don't think we'll ever hit the open seas but my image of a totally gray skyline is what I imagine that horizon would look like...empty! The Olympic Mountains were hiding behind all of that smoke.

We had another good viewing of a pod of Orcas on our way to Roche Harbor, just as we were entering Haro Straight. Not showing off like last time but still an awesome sight. One of these days I'll get a photo.

The first thing we did after arriving yesterday was wash all the ash off the Europa! Many of the 170+ boats had already arrived. More today...

Rendezvous Trip Day 5

We heard that ash is falling like snow in the Seattle area...very true here in Victoria as well. Makes a mess on the boat! Very smokey here...can't even see out of the harbor. Saving us from the heat, but really not worth it.

We don't want a bigger boat. Honestly. But it's fun to admire the big tugs like our neighbors, a Nordhavn (white) and an American (red).

We're "official" now, as we found a flag shop today and are flying courtesy colors.

No new kayak...decided to make the purchase when we return home. But we've decided the Aquaglide Chelan is the right choice.

Rendezvous Trip Day 4

Lots of sea planes go in and out of Fisherman Bay and it was nice to see that Kenmore Air painted one of them to look like an Orca! Great steak on the grill, and a very nice moon over Lopez Island.

Arrived in Victoria today. We're staying at the Causeway Marina, right in front of the Empress Hotel. The city is full of people, an art fair, and a Blues festival.

Still pretty hot but the haze and smoke are keeping it a bit cooler. Looking forward to a nice pub dinner. Tomorrow we hope to buy an inflatable kayak! The old one is just to heavy and cumbersome to get on and off the boat, so we are looking for something much more portable.

Rendezvous Trip Day 3

Moored at a Spencer Spit State Park buoy near the Corrie Doon last night...lucky to find one left! This morning both boats came into Fisherman Bay, anchored, and took a trip into Lopez Village. Yes...more fish tacos!

(Note to selves: This is a busy weekend...duh!)

The Zedekars just departed, headed back to Anacortes where they have their boat berthed for the month for proximity to northern destinations.

It's pretty hot. Probably need to figure out longterm shade options for the cockpit...

Speaking of weather, looks like the forecast has changed for the days ahead. Hopefully we don't run into thunder and lightening. May make for some changes in itinerary.

Oh, almost forgot! We slowed down for a bit yesterday just south of Deception Pass to watch some frolicking Orcas! Just a few of them but some full breaches...a really good show! No photos...too busy watching...

Rendezvous Trip Day 2

What. A. Day. Not sure where to begin. Super clear view of Seattle. Bathing beauties...never tire of sea lions on bouys. Mt. Baker around the tip of Camano Island. Giant blow-up movie screen? And Deception Pass...a little before slack tide, and a bit congested with boat traffic, but a much better experience than our first trip through a year ago. Which was not...um...ideal conditions.

Anyway, a long day on the water to get to Spencer Spit on Lopez Island. (Sorry to get morbid here but a reminder to family members that my ashes are to be disbursed at the end of the spit!) Really great to arrive to find Coorie Doon here already. Lovely evening with friends.

A bit of a side note. A couple of days ago we raised a glass in toast to the day we took delivery of the Pelican. August 31, 2016. The gateway boat.

Rendezvous Trip Day 1

As we shadow a "real" tug, we find ourselves heading up the east side of Vashon out of Commencement Bay to points north. Another outstanding day for cruising PNW waters.

I call this the Rendezvous Trip because we will meet up with the Ranger Tugs/Cutwater Boats group for their annual "Rendezvous" gathering in Roche Harbor. The title this year is Cruise to Margaritville. Es-yay on the margaritas; ix-nay on the accompanying Jimmy Buffet nonsense. Sorry parrotheads!

We are taking time beforehand to visit some favorites and some new-to-us-in-a-boat places. Here is the proposed itinerary: Edmonds; Spencer Spit (Lopez Island); Rosario (Orcas Island); Fisherman Bay (Lopez Island); Victoria for 2 nights; then to Roche. Home via Port Townsend on the 11th. Best laid plans...

Hope to meet up with the Coorie Doon at Lopez!

We hope the weather forecast is true and that it stays about 10 degrees cooler up north than the predicted near-100 temps in Tacoma. Yuk. Thanks for watering, various people!

And hoping for lots of wildlife sightings!