Fourth of July Celebration -- Thursday, 7/4/2013 -- Day 55

God bless our Country on her birthday, and always!

Parades, outings, picnics and fireworks.  People visiting, families being together, friends gathering.

Aunt Vicki brings Jake to the viewing area with his Thunder shirt on -- Let the Parade begin!

"Is this her Thunder shirt?"  "No, it's her costume."

Her Thunder shirt is under it.

Boom

Animal Protection Society

The Nurse

Celebrate Lopez Island Agriculture

Zumba

Go Green!

The band plays on....

Residents took over the waste from the County, obtained a loan to purchase the backhoe, and ask donations to retire the debt.

Washington, Yes!

The Lutherans

Wave at us, please.

The Wave

We Drive Tractors

A close look will show the Orca's spout rising just in front of the lady dressed in red.

 Great music here.

Throw me something, Mister; my bag is not yet full of beads and candy.

Paper Plate on his back says, "The End."

Nudibranch joins us in the afternoon and rafts to Moondance.  A breeze kicks up later and many of us grab warmer clothes, jackets and blankets as we sit outside awaiting the start of the fireworks.

I'm cold.

 Happy Fourth of July!

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Thursday, July 4, 2013

Lazy Day with Brisk Walk -- Wednesday, 7/3/2013 -- Day 54

Today's walk about takes us back into the village to visit shops and art galleries.  However, some of the most beautiful art is in the indigenous wild flowers along the road.

A sign in front of a bookstore catches my eye:  

"Who is the only woman ever to lie in honor in the Rotunda of the US Capitol?"

a.  Susan B. Anthony
b.  Eleanor Roosevelt
c.  Rosa Parks

I think for a moment, then walk into the store to ask the answer.  The clerk invites me to guess.  Well, OK, and I think for another moment, then guess.

"You are right!"  she says and offers me to pick a candy from the candy dish.  I choose chocolate.

Another example of the hospitality of Lopez Island is the Good Doggie Watering Hole, a plastic tub water dish for dogs strolling along the highway on the long walk back to the marina.  A note asks to keep the lid on when not in use.

In sight of the marina, we search for our Ranger Tugs, and think we see Moondance on the breakwater.

By late afternoon it becomes quite breezy with a bit of chop on the water.  Vicki and I grab warm wraps; mine is one of Bruce's vests that is too large for him.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Thank You, Lopez Island Fire Department -- Tuesday, 7/2/2013 -- Day 53

On our second day at Fisherman's Bay we walk to the grocery store for fresh fruit and vegetables,  and have lunch at the Bay Cafe, which has a view of the entrance to the Bay and the channel marker to be reckoned with.  

A different way home takes us by some hay farms, and we are intrigued with the mowing operation.  Lopez Island is known for its farms, and it is common to see tractors on the highway.

One of the things we love about Lopez Island is the friendliness, as explained in this link, and we get caught up in waving at everyone, even people on our walking path.   The whole hand or only two fingers.   It just makes us happy!

Entire Hand

Only Two Fingers

We pause to enjoy a sleeping doe until she slips away.

In late afternoon we hear loud excited voices and see a gathering of people in PFDs on the finger pier across from Moondance.  We rush out to see if we can help, and find a man in the water in the slip next to Willie's Tug.  He says, "I hit my head on the edge of the dock and think I broke my back." 

He is also paralyzed by the cold temperature of the water, which happens before hypothermia.

Our adrenaline calms down when we are told it is a drill by the Lopez Island Fire Department.  We talk to Dr. Sullivan, who is observing, and learn they do this regularly to keep their skills.  The team learns something new each time.

Thank you, Lopez Island Fire Department.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Tuesday, July 2, 2013

A Full Day and a Good Day -- Monday, 7/1/2013 -- Day 52

From Cap Sante we enter Guemes Channel with Moondance, and get quite a few rollers and deep troughs from the many large boats coming and going -- but no 9 ft!  

Moondance

Minutes later we hear on the radio a call from Hayden Bay, who says she has us in her binoculars. We do locate Marcus and Jorge, then hear Last Call hailing us.  When my light bulb finally lights, I realize it is a flotilla with Destiny in the lead, and the other two following.  By this time they are too far to get a good photo, but I try, and hope my zoom works magic. It is so exciting to happen across them.

Destiny

Hayden Bay

Last Call

We continue our trip and the first stop is a visit to Center Island, where Jeff Messmer catches our lines to tie up to his dock.

Find Willie's Tug....

Find a new R-31....

Find Moondance....

 Jeff shows us around their cabin, then invites us into the golf cart for a tour of the island.  So Herb is up front;  on the seat facing back is Bruce in the middle, with Vicki and me on either side -- holding on!

Center Island is composed of privately owned lots, most of which have water frontage.   Jeff takes us through the interior, up steep paved roads to the top of the hill and back down the other side.  At one point we laugh at the thought that we would have stood in line for hours at Disney World to get this type roller coaster fun. 

Center Island Air Strip

Sign reads, "Private Airport"

In addition to the thrilling ride, Jeff gives us a tour of the Community Center, which is abuzz with activity preparing for the Fourth of July picnic and parade.

Christie shares that one of their golf carts is always decorated with a theme, and this year they choose Duck Dynasty, a reality TV show set in West Monroe LA.  Herb and I know the city well, having a son and family who live there. 

I can't wait to see the Messmer children -- Jack, Maisy and Gracie -- dressed like this.

 

Arriving in the afternoon at Lopez Islander Resort on Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island, we find our slips and hurry to check out the hot tub and pool.  Fulla kids!  That's great.  We love to see the children having fun!  We'll come back later.

Martini Time

Dinner is Vicki's Wild Salmon Chowder with Fire Roasted Tomatoes, paired with Aquinas wine, a Pinot Noir from Napa Valley.  Ahhhh....

The label explains the wine is named for St. Thomas Aquinas (a-kwine-es), a revolutionary scholar in the 13th century who used the laws of science to support his belief in the existence of the Almighty.

We take a late evening walk for a bit of exercise and find a hill that seems to go on forever.  The good news is going back is 'downhill all the way.'

Seagulls on the Posts

Hill

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Monday, July 1, 2013

Dining -- Sunday, 6/30/2013 -- Day 51

Moondance brings Bruce and Vicki to Cap Sante for a day, as we make plans to cruise tomorrow to Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island.  

After cocktails at Happy Hour on Willie's Tug, we walk to Anthony's Restaurant for dinner, and are given a table by the water.  Our awesome view includes Cap Sante Bluff and Herb and I point out where we walked up the challenging trail.

We dine over a few hours, and when the waitress asks the second time if we are 'still working on our food,' we explain we are not working, but enjoying!

The strawberries are excellent this season, and we have been getting half a flat at the Farmers' Market every week.  Tonight we share strawberry sorbet and a decadent dish of chocolate with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce.

We really did!

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Firsts -- Thursday - Saturday, 6/27-29, 2013 -- Days 49-50

Our plan is to spend a few days anchored out soon, but the motor on Jake's Ferry does not perform properly.  On Thursday Herb takes it apart for a diagnosis, and spends quite a bit of time trying this and trying that.

No luck.  It runs, but it won't idle.  Not satisfactory.  

Herb, who 'has built race cars from the ground up' decides there are people who work on motors and perhaps this gasoline puppy should go see one.

Enter Chris, our sailor neighbor, who is a magnet for deals.  He tells Herb about a couple on F Dock who have a Torqeedo for sale.  Off we go.

Electric, quiet, and will take Jake long distances to shore at any speed.

Find Jake's Ferry....

Find the Torqeedo....

First dinghy ride of the Summer, first voyage of the new motor.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
     and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
     Thursday - Saturday, June 27-29, 2013