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!