Day 57 1/2 - Also Reid Harbor - Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Willie's Tug and Nellie Too at the dock in Reid Harbor.

Mayor Bob with Nita and Willie.

Raymond and Jake aboard the swim platform.  

A thrill during the late afternoon is seeing an eagle spread his wings.


Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 57 - Reid Harbor/Stuart Island WA - Tuesday, July 5, 2011

We leave Cap Sante Marina and head toward Skyline Marina to meet Bob and Nita on Nellie Too to cruise together to Sidney, Canada.  


We enjoy seeing our old friend, the ferry, as she leaves the Anacortes port to travel to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.


The conditions are not our friend today, as we have current behind us and wind on our nose.  The Guemes Channel is very busy, as half the people are like us -- staying home on the Fourth of July and out of traffic, so they can head out today.  The other half are coming back in after being out over the holiday.  


We manage to stay out of harm's way.  However, the wakes of all the many watercraft add to the chop and we are bounced around pretty good.  


So far my coffee pot has never moved from its spot on the counter.  Nita has given me a rubber mat that keeps things from sliding, but I have not used it.


Today I use it!!!  I catch the coffee pot just as it gets to the edge of the counter.  Thanks, Nita, I will listen next time.


We wonder if the seas will calm down any time soon, and then we see Good News, a really cute red boat and consider this an omen and 'good news' on the conditions.  

Business is good with ferry traffic, also, and at one point we encounter two passing each other.

We get a photo of Nellie Too 'treading water' to give way to the larger vessels.  








As we near Sidney on Vancouver Island, Bob is seen putting up his courtesy flag of Canada.

But it is not to be.  We get within radio range of Port Sidney Harbor and learn that we are fourth in line to clear customs.  


It is four o'clock in the afternoon, and a 45 minute (at best) wait in the holding area seems not the thing to do.


We make the decision to back-track to Reid Harbor on Stuart Island and stay the night.  Maybe earlier in the day tomorrow will get us through Canadian customs easier.


This late in the day Reid Harbor and the protected channel are quite populated, and we just know we cannot find a space at the dock.  If we are lucky enough to get a mooring buoy, we can take the dingy to shore for Jake.  We could also anchor out.


As we approach the dock, we see only several dinghies tied up.  There is enough space at one end for Willlie's Tug, and by moving one dinghy just a bit, we make room for Nellie Too.  We are 'home' for the night.


We later learn while visiting with others that they had wanted dock space, but assumed it was dingy only.  Who knew?  We did!!!


A special treat was seeing two other Golden Retrievers come over to go to shore.  One named Raymond jumped into the water, and there is no provision for anyone to get back to land.  Bob invited him to swim around to his swim platform, come aboard and then climb back into his dingy.


Have I mentioned what a nice guy Bob is?


Before the evening is over, Bob is elected Mayor of Reid Harbor.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 56 - Anacortes WA - Monday, Independence Day, July 4, 2011

The Independence Day parade in Anacortes is over one and a half hours long, and floats and entries were quite varied.


Here are some of my favorites -- beginning with a lady in a wheelchair from the Assisted Living Home.

The marine life -- crab and seahorse.

The Harley riders includ a lady who now rides her own version of Scooter.

The American flag is seen many times throughout the parade.

The Anacortes Senior Citizen Activity group makes a lively appearance, dancing with their red umbrellas to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

George Washington is here, along with Roy Rogers, and Arnold Palmer.

NASA demonstrates a robot.

The Military makes quite a presence with many vehicles and personnel.

And one of the cutest dogs I have seen.  He is prancing and seems to be leading his parade.  

"Be Proud Out Loud."

The children are very interested in the candy being thrown by the floats.

"Freedom Isn't Free."

"Thank You, Military."

And then the Fireworks - at dusk - 10 PM

Willie of Willie' Tug, 

   and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 55 - Anacortes WA - Sunday, July 3, 2011

I am always amazed at what I see in this port city of Anacortes.  While driving in search of a restaurant near the waterfront today, we see sprays of water in the air.  We hope nothing is on fire, and wonder if it has anything to do with the early celebration of the Fourth of July.

Driving one more block toward the water, we are able to see that there is no problem.  A local person drives up to take a  photo and tells us that the tug, Crowley, has had some work done, and possibly is being tested now.


I call this a fire boat.


The large ships fascinate me.  In my opinion, this green freighter is huge!  Long!  I wonder what it carries.

As we enjoy our lunch, we look out the window to see Crowley, the fire boat, along with another tug, trailing an ocean going tug.  We think the ocean vessel is one just finished being built at Dakota Industries, and is having a sea trial.  They go very slowly.

After lunch we visit with Bishop Sandy and Mary Hampton.  He gives us his card and tells us that in the old days, when one visited another church, he could have his 'Communion Card' signed to prove he had been to church.

Just for insurance, we get the waiter to take a photo of us all.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
    and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 54 - Poulsbo WA - Saturday, July 2, 2011

To get to Poulsbo from Anacortes, we could take the boat and spend an easy two days on the water, then hope to get a slip at the marina.  It is a popular destination during holidays.


The surest thing to do is take the car aboard the Edmonds Ferry to Kingston, then drive on a short way to Poulsbo.  


We choose the latter, and plan to enjoy being on the big boat observing all the little boats giving way to us.  We have a two hour wait/crawl in line just to get into the holding area for the ferry.   At every street intersection (where one should not block the intersection), invariably some person from the back of the line slips in ahead of cars (and blocks the intersection).  


At one point drivers who have been cut off approach the offending ones to enlighten them about where the line ends.  


Crawling near us is a Jeep with a camera mounted on the hood.  I think, "How helpful to have a camera, so you can take a picture of the license plate of the car that cut in front of you."  

When we are finally on the ferry, I ask the Jeep driver if I may photograph his hood mounted camera.  He and friend volunteer to pose for me.  It is then that I learn the reason for the camera.  They are TJ and Keith, who have a production company in Seattle and are doing a story of taking a rode trip in the area.  The camera can be seen between them.


We are joined on the ferry by a large group of Harley riders, who stretch their legs enjoy the view up front.

'They sure do look good!'

We drive through the small town of Kingston, which calls us to come back for a longer visit to the quaint shops and restaurants, and get to Poulsbo for a meeting with other Ranger Tug owners to continue making plans for the Ranger Rendezvous to be held in September.


Kathy and Craig on Salish Rover are joined by David and Maureen of Karma, Herb and myself of Willie's Tug, Bob and Nita of Nellie Too, Johnnie and Marilee of Red Rover, and John and Laurie of Laurie Ann, who have planned the agenda for the day.


Kathy shows off her artwork and Nita shares with Bob.

It is a lively meeting with lotsa ideas coming from lotsa people -- and plans do gel.






Laurie calls for 'one meeting' and goes to the next item to be discussed.

After the meeting Laurie shows us some of the improvements she and John have made to the Laurie Ann, and I plan to re-read her article on 'living in small spaces.'  


She makes it work!


Her latest project was to make new colorful curtains.

As we leave the group, we look back at the boats in the marina, all decorated in red, white and blue to celebrate the 4th of July.


It is 4 o'clock in the afternoon, on July 2, but we see the parties have already started and are glad we will return to a quiet marina.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 53 - Cypress Island WA - Friday, July 1, 2011

So we go for a short cruise today, maybe anchor out somewhere and try out the new anchor rode markers.


Sounds good.  All I have to do is watch Herb on the bow as he lets out the chain and rode, then at his signal, I use the gears to set the anchor.


Then we will read, watch the scenery and wildlife, and have lunch.


We head toward Cypress Island, not far away, and Herb sees some mooring buoys at Cypress Head, which are a bit protected from wakes of boats.  "Let's catch a mooring buoy instead of anchoring," He says.


"Let's" means Willie catches the buoy.  Panic.  He did not warn me.  I've heard the buoy can pull you into the water.  


We are almost upon the buoy and I tell Herb to hold on while I get my life jacket.  Now, remind me how I am supposed to do this?  He says I can use the boat hook, but it is behind the lawn chairs in the cockpit, so I decide to try just slipping the line through the loop.


Amazing!  It was so simple and I didn't fall overboard.  The hard part was when our own small wake by idling caused the buoy to bob up and down.

Herb then takes the line and ties off at the bow.  He also wears his life jacket.  The water is still very cold here and it is not a good idea to be in it.






We enjoy the scenery as we have lunch, and notice the rocky shore with picnic tables high on the cliff.

Nice lunch, peaceful scenery, sleeping dog, and we have no chores to do.  A nap sounds good.  Slight waves will rock us to sleep.


Uh, oh!  Here comes the small foot ferry!  I suppose she goes very fast because she is on a schedule.  Very fast boats cause big wakes.  Big wakes frighten sleeping dogs.  As Willie's Tug rocks, Jake literally leaps onto the bed with us, waking us, and we 'encourage' him to get down.  In doing so, 79 lbs. of canine steps on my leg.  I survive.


Nap is over.


As we cruise farther north by the east coast of Cypress Island, we come to Eagle Harbor, which we have heard is a popular place to go.


We see that it is, indeed, an inviting place to visit.  Lots of boats on mooring buoys.

Looking to our east, we see several very small islands -- maybe they call them rocks -- and I am reminded that someone told me the San Juan Islands are tops of submerged mountains......

Another beauty we see is a boulder resting against the side of the cliff and dipping into the surf.


God and Mother Nature!

We go west at the top of Cypress Island and then south, passing Strawberry Island and Strawberry Bay.


Soon we are in Guemes Channel heading back to Anacortes.  Marine traffic picks up in this area and we are on the watch.


Two boats are coming our way; it appears that they will collide.  Fortunately, their speeds change (but directions do not) and they pass safely.

We see quite a few seals today and one is just begging to have his photo taken!  Where is my big lens???


All they will show us is their little cute heads!  Dead center of the photo.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 52 - Anacortes WA - Thursday, June 30, 2011

Today is a workday.


Well, no, anything to do with the boat is not work.


Today is a play day.  Herb gets some markers to insert into the anchor rode to measure the distance in 30 foot increments.  He lets out over 200 feet along the center dock and begins to place the markers.


It is a play day for me.  I am inside on my laptop writing my blog, and so engrossed that I do not pay attention to the loud noise of the windlass moving the anchor chain and rode.  So I do not see the different colored markers labeled with the depths as he inserts them.

Now the next thing is to go anchor out and see how it works!

Willie of Willies Tug,

   and Walldog, Willie and Jake