Day 39 - Blakely Island and Spencer Spit WA - Friday, June 17, 2011

Plans for today call for a cruise to Spencer Spit on Lopez Island via lunch at Blakely Island, and raft up to "Nellie Too" for the night.  


We are delighted to see "Salty" entering Cap Sante Marina as we leave and give a big wave to Julie.


Without warning a boater exhibits rude behavior and passes us in a no-wake area at great speed.  Hmmmm........

We are joined in the cruise by Randy and Ida on "Adventurer," who also live in Anacortes.  So now we have a red Ranger Tug along with the yellow "Willie's Tug."

Then we are joined by "Nellie Too" from Skyline Marina and now we are a yellow Tug, a red Tug and a green Tug!

We meet a big tanker and give plenty of room.

How many people do we count in this small boat?  The movement of my boat does not allow me to steady the binoculars, but in the photo later, I see 14.  They are still afloat.

Here and there we encounter some big wakes, tidal rips and confused waters.  I am facinated with the motion of the waves and hope I don't see anything more exciting!  Calm is good......

We get close enough to "Adventurer" to get a good photo, but alas! I can't get the vessel's name on the stern.  The wake is too high.


Reminds me of when we were in Bremerton last year at the Ranger Tug Rendezvous and I tried to photograph each Tug as she came in.  "Adventurer's" dinghy was in the way of seeing her name and I simply lowered my hand with the camera, aimed and hoped I got something.

As we get near to Blakely Island around noon, "Nellie Too" gets close enough to get a good picture, showing Bob waving to us.

We are the only three boats docking at Blakely, so maybe the lunch crowd hasn't arrived yet.  It is a low tide and the ramp from the floating dock is very steep.  Ida wonders if Jake can make it up, or if we will have to carry him.  Jake surprises her and trots up with ease.

Jake then finds himself a nice patio to sit on his tether while the humans have lunch.

The Country Store has been open only a few days and the menu consists of hot dogs or hot dogs.  We order hot dogs.


It takes a while to get them cooked, so it gives the ladies plenty of time to examine all the items for sale in the store.  The owner has done a really nice job of merchandising and it makes us want to purchase many of the items.  


By the time lunch is ready, we are famished and a bit giddy.  On the count of three -- everyone hold up a hot dog to show!  Uh oh!  Someone cheated and took a bite first!

Continuing our cruise, we pass a ferry and get the best close-up shot I have gotten so far.  I am always amazed at how they stack the cars in -- so organized.  

Randy and Ida have to get back to Anacortes, so we others head for Spencer Spit on Decatur Island.  Now the real excitement begins.


Where the Waggoner's guide indicated six mooring buoys for use, we see only two, and one of them is taken.


Oh, well, Nita demonstrates her skill at catching the buoy.  Then "Willie's Tug" will raft up to her for the night.  


Ooops!  Where is my bow line?  I always have it tied to the stern and catch it and the stern line as I tie up.  Oh, yes, I see it.  It is on the bow.  How do I get it?  Herb is at the helm, Jake doesn't have a clue, so I guess I should go get it.  


Thank you, Ranger Tug Factory.  You knew where to put the hand rails.

Soon as we are set, Herb takes Jake to shore in "Jake's Ferry."  

Nita and I put together some very inviting snacks for Happy Hour, and it is indeed happy.  A fun cruise and great friends to share our evening!

Jake wonders why he can't be invited into "Nellie Too's" cockpit.


Look, Daddy, it would be a simple step from my boat to theirs.  Just say the word.  Or turn your back..........

Nita Enjoying Snacks

Willie of Willie's Tug,

    and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Days 37 and 38 - Anacortes WA - Wednesday and Thursday, June 15 and 16, 2011

We are pretty excited to see a Tall Ship in the marina today.  We don't have any information on why she is here, and it is getting late in the day.




We get a little closer for a better view.

Ahhhhh, a nice moon tonight.

The next day we have a surprise visit from some C-Dory folks, Julie and Craig Davis from Montana.


They have had their eye on a C-Dory for some time and when they saw "Salty," Craig said, "That's the one!"  However, she wasn't for sale, only for charter. 


Their lucky day came when Craig learned that "Salty" was available and quickly made his purchase.


I don't know when I have met a couple that are any happier than Julie and Craig are today!

The photo below is from the next day as we are easing out of the marina, and we see Salty coming in.  It was sent to me by Julie and shows me taking a picture of their boat.

Willie of Willie's Tug,

   and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Days 35 and 36 - Anacortes WA - June 13 - 14, 2011

Before we leave Stuart Island, we take a look at the real estate for sale -- like we need some -- we wonder what is up the hill on this 'road' and further wonder how a vehicle makes it up with the boulders in the road.  Possibly our Jeep Grand Cherokee?  We look briefly, and move on.  

Jake gets some play time with Boson of British Columbia, touring on his owner's Grand Banks, and it takes a close look to see which twin is really Jake.  

When his friend goes aboard his boat, Jake begs to play more, and Boson just says Miss Willie, please come pet me!

Now it is time to say Goodbye to Stuart Island and go back to Anacortes to regroup, reorganize, buy supplies, and plan the next cruise.  Jake, who lives in the moment and doesn't worry about where his next meal is coming from, just sits on the dock until someone gets his attention. As Herb fires the boat engine to warm it up, Jake says, "They won't leave me.  They love me too much.  I'll just rest here a bit."

Remembering how strenuous the hike to Turn Point had been, Herb says that if he ever sees the Light Station again, it will be by boat.  With that in mind, we call our dog aboard and begin our cruise out of Reid Harbor, turning to the West and around the northwest end of Stuart Island.

Turn Point

Turn Point

Turn Point Light Station

As secluded as Stuart Island seemed for the three days we were there, we quickly see a more populated area on South Pender Island, Canada.

We previously compared this area to Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre, and now see some similarities -- can I believe I am seeing a dolphin?  

Another dolphin?

Another sight you would see in the LM is a sailboat with beautifully colored sails -- this was noticed as we rounded the north side of Orcas Island and headed toward the Rosario Strait.  Not the Laguna Madre.

Not only are we constantly on the lookout for boats approaching from all directions -- especially ferries -- we watch for drifting debris crossing our path. There is a white area ahead that we don't identify right away, but as we approach, part of it flies away -- seagulls.  Are they bigger here?

As we watch for boats in the area, we make decisions as to what we should do to safely pass or avoid, and see that this boat is a shrimper -- is he 'engaged in fishing?'  Another reminder of the Rio Grande Valley.

We love the water, we love cruising, we love Willie's Tug, but it is always good to be 'home' back at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes.  We see many more sailboats out today enjoying the winds, as we near the entrance to the marina.

Willie of Willie's Tug,

   and Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 34 - Reid Harbor, Stuart Island WA - Sunday, June 12, 2011

We awake this morning to find the dozen kayaks heading out before breakfast -- our breakfast -- at first they are all in single file, then the strongest slowly makes it to become the leader of the pack! 


They are all wearing life jackets, and the water is cold.


Soon there is a parade of dinghies bringing all the dogs to shore from their anchoring or mooring buoy places.  Up the hill are nice trails for the dogs to walk.

Our ambitious plan for the day is to hike to the lighthouse at Turn Point.  It is a three mile walk from our dock to the point -- up steep hills in the path and down again.  Then three miles back, both up and down the strenuous trail.


We can do this.


We prepare a light picnic lunch, complete with water bottles and a water dish for Jake, and start up the hill to fill the bottles at the picnic site.

We needn't have bothered with either the water or the dog dish, as we found frequent water stations along the trail.  






We especially enjoyed the view of our boat docked among the others from the vantage point up on the cliff as we began the hike.

Not far along the trail we come to a very steep and rugged path.  

And then the steps!  The steps!  Lots of step!  Many steps!  Oh, the steps!  They go up and they go down!

We press on and soon came to a sign about a Treasure Chest.  A family named Benson started a business of selling shirts, hats, etc., on the honor system.   Take what you want, leave money, or pay on the internet.  

We stop to window shop.  For our convenience (and to keep the entrepreneurs from having to refold each item and repackage) they have a clothesline displaying each item that would be found in the Treasure Chest. While we check for correct sizes, Jake eyes the water dish on the side.  The Benson family has left us paper cups and a fresh cooler of water.  We also enjoy the bench for a rest.

After a time, we continue on and come to the school, which is still used today. 

On the grounds of the school house there is also a museum open all day, unattended, and we see pictures of the teacher for the year 2005, Mrs. Coates, and her five students -- all with the last name of Coates.  Sounds to me like home-schooling in the school house.

Also in the museum is the library, which looks very inviting, and we wish we had time to sit and read a bit.  

There is airplane service to Stuart Island.

We see an automobile that needs work -- I think it has been on the Earth longer than I have.

At last we come to the sign announcing the Turn Point Light Station and we know we are almost there.

We walk on a few more hills -- up and down -- and then we see it.  The Light Station!  A few more feet and we are there.  It is a very nice 360 degree view, as we sit on the steps of the light house and spread our picnic lunch.  The ants found us, but we are faster than they and they don't get the benefit of any crumbs.

I am definitely enjoying the view and especially happy that we have accomplished half of our hike!  Right now I don't want to think about the hills that we have to climb as we do the trek in reverse.  Three more miles......

On the way back to Willie's Tug we take frequent rest stops, and admire the trees, the terrain, and the birds.  One particular bird call sounds to Herb like a ball bearing going bad; however, it sounded quite pleasant to me.   We don't see as many seagulls in the islands as we do in the Laguna Madre area in the Texas Valley, and they don't sound the same.  

After so many years of riding motorcycles and attending almost every BMW-I rally held, and buying a tee shirt or sweat shirt at every one, I planned never to buy another one.


However,  I am drawn to the trusting nature of the Benson family and sure could use another long sleeve tee.  The maroon colored one with the cute bird appeals to me, so I 'try' one on for size.   

Jake takes a rest after drinking  from the Benson's water dish and we hit the trail again.  From here, it is a relatively short walk back to the ramp which leads to the dock, and I hope the tide is high, so it won't be so steep.  I think it must be Wine Time!

Willie of Willie's Tug,

    and Walldog, Willie and Jake