June 27, 2010 - Fossil Bay, Sucia Island (Group Trip)

It is our annual "group boating trip" where we take 3 other families out to the islands and then they camp on the island for the weekend.  This year is a little different.  In the past we have been the only boat, and we load everyone onboard including all the food, camping gear, clothes, etc.  It is a lot of gear, and a lot of people for one boat.  It's always a fun trip, but it can be a bit hectic and stressful with 8 adults and 10 children all under the age of 10 onboard.  This year there were 5 families total and 3 boats going, so the transportation burden was spread out amongst the boats, making it a bit easier for us this year.  One of the kids in particular is VERY interested in boats (and motorcycles, and cars).  Vaughn was on our boat and asked if he could drive the boat there, which he did for most of the trip!  He did a GREAT job too!!!

Vaughn at the helm while Paige (Mom) watches over him.

As soon as we arrive we grab a mooring bouy and start shuttling people and camping gear to shore with our dinghy, and our friend's (Steve and Sue) dinghy.  It takes several boat loads to get everything to shore.  The kids immediately start playing on the beach and the large grass field and the adults start setting up tents.

There are a lot of pictures, so I'm going to limit my text and let the pictures do most of the talking.

Green water thanks to a major algae bloom. Vaughn driving.

Taco salad; yummy yummy.  Will, Vaughn, Kevin, Braden.

Sunset at Fox Cove, Sucia Island.  Steve, Jenn, Sue.

Mark and Vaughn kayaking.

Tess and Grace go kayaking.

Are these kids having fun, or what?!!!

Jamie, Sarah, and Sue

Steve and Sue cooking dinner for everyone.

Smores!!!  Our friend John drops in for a visit (right side).

John claims that he works at the Jet-Puff marshmallow factory.

The kids believed you, but I'm not so sure about that, John....   :-)

The kids enjoying breakfast on the dock.

Kathy teaches the kids about carpooling/kayakpooling.

Kevin hitches a ride with Grace.

Grace doesn't think 52 degree water is TOO cold.

Off on a new adventure.....

Vaughn loves to drive boats. Steve and Braden tag along.

Low tide = steep ramp   They got the cart up though.

Paige and Sue head out.  Why, we don't know...

Paige, Sue, and Jenn

Steve and Jenn; cheer up you two!

Paige, Sue, Jenn, and Kathy take a break from motherhood.

The girls (Grace, Cindy, Tess) learn about sharing.

It was a great trip, as usual.  The kids love spending the weekend together in the islands, and I'm sure they will all remember these trips for the rest of their lives.  The weather was good enough to allow for kayaking, dinghy rides, playing on the beach, and hanging out with friends.  We love hanging out with our friends, especially when it's someplace special like Sucia Island Marine State Park.  The weekend went far too fast;  I wonder if we can extend this by one more day next year?

June 19, 2010 - Swinomish Channel

This one doesn't really count as a boat trip, but we were out on our dinghy Saturday.  Our neighbor a few doors down has had their grandaughter at their house for several weeks now.  She lives in Arizona and her school got out a few weeks before ours did.  So, Morgan came to spend some time with her grandparents to start summer vacation.  She is the same age as Cindy, and they have really hit it off.

On Saturday, Morgan and Cindy went into town with Rich and Judy (the grandparents) on their skiff.  So, Kathy, Kevin and I went on our dinghy to go check out a little beach.  On our way out of Shelter Bay, Rich and Judy and the girls turned the corner and were coming back in.  We stopped in the middle of the waterway and chatted for a while.  The girls wanted to keep boating so they climbed over into our boat and we headed up the channel, past La Conner, and stopped at a beach just north of the Pacific Mariner boat factory.

Pacific Mariner Yachts - built in La Conner

The tide was going down and we used our "anchor buddy" to keep the dinghy off the shore so it wouldn't get stuck as the water dropped.  There was some nice sand at the beach, and opportunities for the kids to jump off of a bank into the sand.  We spent about 90 minutes here while the kids played.  I (Steve) took a little nap on the beach while the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up.  It wasn't really a very nice afternoon, weather-wise.

Playing in the sand

and mud!

Digging into the sand bank

After the kids played a while we decided to head back, because it just wasn't very warm outside.  The kids had a blast though playing in the sand, and the mud.  I hope their clothes clean up OK....  Not much of a boating weekend.  We left our dinghy in the water overnight hoping for good weather on Sunday, but by noon the rain had started, and I don't think it even broke 60 degrees today.  Where is summer???

June 13, 2010 - Hope Island

Just like last weekend, this wasn't intended to be a boating weekend.  Cindy and Kathy had the Tesoro fun-run Saturday morning and then my Sister Pat took the kids to see the play "Annie" Saturday night.  Cindy entered a .5 mile dash and took first place in her age group!  Then Kathy and Cindy did a 5K run (about 3.2 miles) and Cindy probably would have taken first place if the age group was for 10 and under, but the youngest age group was 15 and under.  There's not much chance that a 7 year old can outrun a 15 year old in 3+ mile race!  This was Cindy's first trophy, although she already has several ribbons from previous great finishes.  Cindy LOVES to run, and she's probably going to be getting many more trophies in the future.

Cindy and her first place trophy and ribbon!

The kids really enjoyed the play with their Aunt.  It's great that Aunt Pat takes the time to expose them to things we probably wouldn't; boating almost every other weekend really cuts into time for things like movies and plays.

Kathy and I took advantage of our "date night" by getting take-out Thai food from our excellent La Conner "Thai Garden " restaurant, and headed to the boat to enjoy a lovely dinner on the flybridge, in the warmth of a sunny evening.  After dinner we watched a movie, capitalizing on the freedom of not having any kids to worry about.  Pat brought the kids down to the boat at about 10:15PM after the 3-hour play.  I was hoping they would get here earlier so we could leave the dock and spend the night anchored out.  But, it was pretty late and we were both quite tired.  Also, Kathy wasn't particularly interested in heading out after dark, so we spent the night safe and sound at the dock. 

In the morning we took our time getting out of the marina, not leaving until after 8:30.  We practiced docking a few times since so many boats were gone.  I practiced backing into our slip which is something I've never done with this boat.  I used to back our 38' into it's slip every time, but our 45' boat just doesn't fit well into this slip when backed in.  It was like riding a bike; the skills came right back despite years of non-use.  After several practice runs we left Shelter Bay and headed to Hope Island.  The sun is out, sort of, and there is a bit of a breeze.  We drop anchor on the South side of Hope Island and the wind just gets stronger and stronger.  Heavy clouds roll in.  We had visions of tubing and maybe even trying to teach the kids to waterski.  But the waves were just too big for watersports to be much fun.  So, Kathy and the kids play games, and I work on a few boat projects.  The kids do some tattooing with children's "tattoo pens".

Sailboat tattoo courtesy of Cindy. Kevin drew an alien.

The kids work on coloring/drawing for a while, and play several card and board games.  There are no electronic games this time, which is a welcome break.  They are in their jammies until about 2:00PM.  It was a relaxing (and fun) morning.

Drawing time at the salon table.

Goofing around with the booster seats (from the car).

Later in the day our friends the Dalton's arrived after spending Saturday at Spencer Spit.  Spencer Spit is one of our favorite places in the San Juan's, and it is about time we get back there.  After setting their anchor they dinghy over in the waves and spend a few hours with us.  The wind is continuing to pick up and is now a steady 20-25 knots with gusts into the low-to-mid 30's.  The waves are starting to build and our boats are whipping around from side to side as they weathervane in the wind.  Earlier in the day I was trying to decide where to mount some aft facing flood lights on the top of the radar arch.  I forgot and left them up there.  A strong gust of wind blew one off and it bounced off the deck of the flybridge and then plopped into the bay.  Kurrrrr-Plunk!  Fortunately Mark and I each heard it and saw it.  So I quickly jumped into our rowboat (without a lifejacket!!!) to get it.  It floated long enough for me to retrieve it.  No damage done.

Retrieving the floodlight that blew off the radar arch.

The Dalton's decided it was time to head back home, as they had to return a neighbor friend to his parents so he could get to a music lesson.  They hop in the dinghy and the outboard won't start.  But the current and wind are so strong they are moving toward their boat quickly.  Mark gets the motor started when they are about 1/2 way back.

"I can't get the motor started -- I'm not kidding" says Mark.

Being passed by the Daltons.  I miss a 25 knot boat!

We head back home and see a strange sight as we near the Swinomish Channel.  Where the ocean current flowing through Deception Pass meets the Swinomish Channel there is a distinct line.  Clear sea water meeting muddy Skagit River water.  It was quiet a dramatic sight.

 

 

Sea water meets muddy river water.

 

A closeup view of the current line.

We get back to our slip and the wind is much calmer.  I guess it's called Shelter Bay for a reason?  As we look back out the entrance to Shelter Bay we see the high-speed passenger-only ferry "Victoria Clipper" that shuttles people between Seattle and Victoria B.C. cruising past.  They don't come through La Conner very often; usually only when it's really nasty on the "outside" and they need a break from the rough seas.  We heard from several boaters that came back from the San Juan's this afternoon that it was quite "lumpy" out there.

The Victoria Clipper passes the entrance to our community.

Click here for Victoria Clipper website

We are anxiously waiting for summer weather, as are all of our other boating friends.  We haven't had much good weather now for months.  I hope summer arrives soon, as we have lots of plans for playing with the kids in the hot sun while out on the water.

June 06, 2010 - Hope Island

We weren't really planning on going out this weekend since Kevin went to a birthday party on Saturday that didn't end until about 1:00PM.  That really chopped up the weekend, but the weather was spectacular on Saturday, so I talked Kathy into heading out depsite our late start.  We left the dock around 3:00 and made the short trip to Hope Island in about 40 minutes.  We dropped anchor on the South side of the island.  The winds are forecast to be from the North tonight and then non-existant for Sunday.  We immediately got the kayaks into the water, as well as our rowing dinghy.  Off to shore we went to bask in the nearly 70 degree sunshine.  Granted 70 may not seem that warm to some folks, but for us, this is the warmest it's been in 6 months or more. 

A beautiful "summer" day!

We climbed some rocks, messed around on a huge driftwood root-ball, and enjoyed being on a warm beach in the sun.

Cindy and Steve, and a huge root-ball.

Cindy stops to smell the windflowers.

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Cindy and her lovely orange flowers.

As usual, our kids catching some air.

Kathy and Kevin kayaked over to the island, and back to the boat again.  Kevin is getting really good at Kayaking now, and it won't be long before we can turn him loose.  He's been in private swim lessons for quite some time now and he's becoming a good swimmer. 

Kevin and Kathy kayaking in the perfect weather.

When we returned, Kathy took our cat Zappa out for a spin on the kayak.  Amazingly, Zappa was actually pretty relaxed about the whole thing and didn't even jump ship when they returned to the boat.  So, Kathy took another lap around the boat with Zappa onboard her kayak.  I don't think Zappa is really a cat; he's a dog in cats clothing!

How many cats do you know that will do this?

It is very calm on Saturday night with virtually no wind and no waves.  Much to our surprise we wake to rain Sunday morning.  It turns out that neither Kathy nor I checked the 'general/rain' weather forecast on Saturday, so perhaps this rain was expected?  The last time we checked which was on Friday they were calling for sun both days with rain starting late Sunday.  On Sunday we stay inside and play games.  Around 1:00 the rain stops and we decide to try out our latest boat toy; a towable tube (an "AIRHEAD BLAST").  We've been wondering how the dinghy would handle towing a tube.  It does GREAT.  25hp is plenty to get the kids moving at 25mph, and it can get us bigger adults going too.  Cindy absolutely loved the tube and was laughing the whole time.  Kevin was afraid to go by himself, so after Kathy took a turn alone on the tube (to make sure it was OK with an adult), Kevin got in the tube with Kathy.  It was a bit sluggish getting them up to speed, but we did manage after 20-30 seconds of slow going to get "up on plane".

Cindy being towed on a tube by our dinghy.

Cindy loves tubing!  More, More, MORE!

Kathy and Kevin take a turn.

Even Steve goes for a spin, between rain squalls.

Sunday was basically rainy all day.  We did manage to get our tubing done between rain showers (mostly), but other than tubing the weather kept us indoors all day.  Rainy days are just fine on our boat though because we have a diesel furnace that keeps us nice and warm, and dry.  We turned it up to 73 degrees after tubing so we could all warm up from our fun in the 53 degree water -BRRRRRR.

It's always fun on the boat.  This is GREAT family time.

Update:  Sunday was the end of week number 22 in 2010 (according to the ISO week number calendar) and we have been out 13 weekends on the boat so far in 2010.  With 30 weekends left in the year, I think we can get out at least 13 more times.  This would allow us to meet my goal of "using our boat every other weekend" in 2010.