boatafloat

Some thoughts on turning 60.

2011-05-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

Was thinking about my upcoming 60th birthday and trying to decide how I wanted to celebrate it. No great adventures came to mind, especially ones involving cords, like in bungee cords or rip cords. No jumping out of airplanes or off bridges. That is not how I want to mark this entering of another decade. So I started to think of the things that I really enjoy at this time of my life and I came to the conclusion that they are those things that were once called “small indulgences”. Faith Popcorn coined this phrase in the 80’s while studying upcoming trends. My recent “small indulgences” are rather simple. I enjoy having a cup of coffee in a mug rather than a paper cup and time to enjoy it. That means that I am not in motion like driving in the car. I savor spotting a great blue heron as they wait very patiently to acquire their dinner with the receding tide. I pause to take in the reflections of the boats in the water when the waters are smooth as glass. Zoie, our Cocker Spaniel, gives a great back massage as she jumps into bed with me and snuggles up against my back.
During my job as a Speech Therapist with special needs children in Florida I worked with many older women who lovingly cared and helped these children with their basic needs. When asked how they were they often responded with “I am blessed.“ I love that simple expression. I am truly blessed to be a Grandma. Rocking little Thomas to sleep in my arms, or telling a story to Sienna and watching the rapt expression on her face and getting a knee hug from Nolan as he runs up to me to say “hi Gammy” are precious blessed moments. I enjoy sharing in my grown children’s lives as they enter new stages of life. I can not help but be so proud of each of my children for the good people they have grown up to me. I relish that after 35 years of marriage Jim and still enjoy each other’s company and discuss new adventures that we will share. Thanks to all my friends, sometimes keeping in touch with a simple email, enriching my life with their friendships!
I have also discovered that I love seeking out new experiences at this stage of my life. Not those experiences that provide white knuckle moments but rather those experiences that at just new. Childhood provided those moments of shear pleasure. Riding a bike without training wheels, catching a fish, learning to sing a new song are just a few I can think of. I am forever on the lookout for those new moments of discovery and amazed at how many of those moments still enrich my life.
So on May 5th, I plan on enjoying a cup of coffee while watching the world outside our boat. Visit my grandchildren after work and give my children a call just to say Hi! and see what’s new with them. Jim and I will take Zoie for a walk on the docks. Oh, and I will enjoy another one of my favorite “small indulgences” the cupcake. It will be quite a feat to stick 60 candles in it! And next week I get to celebrate Mother’s Day!!

First Docking on April 22, 2011

2011-04-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

I am an avid reader. The last year and a half or so I have been reading mostly nautically themed books.
I am currently reading Seaworthy: Adrift with William Willis in the Golden Age of Rafting by T.R Pearson. It is a fascinating read about his adventures crossing the Pacific on rafts of his own design. Even more fascinating is that he was in his 60’s when he made his first trip. I can relate, that is to being that age but I assure all family and friends that I will not be inspired to seek a similar adventure. While reading one evening I came across this line, “He suspected that a Pacific crossing would serve as a similar test of his mettle.” Mettle caught my attention. I could not recall seeing that term before. Well, mettle is defined as spirited determination. Synonyms being courage, bravery, guts, grit, nerve, pluck, resolve, valor, vigor and cojones. Cojones sounds like more of a breakfast food but I like those terms. These terms describe members of SSAPS. Boating enthusiasts test their mettle everytime they venture out. I had my first docking experience a couple of weeks ago and believe me I drew on my guts, grit, pluck, resolve, etc. and then relished the success!!! My dock steps were in danger for a time but it ended up that I was able to push them back into place, I had pulled them half over the water, as I brought the boat in. Well, it wasn’t planned that I was going to be able to reposition them but it worked out.

A great trip!

2011-02-11T16:35:00.000-08:00

I wrote the following to my son while on my return trip from Alaska 2010. Decided to make it part of my blog. The other day a friend said to me "I would love to go to Alaska but I do not want to do a cruise ship." Here's one way to see Glacier Bay.

Hi Jason,
Sitting here anchored off in a little cove, Reid’s Inlet within Glacier Bay National Park, I was reading the travel books and looking at the paper charts (the boater’s best friend) and thinking about you and how you would love seeing this area. So then I started to think as I read what would be the ideal trip to make and how you would do it.
Alaska Air flies into Gustavus, a small, rural, community serving as the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. A visit could then include many choices of activities, among them a day cruise up the Glacier Bay from Bartlett Cove, a half-day of fishing and/or whale watching ( I would do the fishing and probably see the whales too while out fishing), kayaking, and hiking just to name a few. And through in wild berry picking to have with your morning cereal as you hike along the trails. You can camp or stay in the Glacier Bay Lodge or other Inn or Lodge options in Gustavus.
It would truly be a jam packed vacation to a destination unmatched in scenery and wildlife.

Seattle Boat Show 2010

2011-02-11T16:19:00.000-08:00

The long anticipated Boat Show of 2011 has come to an end. It will be a long wait til the next Show but I have my Boat Show
tchotches for memories. I line up my collection of key chains, my favorite being the ones that open. I have yet to decide on just the right objects
to put in them but I have them available when it comes to me. I have long since run out of keys that need one so I am thinking of new uses. I am wondering
if I connect them all together and put them around the dog if it would be an effective float should she fall in.
Ah, what an assortment of reusable bags I have amassed. Allocating them to their specific tasks takes the better part of the morning. My favorite is the red medium sized one. A pride of living green overcomes me as I take them with me to Freddy Meyers (we like the nickname, feeling a personal attachment to the store).
If you should find yourself without a pen at any of the meetings please seek me out. I have a wonderful collection of imprinted pens, most with a nautical theme. Pens seem to be the most selected object for free distribution. I will have to remember that if I am looking for a company's phone number to check my pens.
The ultimate giveaway for me is the chapstick. As I collected the new ones I was able to dispose of the older ones acquired at The Boat Show I attended this past summer.
I wonder how many hershey kisses I have eaten in the course of the week?? Maybe next year I will keep a tally.
My humor aside, The Boat Show has afforded me a great time to connect to more people interested in boating in all manner of involvement. I learned so much from other knowledgable members during my volunteer time at the Power Squadron booth. I have some ideas of what I would like to accomplish as the Executive Officer with The SSAPS. I look forward to sharing them and getting everyone's valuable input.

Flybridge enclosure January 2011

2011-01-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

January 24th 2011 Boat Show Presentation

2011-01-24T19:40:00.000-08:00

Presentation for NWWB Women's Panel at The Boat Show on January 24, 2011

Introduction:
You and your husband transferred to Seattle in July 2007, wanting to be close to your grandchildren. You wanted to live close to the water and had an epiphany, "why not ON the water?" Never having been boaters, you bought a 1989 Transworld 40' aft cabin twin diesel power boat and moved aboard last September.
Question:
As someone newly retired and new to boating, tell us some ways you and your husband’s sudden decision to live aboard has affected your life?

Response:
July 2007 we transferred to Seattle. Buying a house in West Seattle, I knew I wanted to look out at the water every day. I thought that would be enough. We soon thought about living on the water. One day a friend invited me to go to Bainbridge to see her son's boat that he was living aboard. Having dinner, overlooking the beautiful marina, he proceeded to tell me about life aboard a boat. I was hooked!! Went home, said to husband, "What do you think about living on a boat?" One problem, we knew almost nothing about boats. Oh, my husband's family had a 21 foot Century Raven that they enjoyed on Long Island Sound and the Connecticutt River when he was young and I loved water skiing on the 3 rivers of Pittsburgh, my hometown, but that was about all. We set out to learn about boats. We read and read, book after boating book. I built up muscles reading Chapman's book in bed. We looked at boats. We climbed over, under, around boats everywhere. Analyzed endlessly. Talked about boats to everyone. Joined Seattle Sail and Power Squadron and took incredibly interesting classes. Then we found her. We liked the aft cabin and the covered aft deck and the ease of walking up steps, not using a ladder! "Priority" a 40' aft cabin, twin 210 hp Cummins diesel engines, power boat. We fell in love. Now for the survey and sea trial.

October 2009 What a day!! A day of firsts, anticipation of surprises both good and bad and the decision whether to proceed with the purchase looming! It was a typical October day in Seattle. It was raining! Taking the boat out from Lake Union to Lake Washington presented some great scenery and our first experience being behind the wheel! After a thorough inspection of the boat by the Surveyor, with a tap, tap, tap down the hull he proclaimed her "A good boat!"We were relieved, if we had found any serious problems it would have been hard to let her go!

November 2009 After finalizing the paperwork and financial end of the transaction my husband and the Broker brought her through the locks and into Shilshole Bay Marina. I watched from shore, wanting to see Priority in the water. We proceeded to learn all her systems and make some repairs we knew were needed. Through the winter we hauled all the past owners stuff off the boat, thankful for large dumpsters. And you hear there is not much storage on a boat!! Went through everything else, reorganizing and getting the our boat "ship shape". We learned alot! I helped my husband carry 2 boat batteries onto the boat. Each battery weighing over 100 lbs Big D12 batteries! It was the first time I heard the expression "Man up". I learned I will never do that again! I took a Diesel Mechanic Class and among other things I changed the zincs in the heat exchanger. I now know more than I thought I would ever want to know about "heads".

March 2010 we put the house up for sale and started to make the decisions about what to do with all the stuff and deciding what to take on the boat.

Summer 2010 would prove to be a very memorable one. On July 6 I flew to Juneau, Alaska to join Andrea and 2 other friends of hers on her 45’ well appointed WestBay cruiser on a 17 day trip. My leg of her trip would be Juneau up Lynn Canal to Skagway, the furthest Northern point of the Inner Passage of Alaska, on to the Villages of Haines and Hoonah and ending with Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The one thousand miles of protected, scenic waterways from Olympia, Washington to Skagway, Alaska make up the "Inside Passage" and are considered the best cruising waters in the world. I found out why!!
Not only was I cruising the best waters in the world but I was also learning vast information about boating. With Andrea’s invitation to join her on her boat in Alaska came the opportunity to gain "hands on" experience on a trip to a destination few boaters experience. Days were filled with first experiences and jam packed with learning opportunities in every aspect of boating. There were unanticipated delightful opportunities. I could not begin to tell about them all. I learned how to "set a crab pot". We were not successful but buying Dungeness Crabs, that had been living in the waters just hours before, off a fishing boat made up for the disappointment of not catching our own. I had never been on a Fishing Charter trip, catching Dolly Varden and Salmon and cooking them for dinner made a new fish lover out of me.

September 2010 We move aboard!
Yesterday, relaxing on the couch, my husband and I watched the Steelers, ate sloppy joes, took the dog for a walk and talked to our children. A typical Sunday except we are living on a boat.

Wonderful old boats

2010-07-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

There is always something new to discover about boats.

While driving through Fisherman's Terminal parking lot I spotted these very interesting old boats. A passerby told me that they had been salvaged. What stories these boats could tell!

Visiting a friend on her tugboat I noticed this very interesting little boat. I was told it was a bridge boat. These boats would be used to create a bridge that would float, built by linking boats with the first and last being anchored to the shores. The "house" portion on this boat would have been built later.

2010-07-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

4 Gals on a Boat
Summer 2010 would prove to be a very memorable one. On July 6 I flew to Juneau, Alaska to join Andrea on Schocking, her 45’ well appointed WestBay cruiser. Two other gals would make our 4. Becky had been on the boat with Andrea since it left its homeport of Seattle at the end of May. Andrea participated in the 2020 Alaska - 1000 Cruise, a predicted log race. I met up with Rozlynne at the Seattle airport and we became acquainted on the flight to Juneau. Becky I would meet when we got to Juneau. Other friends of Andrea had joined Andrea along the way and spent different “legs” of the trip with her. My leg would be Juneau up Lynn Canal to Skagway, the furthest Northern point of the Inner Passage of Alaska, on to the Villages of Haines and Hoonah and ending with Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The one thousand miles of protected, scenic waterways from Olympia, Washington to Skagway, Alaska make up the “Inside Passage” and are considered the best cruising waters in the world. I found out why!!
Not only was I cruising the best waters in the world but I was also learning vast information about boating. My husband, Jim, and I purchased Priority, our 40’ Transworld aft cabin cruiser in the Fall of 2009, deciding to leave our life on land and move aboard surprising a lot of friends as we had no prior boating experience. We set about learning everything we needed to know. Between terrific classes offered by the Seattle Power and Sail Squadron, reading many books and spending weekends learning about Priority’s systems we made great progress with our boating knowledge and along the way made some wonderful new friends. We met Andrea in the classes and Andrea, a skilled Boat Upholsterer and Canvas Maker, transformed our boat’s galley and salon settee. With Andrea’s invitation to join her on her boat in Alaska came the opportunity to gain “hands on” experience on a trip to a destination few boaters experience. Days were filled with first experiences and jam packed with learning opportunities in every aspect of boating.
There were unanticipated delightful opportunities. I could not begin to write about them all. I learned how to “set a crab pot”. We were not successful but buying Dungeness Crabs, that had been living in the waters just hours before, off a fishing boat made up for the disappointment of not catching our own. I had never been on a Fishing Charter trip, catching Dolly Varden and Salmon and cooking them for dinner made a new fish lover out of me. Four women bringing their collective cooking experiences together to produce exceptional meals while looking out at the scenery from the boat salon is a hard dining experience to beat. I have never had a finer meal at any restaurant. Oh, I can not forget. Oh, how could I ever forget learning to play Mexican Train, a domino game.
I got to know 3 amazing, intelligent, beautiful, successful, fun women. I am so glad our lives crossed in this way. We got to laugh and discuss major life issues, maybe even solved a couple of lifes conumdrums ( I love that word, been looking for a place to use it). Well, maybe we didn’t solve any major life issues but we sure have a lot of opinions. Reaching mid life for women does that, gives women a lot of opinions that is. And it gives women a lot of history to go back and mull over. Our conversations brought back memories….most good ones, that I had not thought about for years. It was fun!
I read somewhere that “Leave your life for a day, a week, a month. It will be there when you get back.” I loved getting away but now as I write this onboard my flight from Juneau back to Seattle, I am anxious to get back to my life. Have you seen the Utube piece where the little girl is standing in front of the mirror saying “I like my….and goes on and on, swaying back and forth, listing the things she likes? It is delightful! Would love to know how to find it again if anyone knows. That is how I feel. I like my life!
I am looking out the window as the plane prepares to leave. I look over at small airplanes lined up in their spots. Looks like a parking lot. Juneau has no roads connecting it to other cities. When the plane takes off I see why. The high insurmountable mountains rise behind the flat spaces that the city of Juneau occupies with the waters of The Inner Passage on the other side. I see Mendenhall Glacier, the first glacier I had ever seen. The clouds block my view. Goodbye Alaska!

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink....

2010-07-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Luckily that saying does not hold true on The Schocking. With its Water Maker we never go with water. This admired equipment on a boat, maybe even coveted by some, takes in the seawater and after purifying it through many filters it is stored as fresh, safe drinking water as well as the source for water for the most delightful hot showers, taken while looking out the porthole at the view!!

ON THE GRID

2010-07-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

Early on we noticed on the map, near the Harbor in Hoonah it was noted “on the grid”. We finally figured it out when we came across this very interesting and simple way to haul out a boat. The grid was a series of I beams almost at high tide. To haul out a boat the Captain waits at high tide positioning his boat over “the grid” and as the waters recede with the tide the boat is left “on the grid”, haul out accomplished. We talked to one boat owner, working quickly painting the bottom of his boat, hoping to finish his task before the tide changed and the boat would again be floating on the water.

A Most Unique Fueling Dock

2010-07-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

A very unusual fueling dock at Hoonah provided the most amusing fueling experience one could ever expect to happen. Fueling up a boat is one of those maintenance necessities that must be completed but never would it be said to be a fun time in boating. Diesel fuel by its very properties does not have a pleasant odor and you hope that it does not end up on your hands or clothing.
There can be a wait, like we experienced today, of a couple of boats in front of you. As we watched the boat before us complete his fueling operation we see a bucket being lowered the approximate 50 feet from the top to the bottom. That’s when we realized that the attendant was at the top and we would be at the bottom. We pulled up readied for fueling and he lowered the very long hose. To fuel both tanks, Andrea merely opens the windows on the boat and passes the hose through the cabin. The sight of this brought howls of laughter and we continued to chuckle as the hose went back up to the top and the bucket for payment came back down. Beside the bucket we noticed an old barnacle encrusted ladder going up the 50 feet distance to the top. The thought of climbing that ladder to run in for a candy bar, a bag of chips or a drink, something you would easily consider doing when stopping to gas up, brought more chuckles from the 4 Gals on a Boat.
Today we needed to pump 190 gallons of fuel into the tanks. (For a fun math problem the price of the diesel fuel was $3.39 a gallon) The Shocking holds 450 gallons of fuel. (another fun math problem).
Send money to the attention of the USCG designated MARSEC Fuel Facility, they are holding us ransom until we can pay!!

Swab the deck Matey! or A woman's work is never done!

2010-07-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

Life on the boat for the 4 Gals is not all eating fresh crab and salmon out of the sea, basking in the sun on the upper fly bridge, enjoying morning coffee while taking in the scenery, there is work to be done. Least I leave you with the impression that this is a luxury cruise (actually it is so much better but for the purpose of this piece) it is a working boat. Maintaining a boat takes knowledge and a vigilance to the systems to keep everything working, so we can keep moving. I have come to admire Andrea’s ever present attention to the details and knowledge required of a boat to keep the engines and systems working but also to keep all aboard The Shocking safe.

2010-07-23T14:51:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, July 21
It’s a Beautiful morning.
I awake at 5:00 AM. I know my stay in Alaska will shortly come to an end and I want to soak in this wonderful magical place. The boat anchored near us is Tiger Lily. I almost expect Captain Hook to come out of the morning fog into sight in Neverland. Bringing my hot tea up to the pilothouse for a better vantage point, I look out at the still waters white in some areas reflecting the fog and dark green in other areas as the tall mountains with their forests of pines are reflected. I spot a movement in the water and I am rewarded with the sight of 2 Harbor Porpoises announcing themselves by offering a brief glimpse of their small triangular dorsal fin cutting slowly through the water’s surface when they come up to catch a breath.

2010-07-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 20
Cruising Glacier Bay

I have now been on the boat for 2 marvelous weeks.

Having decided that no one, upon awakening in the morning, is jumping out of bed ready to bake we decide to bake while cruising to our next anchorage cove. We are retracing our route so know we can enjoy the scenery again but will not miss new sights. An apple pie, gluten free muffins and sourdough blueberry muffins are our baked treats selected. Prior to my introduction to boating I would never have thought it possible to accomplish baking while underway. Andrea and Rozlynne take on the duties of Captain and Navigator while Becky and I go to the galley.
Becky decides that we will enjoy Brie in Brioche on the boat as an appetizer. Completing the days menu decisions we select Orzo Risotto with Chicken Thighs and chocolate brownie pudding for dessert for our evening meal.
Back in Skagway we decided to rent a car and found out that the rental company was named Sourdough. We remember the significance of sourdough during the Kondike Gold Rush and Andrea remembers it vividly as a part of her childhood growing up on Douglas Island, part of Juneau, Alaska. Becky bought a sourdough starter packet and cookbook “Simply Sourdough: The Alaska Way” in Skagway. The treasured starters were passed from person to person and sometimes even from one generation to the next. The sourdough provided the primary method of leavening bread. Sourdough works when its yeast gives off carbon dioxide, creating tiny bubbles in the dough causing it to rise. The yeast feeds on the sugar in the dough and converts it to lactic acid, the source of the sour flavor. The cookbook is filled with tempting recipes, among them Sourdough pancakes, sourdough blintzes, sourdough scones, sourdough focaccia bread, sourdough carrot cake just to name a few of the recipes that had us salivating. We are only limited by the number of eggs and the butter we have onboard. A challenge I am sure we can overcome with our creativity!
The apple pie baking in the galley kitchen begins to fill the boat with its mouth watering aroma. Lunch of apple pie is sounding real good!!!
Becky makes a trip to the Reading Room taking along the “San Juan Classic Cookbook“. She returns to the galley adding Gingered Carrot Salad. Noted on the recipe is “the ginger adds a surprising flavor to this tasty year round salad”. Becky says “I just did not want anything to spoil!” Oh, how I wish she needed to spend more time in the Reading Room! On another visit, Becky emerges from below (remember we are on a boat) and announces the multigrain garlic bread form the other evening are now going to become croutons. We envision these on top of French Onion soup for a future meal.
We stop to enjoy the scenery of Skag Cove. A quiet small cove but deep waters, the depth finder says 210 feet. I am reminded of a description in a travel book that said Glacier Bay scenery is so hopelessly beyond description. I have long ago run out of superlatives, a thesaurus would come in handy. The air has a cold crisp smell! The pines along the shore as well as the towering granite cliffs above are reflected in the beautiful green waters below.
Back to the last recipe of the day, blueberry muffins using the sourdough starter for the first time. I would love to be able to use the wild blueberries that can be found along the trails in Barrett Cove but we will have to use the frozen blueberries in our freezer.

Sourdough Blueberry Muffins
1 cup sourdough starter
½ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup water
1 egg
½ cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (see note)
In a large bowl, stir together starter, oil, water, egg and brown sugar. Sift in flour, salt and baking soda: stir until combined - do not over mix. Gently fold in blueberries. Spoon batter into greased or paper-lined muffin tins, filling cups 22/3 full. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Makes about 12 large.
Note: If using froze berries, do not thaw before folding in

We finish in the kitchen just as we come to Marble Island and the spectacle of the Stellar Sea Lions before us. Their deep gutteral sounds could be heard as we watched them plop in the water, climb out again, and go to sleep on the rock. We spot a humpback whale spouting and can hear his sounds as if in a duet with the Stellar Sea Lions.
Continuing on we approach Sturgis Island and Puffin Island getting closer to our anchorage spot for the evening at North Sandy Cove. We are looking forward to taking the dinghy down again to explore this new area. Andrea and I sit on the upper fly bridge in awe of the vast wilderness around us, thinking that we will probably never again be in such a large unspoiled natural environment. We silently observe around us.
We come to our evening anchorage in North Sandy Cove. One other boat is already anchored, the Tiger Lily. As we come around the bend into this quiet moorage spot we see an area between the two islands that open up to frame more of the wonderful scenery of Glacial Bay. It is so quiet we feel like we have to whisper. We will enjoy the dinner we have planned. Yummy!!

The Wonderful Working Windlass

2010-07-22T20:46:00.001-07:00

Boat jargon is like learning a new language to those, like me, just entering boat land. Anchoring, mooring, and docking are distinctly different actions. A boat is “anchored” when it “rides” or “lays” to a single anchor. A boat is “moored” after it picks up a mooring buoy” and “docking” means “to tie up to dock”. Of the 16 nights I spent on the trip, we spent 7 nights anchored, 9 tied up to a dock. One night we tried to “pick up a mooring buoy”, upon closer inspection of the buoy we found that that buoy was private property so we “anchored” instead. If you have mastered all that boat lingo there’s a lot more!!! You speak of the anchors of a boat as “hooks”. There’s kedge anchors, bow anchors or bowers, a sheet anchors, a storm anchors just to name a few.
The word anchor comes from a Latin word anchora meaning bend or bent which certainly suggests the shape of an anchor. But you also “bend the line” to the anchor “ring” which then becomes the “anchor line” or “rode”.
I hope I never have to haul up an all-chain anchor rode without the services of an anchor windlass. The electrically powered Windlass aboard The Schocking is truly to be appreciated. With a touch on the foot switch the anchor can be raised or lowered effortlessly but with caution. A reversible motor on an electric anchor windlass allows you to weigh anchor and to let go the anchor with control. We used a 2 person system when dropping anchor or hoisting the anchor. We made the procedure of anchoring a 2 person on the bow operation with the Captain at the helm. Watching to make sure the chain stays in the center of the warping drum, a concave surface to keep the chain centered, the anchor would be lowered into the surface measuring the length of chain left out. When the chain length was sufficient, the Captain backs the boat and “sets the “anchor.” Reversing that process requires hosing off the silt, sand, or sea growth that attaches to the chain as it is brought up and is stored in the “chain locker”.

The picture of the BIG boat is not the boat I was on, it was "moored" behind us!

2010-07-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 19th
Reid Inlet
The Behavior of birds
Starting the morning by cooking some oatmeal we observe birds across the inlet all standing on a rock. I wonder why and we decide so predators can not get them. The comment could be heard “Being paranoid I can understand their behavior.”
Later out on the dinghy we go close to the rock to get a closer look, We get too close and we are sorry that we have disturbed their peaceful roosting. All but one flies off. As all his friends leave him, the lone bird looks as if he is saying “Hey guys, wait for me”.
Exploring Reid Inlet by dinghy
We take the dinghy off the boat, preparing to explore this wonderful little cove with Reid Glacier at the end, the only glacier you can walk right up to as it no longer reaches tidal water. I am excited as Andrea instructs me how to drive the dinghy and we take off across the water with me behind the wheel. My new friends are so trusting! Bringing the dinghy to shore we climb out, set the anchor carefully so with the receding tide we will return to find the boat still floating. The tidal fluctuations in Glacier Bay can be as much as 25 feet. This means that your dinghy could be floating anchored to the shore and when you return from a hike you could return to find the dinghy sitting on the mud flats. You will hope you have packed a large snack as you wait for the tides to change again. You might even have enough time to take a pleasant nap.
We take off towards the glacier hiking over the rocks made smooth by the years of water acting on them. Observing the different colors of the granite rocks at our feet, we walk on glacier silt dry and wet. We walk carefully through streams, our knee high rubber boots protecting our feet from the frigid waters. Finally we are standing on the glacier. It is rock hard and slippery making climbing up it challenging. Standing on the glacier Andrea exclaims “This is what I came to Alaska for!”
How a glacier forms
I never knew how a glacier forms. Well, maybe I learned it in Science class some year but have no recollection of the study. After seeing them on this trip I was interested to learn that a glacier starts high in the mountains where the snow falls and does not melt. Year after year the snowflakes pile up and soon the weight of this vast accumulation presses down on itself and the snow compresses into ice. The weight of the ice is too much to hold against gravity and begins to flow downhill. It’s a glacier now that it is moving.
The glacier flows down the mountain and as it moves it picks up rocks into its lower layers. These rocks grind away at the bedrock. The glacial ice will carve deep valleys in the mountainside.
The type of glacier visitors are interested in seeing in Glacier Bay are the type that ends in the sea: the tidewater glacier. Since the seawater is warm and highly erosive compared to the glacial ice the waves and tides work away at the unstable glacier face which causes the huge chunks to break off and fall into the ocean. This is the frequently seen footage presented by cruise ship advertising. John Muir described the glacier so eloquently when he said “The Master Builder chose for a tool, not the thunder and lightning to rend and split asunder, not the stormy torrent nor the eroding rain, but the tender snowflake, noiselessly falling through unnumbered generations.”

I apologize about the picture placement! I hope it has not been too much trouble to turn your screens around to view them. I especially apologize to those of you using large desk top screens!

One of these blogs I will figure out the picture thing!!

2010-07-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

I'm back in civilization....well at least connected to the internet! While in Glacier Bay I sat at my computer or sometimes even resorted to pen and paper to keep track of my thoughts and experiences. I am going to cut and paste them into the blog for those you who might be interested in reading them! Thanks to those who do!!

Exploring Glacier Bay
Saturday, July 17th
Andrea starts the engines, we lift the anchor and leave Bartlett Cove into smooth waters. It is cloudy but shows a hint of promise of some sun in the skies ahead. Studying the paper charts we decide to make Blue Mouse Cove our first anchorage. Glacier Bay has no docks for mooring so every night involves finding a suitable cove for anchoring off. Blue Mouse Cove is 27.3 miles Northwest of Bartlett Cove and we cruise along at about 8 knots enjoying the ever changing scenery. Blue Mouse Cove is such a delightful sounding location and having put my gloved hand in the water to retrieve the crab pots we had set the previous evening, I fully understand the description being an (icy cold) blue mouse.
Many different birds keep us company as we cruise along. Marbled murrelets appear magically from the waters, diving and reappearing after they have been below surface for what seems much too long for a bird to be able to accomplish.
Puffins in large number are spotted starboard shore side but are too far away to make out the details on their heads that make such a charming bird model for stuffed animals seen in the gift shops of Alaska. It was noted that 200 different birds have been identified in this area.
No other boats can be seen on the water and checking the Furuno radar screen next to the helm of the pilothouse no boats are shown in a 2 mile radius of Schocking. The skies brighten up ahead and the views change to reveal snow covered mountains. We are going between Willoughby Island and Fingers Bay when Andrea shouts, “Jean, look port side!” I can tell I need to move quickly and I am rewarded with the sight of a large sea otter floating on her back not more than 10 feet from the boat. I can make out the darling features on her face, hands drawn up as if to receive her next meal or to perform other tasks such as bathing and sleeping that they accomplish while floating along on their backs. In this vast area of Glacier Bay this intimate encounter with one of my all time favorite animals is a thrill beyond belief. We see many other sea otters but never again so close up.
Continuing past Willoughby Island and Drake Island through Whidbey Passage. I am reminded of George Vancouver’s exploration of the area and his legacy and wonder “Is this the exact course Captain Vancouver took?”
After a day of exploring we arrive at Blue Mouse Cove, set anchor and enjoy the vistas from the saloon settee. We find a bottle of wine in the cabinet and decide that 3 Blind Moose would be an appropriate wine to accompany our meal at the end of another day in Alaska.

Hooking a Halibut

2010-07-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

Back in Hoonah, while exploring the Indian Art Center and observing the carving of the totem pole I looked over at another informative board about carved halibut hooks. How interesting! Having had the salmon charter fishing morning and now looking ahead to planning a halibut fishing charter trip I was drawn to reading about these fascinating shapes. Before the introduction of the steel fishhook by Europeans, the Eastern Alaskan Tlinget and Haida fisherman used a lure with a carved wood section with a bone or iron barb bound to it. When these enticing contraptions were attached to a line of kelp stalks and weighted with a stone they would move with the current attracting the unsuspecting halibut to “go for it”. The barb would lodge in the halibut’s mouth when they tried to spit it out. I did not know fish could spit things out!
On a walk this morning to the National Park Forest Office for the Tongass National Forest outside of The Village of Hoonah I spotted this interesting shape again. Now I am curious if any of these old wooden fish hooks can be found???

2010-07-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 15th Andrea got up at 3:00 AM to analyze the current wind and sea conditions. I got up at 4:00AM anticipating the weather being OK to leave Haines after being docked for 3 days. After disconnecting the electric power cord and untying the spring lines I look up to see 3 majestic eagles soaring overhead. One lands on the breakwater not more than 50 feet away. What an incredible send off. Goodbye people of Haines. I take with me memories of a little community with lives intertwined. I am anxious to read Heather Lendes’ new book “Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs“ about family, friendships and faith in small-town Alaska. Her other book “If you Lived Here, I’d Know your Name” I mentally add to my “want to read list”.
I am anxious to be on to new sights! I take a seat in the pilothouse, computer in front of me, scanning the stunning views in the early morning hours along Lynn Canal.
We pass the cruise ships and the Alaskan Highway ferry that following a cruise ship looks tiny in comparison.
Tomorrow we have the reservations for admission into Glacier Bay National Park so we are heading there but prepared to anchor in one of the protective coves noted on the charts along the way should the winds come up again.
A glacier comes into view with a gill netter fishing boat going by providing the perfect photographic element. We look on the chart to discern the name, Davidson Glacier. Suddenly 2 whales are spotted. My first whale sighting! A beautiful view of the whale flipping its tail! Good morning to you too! They dive and we search for their return to the surface. How long can they stay submerged???
The waters change and gradually become waves 1 to 2 feet. The boat takes on the movement of the water and we check to make sure everything is “battened down”. It becomes necessary to reach for the handles and rails and I follow closely my “always have one hand holding” rule or I would go sprawling.
We pass Eldred Rock, possibly the most charming lighthouse of Alaska. Thoughts go to what it must have been like to be the Light keeper on this little isolated island before the technology that allows us to be connected with the world. Among the electronic systems of the boat; the Nobeltec computer navigation system, showing on the large screen, has our route charted and provides us a constant reference in addition to the paper charts stacked in order on the table in the pilothouse, the Furuno radar system giving us a visual of our surroundings, autopilot allows us to have the boat remain on the course without the wheel in our hands, and the depth finder registers 586 feet for present depth of the waters underneath us. In addition to the systems of the boat, the boat is filled with the many cell phones, computers and cameras, that each of the 4 Gals On A Boat have brought on. An Iridium satellite cell phone assures that we will always have a connection to the world.
The waves increase to three feet and the first spray that I have observed since beginning this boat trip hits the windows of the pilothouse. The skipper, Andrea, turns on the windshield wipers to reveal our view again. We continue on, the seas calming down, towards our Glacier Bay destination.
Rozlynne declares: “Is this the whole navy fleet out there!” as we come upon a busy area of approximately 30 commercial fishing boats appearing on the radar screen. Upon binocular inspection while bobbing in the water we decide these are Gillnetters. Gillnets are made of tough lightweight twine woven into panels of mesh, the top edge of the net lined rigged with a series of plastic floats with the bottom of the net attached to a weighted line. We need to know how long their nets go out from the boat so reference “Ocean Treasure: Commercial Fishing in Alaska” by Terry Johnson. We read that the “float and weight setup causes the net to deploy like an underwater curtain 10 to 100 feet deep and 300 to 1,800 feet long.” Staying well clear of the fishing boats on their quest for all species of salmon, we continue our cruising to Glacier Bay.

The Delightful Dungeness

2010-07-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

Little did Captain GeorgeVancouver know, while exploring the Strait of Juan De Fuca at the north edge of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, when he named this area after a stretch of land that reminded him of a point on the English Channel called Dungeness that that name would become synonymous with the most commonly available crab in the Pacific Northwest, the crab you see piled high on ice in markets.

Cooking crab in Alaska

Docked in Haines, we visited The Crab Man to purchase his crabs at $5.00 each right off of his fishing boat on the dock. Deciding to purchase one to eat for dinner and then one to pick for crab cakes or Crab Benedict we lugged our new 8 friends over to the boat anticipating some good eating. Andrea set about preparing them. Cleaning them on the dock brought some uninvited guests, large Ravens seeking the remnants of crab left on the dock.

Later in the evening we set down around the table, hot butter with garlic waiting to dip the tender chunks of boiled crab in. Delicious! Great eating and good conversation made a memorable evening in Alaska for the 4 Gals on a Boat. Thank you crabs!!

"Every boat should have a needed luxury."

2010-07-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

One day as we are discussing boats, Becky says "Every boat should have a needed luxury." She goes on to say that she has china and silver aboard. Andrea's boat has several. Among my favorites is the deluxe juicer. But the real surprise is the Whipped Cream Maker. And I initially thought I would have plastic dishes from Target!!!

Now planning on bringing aboard my boat, Priority, my silver candlesticks!!!

Did he not get the memo??

2010-07-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Taken from the boat down at the harbor.
Read last entry.
Can you make out the eagle on the rock and his friend nearby??

A Magnificent Bird

2010-07-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

The preserve was established to protect and perpetuate the world’s largest concentration of Bald Eagles and their critical habitat.

Renting a car we drove out the Haines Highway. The river "flats" of the Chilkat River along the Haines Highway between miles 18 and 24 are the main viewing area for eagle watchers and considered critical habitat in the preserve. Bald eagles are attracted to the area by the availability of spawned-out salmon and open waters in late fall and winter.
How many times have you thought “Right place, wrong time!” The area was incredible but not an eagle in sight. The natural phenomena responsible for five miles of open water on the Chilkat River during freezing months is called an "alluvial fan reservoir". Remember that term alluvial from Science class?? Can you say it quickly three times???During the warmer spring, summer and early fall seasons, water from snow and melted glacial ice flows into the alluvial fan. The fan receives water faster than it can flow out, creating a huge reservoir of water. When winter arrives, cold weather sets in and surrounding waters freeze. However, water in this large reservoir remains from 10 to 20 degrees (F) above surrounding water temperatures. This warmer water keeps it from freezing.

Cooking Aboard

2010-07-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Dinner on Sunday, July 11th was Seafood Chowder made with part of the salmon caught on The Fat Salmon fishing trip.

Delicious!!!

I have been very surprised at my interest in cooking on the boat as I have discovered how enjoyable it is in a very different environment. As I combine the ingredients of a recipe I am looking out the windows at the boats in the harbor, taking in the views and up pops the head of a seal. I wonder if this is the same seal I have observed or a new one to greet me. I spot an eagle swooping down gracefully and watch its landing. A great blue heron takes flight and I marvel at it's prehistorical looking shape and form. Boats pass us on their way out the harbor. Yesterday a small sailboat passing with a young man at the stern and a young girl reading a book leisurely making their way around the bulkhead. The next boat a couple of men looking intent on getting out, anticipating the catch of day as their rods look ready to drop into the water. So, with this ever changing scenery before me I go about completing my recipe.

Salads have been popular, made beforehand and waiting in the refrigerator. A garbanzo bean, goat cheese, beet combo and a black bean and orange salad did not last nearly as long as I had thought it would as we consumed them with gusto. One of our gals is following a gluten free diet so these salads meet that request. Becky's homemade Caesar salad was accompanied with oohs and ahhs. I made a pasta salad. (side note to my favorite son-in-law, "what would a picnic be without one") Salads have also made the perfect accompaniment to the salmon and the Dolly Varden catch.

As I explore the cabinets and refrigerator I am truly amazed at how much food is stored on this boat. A large cooler on the aft deck and a small portable freezer on the upper flybridge, that Becky has brought from her boat, increase the storage capability Having joined this adventure in progress I was not present when the food was purchased and brought aboard so I need to ask Andrea or Becky about ingredients we have on hand. "Yep, we have that!" has been the common response. And the array of wonderful delicious ingredients abounds. I am sure we could anchor out and live off the food on this boat for a couple of months. HHHMMM......don't worry family, I miss you all!

Skagway to Haines

2010-07-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

The wind has died down, finally allowing us to get out of Skagway's Harbor and on to Haines. It is 4:00 in the morning but light out as we untie the lines and cast off, anxious to see other sights and get closer to our July 19th reservation date to enter Glacier Bay National Park.

Clouds hide the tops of the mountains. Waterfalls appear under the clouds, cascading down to the waters below. What beautiful views as I enjoy a cup of coffee (yes, Starbucks!).

more photos aboard Badly Bent (but not broke)

2010-07-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

RolyPoly Fishheads

2010-07-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

Fish heads, fish heads, rolypoly fishheads Fish heads, fish heads eat them up Yum!

8:00AM July 10th Andrea and I head to Fat Salmon Fishing Charter's 1979 Tollycraft on the other side of the harbor in Skagway. I am excited about my first charter fishing adventure as we greet Capt Joe and meet Chris and Brint, Canadians from Whitehorse, north in Yukon. We rely on Capt Joe's hard earned savvy as he has years of experience unraveling the mysteries of salmon behavior and their whereabouts in Skagway's nearshore waters. Hoping to use the salmon's aggressive feeding responses to our benefit Capt Joe puts out four lines at different lengths utlilizing his battery of well known tactics to locate our quarry. As we relied on his experience we also checked the instrumentation of the Skipper's boat, the fish finder and depth sounder, looked for the visual cues of the flocking and diving seabirds and watched surrounding boats to see how they were doing. So much to learn as we listened to the explanations of sport trolling with four lines employed off the back using downriggers, baited with whole herring in a very specific way and using metal fish attractors called "flashers". the downriggers make it possible to troll lines at different depths. The flasher is a long thin rectangular blade that spins when trolled. Capt Joe did a great job of explaining how this flasher looked like a salmon approaching a meal and attracted other salmon to go after the bait "stealing the meal". With a great introduction to the equipment and explanation of behavior we were ready to start hauling our catch aboard. The fun of getting a "hit" on the line was followed by the thrill of netting and bringing the salmon onboard and the disappointment of determining that we would have to let them return to the sea when they did not meet the 28" requirement. AHH but then we discovered the Dolly Varden Charr and upon learning that we could keep this smaller fish we started to cheer for a Dolly. Andrea caught a 13 pound King Salmon. I was thrilled with my Dolly Varden as I kissed my smaller salmon goodbye.
The wind came up, the water got rougher and it started to rain but the change of weather did not dampen the fun of the adventure. Watching the birds became as interesting as watching the lines. LIttle Marbled Murrelets could be seen floating about. Observed to go under water I was amazed to watch how long they could remain submerged. Another bird came flying behind the boat looking intent at swooping down on the herring bait. It followed they boat becoming a charming addition to our charter excursion.
Our preparations for the last "troll" of the day was interrupted by a MAYDAY coming over the radio, a boat was on fire!! Capt Joe did not miss a beat as fishing ended and he went to assist the
stricken vessel. Approaching the vessel, not knowing what we would come upon provided some tense moments until we received the radio transmission that the power had been turned off, the fire had gone out and the initial concern that now there was a boat adrift alleviated with the report that they we able to use their "kicker" (small engine on the back of their boat) to head back to harbor.
Escorted by the charter boat and another boat on the water the boat headed back and was met by the town's fire boat. Capt Joe explained with the nearest Coast Guard vessel in Juneau, the boating community of Skagway rely on each other. Boating emergencies happen frequently as boats come up from Seattle ill prepared for the waters of the Inner Passage. We were reminded to fully utilize all our boat safety education gained from our courses!

4 gals on Schocking

2010-07-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 9th

Enjoying another beautiful sunny morning at Skagway we spend the morning just enjoying the scenery and the quiet life on a boat. Completing some housekeeping chores and some boat maintenance we decide to spend the day exploring the town of Skagway and make plans for a morning of fishing with Fat Salmon Charters on Saturday at 8:00 AM, hoping to fill our freezers with salmon. With four experienced cooks on board we enjoy making our meals together, combining our skills to produce culinary delights. Last night we enjoyed salmon, previously caught by Andrea, with a ginger and orange marmalade glaze and a spinach, tomato, bacon, feta cheese salad. Yummy!

Boats, Trains and.........

2010-07-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

On July 17, 1897 the Seattle Post Intelligencer broadcast the news of the discovery of gold and the rush to the Klondike began. The White Pass & Yukon Railroad Company began construction on the railroad on May 28, 1898. The White Pass and Yukon Route tell the story of the Klondike Gold Rush. Moored in the small harbor of Skagway, tucked away from the large cruise ships we start out to explore the area by taking the train ride. The White Pass and Yukon Route climbs from sea level in Skagway to almost 3,000 feet at the Summit in just 20 miles and features steep grades. The tight curves of the White Pass called for a narrow gauge railroad. the rails were three feet wide. We enjoyed majestic mountain scenery and heard tales of the hardships endured by the prospectors as each person was required to carry a ton of supplies which necessitated many trips up and down the treacherous trail. Lulled by the movement of the old train on the tracks and the sun streaming in the windows I had a very pleasant nap on a historic old train ride.

Thursday, July 8th A Puffin sighting!

2010-07-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Awoke about 6:00AM in the quiet little cove, rocked gently a couple of times during the night by passing cruise ships, far enough out that the wake by the time it reaches the boat is but a little movement. After checking the crab pots, no luck there, we soak in the morning sun our binoculars scanning the shoreline for activity. An eagle is sighted swooping down at the shore, then we discern that small birds floating near the shoreline are indeed Puffins! At 7:15 we hoist the anchor. Ahh… the ease of this job with the winch motor and a foot control. A fresh water hose beside the anchor winch makes it easy to wash off the mud and whatever else catches on the anchor as it is brought back up.

10:15 AM Arrived at Skagway!! More later!

"Is anyone driving this boat?"

2010-07-08T11:48:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 7 “Is anyone driving the boat?“
Leaving Juneau we travel south down Gastineau Channel, northwest on Stephens Passage, proceeding north in Lynn Canal to Haines and Skagway. South and west would take us into Icy Strait and Glacier National Park, our destination after visiting Haines and the historical Gold Rush area of Skagway. We estimate that it is approximately 100 miles to Skagway from Juneau, Andrea’s boat Shocking travels at approximately 9 knots. This is described as a remote region of high-latitude, frigid waters (no surprise), limited radio reception and extreme tides so boaters are cautioned to be well prepared. Beautiful calm waters with seldom a boat in sight.

Traveling along, enjoying the scenery, we have a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other. Becky describes her 1985 Ocean Alexander as providing “cocktails for 6, dinner for 4, sleeps 2” We compare similarities of her ‘43 trawler to my‘40 Transworld aft cabin cruiser. Boating conversations abound, interspersed with talk of children, dogs and prior life experiences as we head further north into the vast ruggedness of Alaska.
Mendenhall glacier comes into sight! Entering Fritz Cove to get a better look at Mendenhall Glacier we are welcomed with vistas of the glacier, mountains, eagles soaring overhead and the charming appeal of a protected cove. Continuing on we decide to anchor out for the night in a beautiful area called Mud Bay on Chilkat Peninsula. My first anchoring offshore experience. We have set 2 crab pots using fish heads as bait. Thank goodness they were frozen so the smell was slight as we got out a screwdriver and hammer to separate the 2 heads. Andrea caught these rock fish in Sitka, Alaska. It is 9:00 PM, the end to a perfect first day and a day of many first boating experiences. The weather couldn’t have been better with sunny skies and temperatures estimated to be in the high 60’s.We have had moments of just sheer pleasure and laughter at such utterances as “Is anyone driving the boat?”

Wednesday July 7, 2010

2010-07-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

Goodmorning Alaska!

Woke up in Juneau , Alaska to the sights of the mountains surrounding us, patches of snow and fog at the top.

In front of us is a large shrouded boat. Mystery solved. Met the owner last night of the MV Seal
http://www.mvseal.com/

Last night, Andrea, boat owner and captain plotted our course to Haines and then we will be going on to Skagway to explore the Gold Rush area. Crew consists of Becky, Rozlynne and myself. 4 Gals on a boat.

Getting ready to cast off, fuel up and get underway!!

Let the adventure begin!

2010-07-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 5th, I am sitting at the Seattle airport waiting to board the plane to Juneau, Alaska.

Never thought I would be going to Alaska unless it was on a cruise ship!

Was thinking about how it is in vogue to make a "bucket list". This trip would not have made my list, not that it would not rank very high but I would not have thought this trip was possible until last year. Therefore, my bucket list will remain unwritten and I will be open to possibilities for new adventures in my life!!

There are so many things I want to learn on this trip!

1. How to set a crab pot! And then get the crabs out and prepared to eat.

2. How to fish! Then learn what fish I like.

3. Electronics of the boat.

4, Other systems of the boat.

5. How to successfully anchor offshore.

Just my immediate thoughts right now!

Thank you, dear husband of (almost) 35 years for always being open to what adventures life has held and will hold in the future. I love you!

The power of the JUJU!

2010-06-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

At last observance on June 13th the JuJu appears to be working. It is fading from it's bright orange color so we are hoping that the magic is not in the color but rather it's wiggling above the bimini cover that keeps the seagulls at bay!!

Damn you Seagull!!!

2010-06-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

Glaucous-Winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
The Glaucous-Winged Gull is named for its gray wings; the greek word “glaukos” means blue-gray. It is a large bird (although smaller than a Glaucous Gull) whose body will reach roughly 20-23 inches (50-59 cm) as an adult. Their wingspan can reach 47-56 inches (120-143 cm) in length. They have a white head and underparts, but unlike the Glaucous Gull however, the Glaucous-Winged Gull had medium gray wings. Like the Glaucous Gull, the Glaucous-Winged Gull also has a yellow bill with a red spot near the tip of the lower mandible. The Glaucous-Winged Gull is a “four-year gull,” in that it takes four years to reach adult plumage.Nesting is usually in colonies where the chicks are safest from predators, and birds first breed at four years of age.. Nests are usually on the ground or in protected rocky formations. The nest is a shallow depression with a ring of vegetation and nearby debris. Both parents incubate the 2-3 eggs for about four weeks. Newborn chicks are covered in down and may leave the nest as soon as two days post-hatching, although they stay near the nest where the parents can protect them. Both parents feed the young, which first begin to fly at 5-7 weeks old, and then leave the colony about 2 weeks after they've learned to fly.Glaucous-Winged Gull's are found all along the Pacific Northwest coastline. Glaucous Winged Gulls are omnivores (they will eat most anything), their diet includes fish and other marine creatures, small birds, eggs, small mammals, invertebrates, and in populated areas, refuse from dumps, trash cans, and parking lots. Glaucous-Winged Gulls migrate south from Alaska going as far south as the Baja Peninsula of Mexico.

More than you probably wanted to know about seagulls. One (or 2) have taken to sitting on the bimini cover of the flybridge. I have highlighted their diet info as we are seeing the after effects of their diet. In huge quantities!!

After reading various blogs about how to get them to alter their behavior, in this case "Get off our boat, bird!!, we took off for a toy store looking for that old childhood toy, the pinwheel. But my husband spotted another object which he has named the JUJU. Picture to be posted later. Imagine a long rubber wiggly object. Now picture it strung between the aerials above the flybridge cover on the boat on fishing line bobbing up and down, all intended to keep the gull off the boat!!! Will it work????

The view walking to our boat

2010-05-26T20:31:00.000-07:00

Anticipating a great adventure

2010-05-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

Naturalist John Muir first visited Glacier Bay in 1879 and described it as "a picture of icy wildness, unspeakable pure and sublime." I decided long ago that I am a visual person, taking in scenery and vistas being endlessly fascinating. I anticipate an adventure of exploring Alaska aboard a 45' power cruiser as an ongoing visual extravaganza!! I have learned that reservations are required for exploring Glacier Bay and we have received verification that we are one of 25 boats permitted daily into the park. People are always hoping to see the bears. I am hoping to see a Tufted Puffin.

I just finished reading Jonathan Raban's Passage to Juneau. I began reading this book thinking the author would be writing about his trip from Seattle to Juneau tracing the route Captain Vancouver took during his explorations. The book begins with those intentions but while making the trip the author gets sidetracked by life events. Upon receiving news that his Father was gravely ill he left his sailboat and travelled to England to say goodbye. His writings reflect on that life altering event and others drawing the reader into those reflections. A great read!!

Adventure awaits

2010-05-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

I have received a wonderful invitation to cruise the Inner Passage in Alaska!

House is on the Market!

2010-05-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

Last step is to sell the house, put the rest of our belongings in storage and move aboard! Stay tuned....

Edmonds Rendezvous April 2010

2010-05-20T14:49:00.001-07:00

A Delightful Day on a Charming Boat!

Thank you Ken and Martine!

Sailing Class 2010

2010-05-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

On March 28th the sailing class members headed out to brave the wild arctic waters of Puget Sound. We climbed aboard eager to put our newly gained sailing knowledge into practice. The opportunity to sail with Jim Hewitson aboard his beloved “Magic Button” is an experience not to be missed. As we left Shilshole Bay Marina, with Jim at the helm and Zak and Mike as crew, we were all anticipating a wonderful adventure at sea. We were not disappointed. As we were trimming sails, steering, and working together as a crew, we were also fixed on the low, dark, angry sky approaching. As the gale winds reached 30 knots and the ship cut through the whitecaps at 8 knots, it proved to be an exhilarating sailing experience.
Thank you Jim Hewitson for your dedication to teaching based on your love of sailing. Your willingness to share it with others is greatly appreciated!

Marine Engine Maintenance Class

2010-05-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

Twin Cummins Diesel Engines - What are we looking at??

Like Ratty in The Wind in the Willows when he explained the river's appeal to Mole: "There is nothing--absolutely nothing-- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.... In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it."

Sea trial and survey

2010-05-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

What a day!! A day of firsts, anticipation of surprises both good and bad and the decision to proceed looming!

A typical day in October in Seattle. Raining! Taking the boat out from Lake Union to Lake Washington presented some great scenery and our first experience being behind the wheel!

The haul out!

The examination of the haul by the Surveyor would be key to whether we proceeded with the purchase!!

The Surveyor, with a tap, tap, tap down the haul, proclaims her "A good boat!"

We breathe a huge sigh of relief, if we had found any problems it would have been hard to let her go!

moving towards living aboard Priority

2010-05-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

FAll 2009 Began our adventure of experiencing livingaboard a boat.
After months of climbing over, under, up and down many boats and reading and talking endlessly about boats we found her!! Priority! Going to yet another marina and looking at yet another boat, I asked the Broker what boat he would show me next. Priority! A 40' power cruiser. Instantly loved the aft cabin and aft deck and the ease of walking up steps, not using a ladder! Newbies that we were, without much (understatement: read no) boating knowledge, we proceeded with the survey and sea trial. Working through all the details she became ours. Moved her over to Shilshole marina and started to learn all her systems. Through the winter we hauled all the past owners stuff and more stuff off the boat, thankful for large dumpsters. And you hear there is not much storage on a boat!!
We have discovered the terrific educational courses offered through the Seattle Sail and Power Squadron and have gained wonderful new friends.