We're Back
The trip back to the boat started the same way as last year, Lisa met a guy on the airplane.
We were flying down to Houston to Visit Lisa's sister, Tina. Lisa was sitting next to a guy from Bainbridge, WA. who happened to work in Seattle. Long story short he offered to pick us up at Seatac and drive us, with all our luggage, right to the boat. How awsome is that?
We spent an evening with Brian and his Wife Laura, then sailed to their house and spent an afternoon with them there. Beautiful couple.
Lisa and I spent 9 days in Poulsbo cleaning and provisioning A&F for the trip South. We took the boat over to Seattle for a shake down cruise and met up with Chris Allen and a co-worker of his for an evening sail in the bay then some Hallibut cheeks and wine on the boat. Great night and the boat was in good nick, as they say in England.
May 10th
We said goodbye to our new friends Kathy (who runs the marina where Always&Forever sat for almost 9 months) and Dave (who looked after the boat while it sat all winter) two wonderful people that we will keep in touch with.
Lisa and I sailed up wind north to Edmonds, WA. where we spent the night.
May 11th
Edmonds is in the rearview as we sail north to Port Townsend, WA. This quaint little town used to be the Seaport to Puget Sound, It is now known for the wooden boat builders and restoration on the West Coast. We spent 2 nights here as we prepared to sail over to Victoria and visit a couple that we met last summer.
May 13th
We sailed across the Straight of Juan de Fuca over to Victoria BC. Canada. We spent the afternoon and evening with Denis and Holly, took the walking tour of the area around the marina, picked up some cruising tips and said goodbye. This is another couple we will definately stay in touch with as they live aboard and cruise on their Perry Catamaran.
May 14th
We left Victoria, headed to Neah Bay as we prepaired for our first long day on the Pacific. We checked the weather forecast for the Pacific coast and anchored out in the harbor.
May 15th
An early start to the day, up at 4 and out by 4:45am. We rode some big swells right off the bat as we left the straights of Juan de Fuca. By the way the marine weather people are no better than those on the evening news. We were supose to have 10 to 20 knots of following winds and 5 to 7 foot swells from the NW. What we really got was 20 knot winds from the south and swells from the NW. as a result we motored for half the day before the winds actually turned to the NW and blew 20 to 25 knots with 8 to 10 foot swells in the evening. most of the day was fun, however Lisa and I both got a bit queezy in the morning, I guess it was all that time "on the hard" the queeziness went away the winds changed direction and all was good, UNTIL, the sun went down it got dark and the winds picked up and there were crabpots everywhere. We found our way into grays Harbor around 12:45am where I am now writing this entry. Cheers til next time.
We were flying down to Houston to Visit Lisa's sister, Tina. Lisa was sitting next to a guy from Bainbridge, WA. who happened to work in Seattle. Long story short he offered to pick us up at Seatac and drive us, with all our luggage, right to the boat. How awsome is that?
We spent an evening with Brian and his Wife Laura, then sailed to their house and spent an afternoon with them there. Beautiful couple.
Lisa and I spent 9 days in Poulsbo cleaning and provisioning A&F for the trip South. We took the boat over to Seattle for a shake down cruise and met up with Chris Allen and a co-worker of his for an evening sail in the bay then some Hallibut cheeks and wine on the boat. Great night and the boat was in good nick, as they say in England.
May 10th
We said goodbye to our new friends Kathy (who runs the marina where Always&Forever sat for almost 9 months) and Dave (who looked after the boat while it sat all winter) two wonderful people that we will keep in touch with.
Lisa and I sailed up wind north to Edmonds, WA. where we spent the night.
May 11th
Edmonds is in the rearview as we sail north to Port Townsend, WA. This quaint little town used to be the Seaport to Puget Sound, It is now known for the wooden boat builders and restoration on the West Coast. We spent 2 nights here as we prepared to sail over to Victoria and visit a couple that we met last summer.
May 13th
We sailed across the Straight of Juan de Fuca over to Victoria BC. Canada. We spent the afternoon and evening with Denis and Holly, took the walking tour of the area around the marina, picked up some cruising tips and said goodbye. This is another couple we will definately stay in touch with as they live aboard and cruise on their Perry Catamaran.
May 14th
We left Victoria, headed to Neah Bay as we prepaired for our first long day on the Pacific. We checked the weather forecast for the Pacific coast and anchored out in the harbor.
May 15th
An early start to the day, up at 4 and out by 4:45am. We rode some big swells right off the bat as we left the straights of Juan de Fuca. By the way the marine weather people are no better than those on the evening news. We were supose to have 10 to 20 knots of following winds and 5 to 7 foot swells from the NW. What we really got was 20 knot winds from the south and swells from the NW. as a result we motored for half the day before the winds actually turned to the NW and blew 20 to 25 knots with 8 to 10 foot swells in the evening. most of the day was fun, however Lisa and I both got a bit queezy in the morning, I guess it was all that time "on the hard" the queeziness went away the winds changed direction and all was good, UNTIL, the sun went down it got dark and the winds picked up and there were crabpots everywhere. We found our way into grays Harbor around 12:45am where I am now writing this entry. Cheers til next time.
May16th and 17th
We stayed in Grays harbor for a couple days and rested while the weather calmed down. Not much to say about Grays harbor, alot of fishing boats and alot of seagulls messing up the docks and boats.
May 18th
We left Grays at 05:00 in order to make it to the Columbia River bar at slack tide, 12:37pm. The columbia River should only be entered or left during slack tide, there have been more than 3000 boats wrecked at the bar of this river, it is not one to be messed with. however it is a piece of cake if you just wait and cross when the tides are slack.
So we crossed the bar under perfect conditions and sailed up river to Astoria with 15 knot following winds, great day for sailing. When we got to Astoria I pulled into a slip and put the boat into nuetral, Lisa couldn't quite reach the dock as the boat was being blown out, so instead of driving the boat further in I jumped off and tried to tie us up. BIG MISTAKE, the bow lines were still coiled up and the bow blew out away from the slip, and with strong winds and me on the dock it couldn't be recovered. So Lisa has her first chance to dock the boat on her own. I stood nervously on the dock and shouted directions while she pulled around to a different slip and parked the boat like a pro. Lisa was a bit scared, but I think it made her focus, because she was awsome. During all this a couple came out to help with lines and invited us onto their 54' motor yacht for wine then dinner, a very nice couple who taught sking in Tahoe during the winter months and lived aboard their boat and cruised in the summer.
May 19th
We got a late start out of Astoria and sailed up the Columbia for a few hours until the winds died then started to blow lightly down river, we motored up river to a small marina called Elochoman Marina in the town of Cathlamet. Our plan was to stop in for a few minutes and grab some groceries and check the price of their fuel. Then Jim Cadd, a gentlman on the dock helped us with our lines and started up a conversation, he soon asked where we were headed and where we were going to stay the night. I told him our plan was to anchor out then head up river the next day. He informed me that we were going up river about 20 miles and staying at their yacht club. This was opening day of the boating season here and they had a large dock party in Cathlamet then they were all heading back to Longview Yacht club, and we were to join them. So we did.
May 20th - 22nd
Lisa and I have been the guests of Jim and Maila at the Longview Yacht Club for the past 3 days during which, we have had dinner with our friends Gary and June from Spirit Lake, WA. and then we had dinner at our hosts house here in Longview, and tonight we're all having dinner and a wine tasting together at the Mt St Helens Cellars which Gary and June own and operate.
At this rate we'll never get anywhere...lol
We stayed in Grays harbor for a couple days and rested while the weather calmed down. Not much to say about Grays harbor, alot of fishing boats and alot of seagulls messing up the docks and boats.
May 18th
We left Grays at 05:00 in order to make it to the Columbia River bar at slack tide, 12:37pm. The columbia River should only be entered or left during slack tide, there have been more than 3000 boats wrecked at the bar of this river, it is not one to be messed with. however it is a piece of cake if you just wait and cross when the tides are slack.
So we crossed the bar under perfect conditions and sailed up river to Astoria with 15 knot following winds, great day for sailing. When we got to Astoria I pulled into a slip and put the boat into nuetral, Lisa couldn't quite reach the dock as the boat was being blown out, so instead of driving the boat further in I jumped off and tried to tie us up. BIG MISTAKE, the bow lines were still coiled up and the bow blew out away from the slip, and with strong winds and me on the dock it couldn't be recovered. So Lisa has her first chance to dock the boat on her own. I stood nervously on the dock and shouted directions while she pulled around to a different slip and parked the boat like a pro. Lisa was a bit scared, but I think it made her focus, because she was awsome. During all this a couple came out to help with lines and invited us onto their 54' motor yacht for wine then dinner, a very nice couple who taught sking in Tahoe during the winter months and lived aboard their boat and cruised in the summer.
May 19th
We got a late start out of Astoria and sailed up the Columbia for a few hours until the winds died then started to blow lightly down river, we motored up river to a small marina called Elochoman Marina in the town of Cathlamet. Our plan was to stop in for a few minutes and grab some groceries and check the price of their fuel. Then Jim Cadd, a gentlman on the dock helped us with our lines and started up a conversation, he soon asked where we were headed and where we were going to stay the night. I told him our plan was to anchor out then head up river the next day. He informed me that we were going up river about 20 miles and staying at their yacht club. This was opening day of the boating season here and they had a large dock party in Cathlamet then they were all heading back to Longview Yacht club, and we were to join them. So we did.
May 20th - 22nd
Lisa and I have been the guests of Jim and Maila at the Longview Yacht Club for the past 3 days during which, we have had dinner with our friends Gary and June from Spirit Lake, WA. and then we had dinner at our hosts house here in Longview, and tonight we're all having dinner and a wine tasting together at the Mt St Helens Cellars which Gary and June own and operate.
At this rate we'll never get anywhere...lol
May 24th
We got up and returned the keys to our Volvo to the Cadd's boathouse then pushed off and headed upstream about 30 miles to the Multnomah Channel Yacht Club where we were met by Bob Gedde, who helped us with the lines and showed us around the yacht club. We invited Bob aboard for a beer and some conversation before he had to run off to meet his wife. Before Bob left, another local Yacht club member stopped over with a bottle of wine to welcome us to the yacht club, he didn't even stay, just dropped off the wine. Then as Bob was leaving he gave us a bottle of wine that he had bottled and a Salmon Steak from a chinook he had caught earlier in the month. The hospitality at these yacht clubs is amazing. More Great People.
We got up and returned the keys to our Volvo to the Cadd's boathouse then pushed off and headed upstream about 30 miles to the Multnomah Channel Yacht Club where we were met by Bob Gedde, who helped us with the lines and showed us around the yacht club. We invited Bob aboard for a beer and some conversation before he had to run off to meet his wife. Before Bob left, another local Yacht club member stopped over with a bottle of wine to welcome us to the yacht club, he didn't even stay, just dropped off the wine. Then as Bob was leaving he gave us a bottle of wine that he had bottled and a Salmon Steak from a chinook he had caught earlier in the month. The hospitality at these yacht clubs is amazing. More Great People.
May25th
Lisa and I set out late, around 09:00 for Portland, we motored most of the way up the Multnomah Channel to the Willamette River,which we followed down about 2 miles back to the Columbia. We had to have 2 bridges opened for us to pass through the first was the Burlington Northern Railroad bridge the second was the I- 5 Bridge. Lisa, I think felt a bit royal, stopping all the traffic on the interstate just for us. I have to admit looking back at the amount of traffic sitting there while we sailed up the river gives one a feeling of empowerment.
We arrived at the Rose City Yacht Club, where we left the boat for the Memorial Day weekend while Lisa and I had a visit with our good friends Jim and Terry McCafferey.
May29
We left the R.C.Y.C. in Portland at 09:00 to head North "down" the Columbia River. One of those rare times that a river runs north. We had to wait until 09:00 because it seems that during rush hour they won't open the bridges, even for us. When they did open the I-5 bridge at 09:30, we turned to watch the bridge lower, only to find that the southbound side was stuck. I think we may have pissed off a few hundred people.
We made good time cruising down the river with a very swift current. We called our new friends, the Cadds to let them know we would be back at their yacht club for a short night before heading down the river for the last day.
May 30th
After about 7 1/2 uneventful hours down the river to Ilwaco, WA. We prepared to head out early in the morning to cross the bar and start south again.
May 31st
Lisa and I got up and listened to the marine weather forcast like we do every morning before we set out to see if anything had changed, all sounded ok to go, so we untied the boat and spent about 40 minutes trying to get off the dock without hitting anything as the winds were blowing across our starboard side and the dock was on our port. We finally managed to get out and 20 minutes later we were crossing the bar as the coastguard was out checking the area for the next bar report. We got quite a chuckle as they were reading their wind speeds at 5 knots while we were right there in 20 knot winds. The NOAA forcast was again inaccurate as we were expecting northwest winds, when infact we were fighting 20 to 25 knot southerly winds for about 6 hours but they eventually calmed down but still stayed from the South so we carried on motoring. Unfortunately at some point our Mascerator crapped out on us. We arrived in Newport, OR. in the early evening and pumped out the holding tank so we would be ready to make repairs to the mascerator, when we found a new one.
Lisa and I set out late, around 09:00 for Portland, we motored most of the way up the Multnomah Channel to the Willamette River,which we followed down about 2 miles back to the Columbia. We had to have 2 bridges opened for us to pass through the first was the Burlington Northern Railroad bridge the second was the I- 5 Bridge. Lisa, I think felt a bit royal, stopping all the traffic on the interstate just for us. I have to admit looking back at the amount of traffic sitting there while we sailed up the river gives one a feeling of empowerment.
We arrived at the Rose City Yacht Club, where we left the boat for the Memorial Day weekend while Lisa and I had a visit with our good friends Jim and Terry McCafferey.
May29
We left the R.C.Y.C. in Portland at 09:00 to head North "down" the Columbia River. One of those rare times that a river runs north. We had to wait until 09:00 because it seems that during rush hour they won't open the bridges, even for us. When they did open the I-5 bridge at 09:30, we turned to watch the bridge lower, only to find that the southbound side was stuck. I think we may have pissed off a few hundred people.
We made good time cruising down the river with a very swift current. We called our new friends, the Cadds to let them know we would be back at their yacht club for a short night before heading down the river for the last day.
May 30th
After about 7 1/2 uneventful hours down the river to Ilwaco, WA. We prepared to head out early in the morning to cross the bar and start south again.
May 31st
Lisa and I got up and listened to the marine weather forcast like we do every morning before we set out to see if anything had changed, all sounded ok to go, so we untied the boat and spent about 40 minutes trying to get off the dock without hitting anything as the winds were blowing across our starboard side and the dock was on our port. We finally managed to get out and 20 minutes later we were crossing the bar as the coastguard was out checking the area for the next bar report. We got quite a chuckle as they were reading their wind speeds at 5 knots while we were right there in 20 knot winds. The NOAA forcast was again inaccurate as we were expecting northwest winds, when infact we were fighting 20 to 25 knot southerly winds for about 6 hours but they eventually calmed down but still stayed from the South so we carried on motoring. Unfortunately at some point our Mascerator crapped out on us. We arrived in Newport, OR. in the early evening and pumped out the holding tank so we would be ready to make repairs to the mascerator, when we found a new one.
June 1st
We went to a marine suply store to pick up a new pump only to find out they didn't have the right one, so we would have to wait until we got to Eureka, CA. to pick up a new one. this was only a couple days sailing so it shouldn't be a problem.
June 2nd
We left Newport, the weather was foggy and rainy but the winds were blowing 8 to 10 knots from the NW. so we sailed all day. As we approached Coos Bay we checked the weather and decided as it was a full moon and the forcast was favorable we would continue on all night. We continued south around Cape Blanco the wind stopped around 11:30pm so I turned on the engine and kept going the sun came up as we were passing Port Orford. Lisa and I agreed we would not do anymore all nighters without more crew, we were exhausted. I found it impossible to sleep.
June 3rd.
We made our way around St. Georges reef and stopped in Crescent City around 4:30pm, this is the harbor that was destroyed last year in the tsunami. There have been no repairs done yet in the marina, so like last summer we anchored out in the harbor and went right to sleep.
June 4th ... OUR 14th Anniversary...
We headed out after checking the days weather and started south for Eureka, about 60 miles south. The winds were from the south blowing about 10 to 15 knots. about 2 hours later the winds picked up and so did the seas. The forcast was for the winds to change to the NW then pick up in the evening. The winds picked up to about 30 knots then they started to switch to the west, eventually they moved around to the NW, but not until the seas were all screwed up and waves were steep and breaking in all directions. I have to admit I was a bit nervous and feeling very small in our 42' boat. We had a wave break over our bow and fill our cockpit with water, we have 2, one inch drains in the cockpit that now seemed a bit small with about 6 inches of water under our feet. As the water ran off the front window to the point where I should be able to see again, all I could see was the green of the next wave coming at us, lucky for us this one was not as steep and didn't break. The winds miraculously calmed down so we could catch our breath, but only for a few minutes then we were right back into it. we battled the ocean for several hours until we were almost to Humbodt Bay. I called the Coast Guard to get a bar report before heading in. The Coast Guard came back with a very favorable report so we started in toward the enterance to the Bay. The swells were huge, about 15 to 20 feet and very steep, we were committed there was no way to turn around, we would be surfing these waves. Just then the Coast Guard called us and wanted to give us an updated bar report. We told them thanks but it was a bit late we were there. The Coast Guard told us they would be standing by and to call if we needed any help. Lisa was very nervous, and I was very busy keeping the boat straight as we litterally surfed into the Bay. As we made it into calm water I told Lisa, " That was quite an adrenelin rush" I thought she was going to hit me.
We sailed another couple miles up to the marina to pick up our new mascerator pump, after buying it we needed to pump out the holding tank again in order to instal the new one. The marina pump out was on a dock that was sitting in about 3' of water we draw about 5' so we couldn't pump out. We have the new pump and now it is just taking up space on the boat.
We went to a marine suply store to pick up a new pump only to find out they didn't have the right one, so we would have to wait until we got to Eureka, CA. to pick up a new one. this was only a couple days sailing so it shouldn't be a problem.
June 2nd
We left Newport, the weather was foggy and rainy but the winds were blowing 8 to 10 knots from the NW. so we sailed all day. As we approached Coos Bay we checked the weather and decided as it was a full moon and the forcast was favorable we would continue on all night. We continued south around Cape Blanco the wind stopped around 11:30pm so I turned on the engine and kept going the sun came up as we were passing Port Orford. Lisa and I agreed we would not do anymore all nighters without more crew, we were exhausted. I found it impossible to sleep.
June 3rd.
We made our way around St. Georges reef and stopped in Crescent City around 4:30pm, this is the harbor that was destroyed last year in the tsunami. There have been no repairs done yet in the marina, so like last summer we anchored out in the harbor and went right to sleep.
June 4th ... OUR 14th Anniversary...
We headed out after checking the days weather and started south for Eureka, about 60 miles south. The winds were from the south blowing about 10 to 15 knots. about 2 hours later the winds picked up and so did the seas. The forcast was for the winds to change to the NW then pick up in the evening. The winds picked up to about 30 knots then they started to switch to the west, eventually they moved around to the NW, but not until the seas were all screwed up and waves were steep and breaking in all directions. I have to admit I was a bit nervous and feeling very small in our 42' boat. We had a wave break over our bow and fill our cockpit with water, we have 2, one inch drains in the cockpit that now seemed a bit small with about 6 inches of water under our feet. As the water ran off the front window to the point where I should be able to see again, all I could see was the green of the next wave coming at us, lucky for us this one was not as steep and didn't break. The winds miraculously calmed down so we could catch our breath, but only for a few minutes then we were right back into it. we battled the ocean for several hours until we were almost to Humbodt Bay. I called the Coast Guard to get a bar report before heading in. The Coast Guard came back with a very favorable report so we started in toward the enterance to the Bay. The swells were huge, about 15 to 20 feet and very steep, we were committed there was no way to turn around, we would be surfing these waves. Just then the Coast Guard called us and wanted to give us an updated bar report. We told them thanks but it was a bit late we were there. The Coast Guard told us they would be standing by and to call if we needed any help. Lisa was very nervous, and I was very busy keeping the boat straight as we litterally surfed into the Bay. As we made it into calm water I told Lisa, " That was quite an adrenelin rush" I thought she was going to hit me.
We sailed another couple miles up to the marina to pick up our new mascerator pump, after buying it we needed to pump out the holding tank again in order to instal the new one. The marina pump out was on a dock that was sitting in about 3' of water we draw about 5' so we couldn't pump out. We have the new pump and now it is just taking up space on the boat.
June 5th
We fueled up and left Eureka very frustrated as our holding tank was getting full. The weather was unreal as we headed out across the bar that just 14 hours earlier seemed like a scene from The Perfect Storm was now as calm as a lake. We had favorable winds from the NW but we ran the motor along with the sails the weather forcast called for building winds in the evening and Gale force winds for the next few days so we didn't want to waste any time getting down to Fort Bragg, CA. The sun shined all day and the winds were building into the late afternoon and evening. we made it to Fort Bragg in 20 to 25 knot following windsand 5 to 7 foot following seas. nothing quite as dramatic as what we had been thru on the previous days. We tried to call the Noyo River Harbor master, but had no luck getting a hold of anyone, then we heard our old friend Billy on the radio, having contacted him by phone earlier we knew he would be out fishing all night so I asked him if we could use his slip for the night until we made other arrangements with the harbor master. He informed us that the slip next to him was empty as the boat that moors there was down south salmon fishing. So we took it.
June 6th
The forecast looks bleek. The extended forecast calls for Gale force winds and very large seas. We spent 5 days in this harbor last summer, and we are going to be here for at least that this year. Peggy our friend from last summer met us at the head of the dock and said she knew we would need a car, and she gave us the keys to a toyota pickup. What would we do without friends like that? Walk!! Later on around 9:30 or 10pm Billy got back from collecting his crab pots, Lisa and I went over to see if we could help off load the 140 or so pots from the boat. As it turned out there wasn't much we could do, except stay out of the way. So we did, and we did a good job of that because Billy gave us 3 nice, large crab for our help:) YUM!
We met a couple up in Eureka the previous day who left a few hours before us, so Lisa and I walked to the other end of the marina where we spotted their boat. We went down to say hello and exchange stories of our travels. We hit it off right away, we expect we will see them often on our way south. If we ever get out of here, that is.
We fueled up and left Eureka very frustrated as our holding tank was getting full. The weather was unreal as we headed out across the bar that just 14 hours earlier seemed like a scene from The Perfect Storm was now as calm as a lake. We had favorable winds from the NW but we ran the motor along with the sails the weather forcast called for building winds in the evening and Gale force winds for the next few days so we didn't want to waste any time getting down to Fort Bragg, CA. The sun shined all day and the winds were building into the late afternoon and evening. we made it to Fort Bragg in 20 to 25 knot following windsand 5 to 7 foot following seas. nothing quite as dramatic as what we had been thru on the previous days. We tried to call the Noyo River Harbor master, but had no luck getting a hold of anyone, then we heard our old friend Billy on the radio, having contacted him by phone earlier we knew he would be out fishing all night so I asked him if we could use his slip for the night until we made other arrangements with the harbor master. He informed us that the slip next to him was empty as the boat that moors there was down south salmon fishing. So we took it.
June 6th
The forecast looks bleek. The extended forecast calls for Gale force winds and very large seas. We spent 5 days in this harbor last summer, and we are going to be here for at least that this year. Peggy our friend from last summer met us at the head of the dock and said she knew we would need a car, and she gave us the keys to a toyota pickup. What would we do without friends like that? Walk!! Later on around 9:30 or 10pm Billy got back from collecting his crab pots, Lisa and I went over to see if we could help off load the 140 or so pots from the boat. As it turned out there wasn't much we could do, except stay out of the way. So we did, and we did a good job of that because Billy gave us 3 nice, large crab for our help:) YUM!
We met a couple up in Eureka the previous day who left a few hours before us, so Lisa and I walked to the other end of the marina where we spotted their boat. We went down to say hello and exchange stories of our travels. We hit it off right away, we expect we will see them often on our way south. If we ever get out of here, that is.
June 7th
Lisa and I joined Peggy, her son Danniel and friend Linda and drove up the coast to an old logging road that lead to Usal, which was a logging port at the turn of the century. There were about 2000 people living and working there, today there is nothing left of the port. The state has put a camp ground there and there is a beautiful beach and quite a bit of wildlife, including a small heard of elk.
Lisa and I joined Peggy, her son Danniel and friend Linda and drove up the coast to an old logging road that lead to Usal, which was a logging port at the turn of the century. There were about 2000 people living and working there, today there is nothing left of the port. The state has put a camp ground there and there is a beautiful beach and quite a bit of wildlife, including a small heard of elk.
June 8th
We invited Leonard and Loraina, the couple we met in Eureka to our boat for a very nice lunch and conversation. Lisa and I spent most of the day cleaning the boat and getting things back in order.
June 9th
Lisa's cousin Kevin Ready drove up from San Francisco with his friend Paul to visit, Lisa hadn't seen him in 23 years. We had a great dinner on the boat, then out on the town in Fort Bragg. OK we went to a bar and had a couple drinks.
June 10
Lisa's Birthday
The 4 of us got up and had coffee, (Kevin-Lisa's Cousin, Paul-Kevin's friend, Lisa, and myself) we then leisurely made our way to the car and drove north along the coast for about 20 miles until highway 1 turns inland thru the redwoods to the town of Leggit, where we drove thru the redwood tree that is 2400 years old and over 300' tall. We then drove back to Fort Bragg where we had been invited to a BBQ with Billy and Peggy and some of their. The BBQ included Abolone, oysters, shrimp, and sides. Extremely Good food. We celebrated Lisa's birthday until Kevin and Paul had to head back to SanFrancisco around 6:30pm. Lisa and I stayed and chatted with Billy and Peggy for a few more hours then went back to the boat for a nightcap.
June 11 & 12
spent the next couple days hanging around the boat doing chores, cleaning, oil changes etc.
June 13th - 16th
Still in Fort Bragg, the holding tank is starting to get a bit ripe, using a lot of lysol and room fresheners. Its hard to believe that a tsunami over a year ago could effect us now, but that is the case. the last 2 stops we made, Crescent City, and here are without pumpout stations because they were washed away in the tsunami.
Lisa and I have been checking out the local beaches and the Point Cabrillo lighthouse that is just south of here, and keeping a close watch on the weather hoping to leave soon. We do love the people here in Fort Bragg, but its time to get moving to warmer waters.
June 17th
We got up at 03:00am and untied we headed out into the Pacific and started to turn south, we kept turning until we were headed east and went straight back into our slip. The NOAA marine weather was updated after we got back, if they had updated an hour earlier we never would have left. The seas were still raging with 10' swells and 5' to 6' wind waves on top of that, making the waves steep and close together, not a good combination. There appears to be a break in the weather Thursday and Friday, keeping our fingers crossed.
They say everything happens for a reason, we have become firm believers in this. Once again our friends here, as soon as they found out we were still here invited us to their house for a father's Day Dinner, Turkey and gravey and all the fixins. Another FUN night.
We invited Leonard and Loraina, the couple we met in Eureka to our boat for a very nice lunch and conversation. Lisa and I spent most of the day cleaning the boat and getting things back in order.
June 9th
Lisa's cousin Kevin Ready drove up from San Francisco with his friend Paul to visit, Lisa hadn't seen him in 23 years. We had a great dinner on the boat, then out on the town in Fort Bragg. OK we went to a bar and had a couple drinks.
June 10
Lisa's Birthday
The 4 of us got up and had coffee, (Kevin-Lisa's Cousin, Paul-Kevin's friend, Lisa, and myself) we then leisurely made our way to the car and drove north along the coast for about 20 miles until highway 1 turns inland thru the redwoods to the town of Leggit, where we drove thru the redwood tree that is 2400 years old and over 300' tall. We then drove back to Fort Bragg where we had been invited to a BBQ with Billy and Peggy and some of their. The BBQ included Abolone, oysters, shrimp, and sides. Extremely Good food. We celebrated Lisa's birthday until Kevin and Paul had to head back to SanFrancisco around 6:30pm. Lisa and I stayed and chatted with Billy and Peggy for a few more hours then went back to the boat for a nightcap.
June 11 & 12
spent the next couple days hanging around the boat doing chores, cleaning, oil changes etc.
June 13th - 16th
Still in Fort Bragg, the holding tank is starting to get a bit ripe, using a lot of lysol and room fresheners. Its hard to believe that a tsunami over a year ago could effect us now, but that is the case. the last 2 stops we made, Crescent City, and here are without pumpout stations because they were washed away in the tsunami.
Lisa and I have been checking out the local beaches and the Point Cabrillo lighthouse that is just south of here, and keeping a close watch on the weather hoping to leave soon. We do love the people here in Fort Bragg, but its time to get moving to warmer waters.
June 17th
We got up at 03:00am and untied we headed out into the Pacific and started to turn south, we kept turning until we were headed east and went straight back into our slip. The NOAA marine weather was updated after we got back, if they had updated an hour earlier we never would have left. The seas were still raging with 10' swells and 5' to 6' wind waves on top of that, making the waves steep and close together, not a good combination. There appears to be a break in the weather Thursday and Friday, keeping our fingers crossed.
They say everything happens for a reason, we have become firm believers in this. Once again our friends here, as soon as they found out we were still here invited us to their house for a father's Day Dinner, Turkey and gravey and all the fixins. Another FUN night.
June 21st
We got up and left at first light, about 05:00am. Again the swells were pretty big, but they were all coming from the North and the wind was fairly light so we decided to keep going. About 40 miles south of Ft. Bragg we went around Point Arena, the seas got a bit bigger and the winds picked up as the day went on, as usual. As luck would have it, things didn't get too crazy, but the winds stayed high through the night. We pulled into Bodega Bay about 6:00pm. We immediately pumped out the holding tank, which has been full now for almost 3 weeks. We then found our way to a slip, tied up and I installed the mascerator pump that we have been carrying around ever since we left Eureka. Finally we can use the toilets again.
This is the last entry on this page. Continue following on the next page. ( SanFrancisco to SanDiego)
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We got up and left at first light, about 05:00am. Again the swells were pretty big, but they were all coming from the North and the wind was fairly light so we decided to keep going. About 40 miles south of Ft. Bragg we went around Point Arena, the seas got a bit bigger and the winds picked up as the day went on, as usual. As luck would have it, things didn't get too crazy, but the winds stayed high through the night. We pulled into Bodega Bay about 6:00pm. We immediately pumped out the holding tank, which has been full now for almost 3 weeks. We then found our way to a slip, tied up and I installed the mascerator pump that we have been carrying around ever since we left Eureka. Finally we can use the toilets again.
This is the last entry on this page. Continue following on the next page. ( SanFrancisco to SanDiego)
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