Tuesday, May 31, 2016 Friday Harbour to Port of Sidney - 2 hours - 21.9 miles

We entered Canada today.  Fred called customs from the water and we were cleared for entry.  Customs # 20161520266.  The trip was very smooth.  We are running around stocking the boat and preparing for Jason & his family to arrive tomorrow.  We rented a Dodge minivan from National.  The young man picked us up from the marina and drove us back to the office to do the paperwork.  We needed a big car because there will be 4 adults and Mackenzie in a toddler car seat.  Fred decided to park the car in a residential area to avoid paying the $11/day parking fee at the marina.

Monday, May 30, 2016 Memorial Day

Friday Harbor

Today is warmer than yesterday. We were sitting in the cockpit enjoying a cup of coffee when a canon blast from somewhere puts poor Merlin in a tailspin. It took over an hour of holding him to stop shaking. Friday Harbor looks lovely with all the American flags and banner out. Very festive. We are again at the Bean Cafe for a latte and WiFi. We are ready to head into Sidney, BC tomorrow. Jason and the family arrive on Wednesday! It will be such fun.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Friday Harbor, San Juan Island

The sun is out and it is a beautiful day. We get the dinghy down and head into town for breakfast to the Rocky Bay Cafe.  There were quite a number of us waiting for a table. The proprietor comes out with a sheet of donuts for all of us for being so patient. They also have a coffee station set up inside. Now we don’t mind the wait at all.

Popeye, the local harbor seal

After walking around a bit we stopped at The Bean Cafe for a latte and free WiFi.

 

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Friday Harbor

 

It’s a rainy, stormy day. Good day to get chores done on the boat and get the last of the shopping supplies put away properly. By noon it looks like our anchor has slipped again. This time we re-set the anchor with more chain down. We’re pretty sure that will do the trick.

Friday, May 27, 2016 (Memorial Day week-end)

Anacortes to Friday Harbor 2 ¼ hours 22.7 miles

 

Dianna calls me this morning at 8 am before we took the car in. She says “have I got a deal for you”. OK… She says how about if we put our car into the shed that the boat came out of. OK, how much will it cost? No answer. Bottom line is our car is in the shed, they will check the batteries, no cost and we can dump our storage unit. I keep telling them we are not used to such service. We are really getting spoiled.

We are off the dock at 9:30 am and heading to Friday Harbor. The wind is up to 25 kts and there is 1’-2’ chop in Rosario Strait. The trip was uneventful and we anchored at Friday Harbor. We like being “on the hook” and especially when we want to make sure that all systems are up and running. The wind is still about 20 kts and we are swinging on the hook quite a bit. We are not sure if we have good holding on the anchor. We’ll keep an eye on it. By afternoon we are drifting and we re-set the anchor.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Anacortes

 

We checked out of the motel this morning and went to the Calico Cupboard for breakfast. Wouldn’t you know it that our favorite waitress, Alice, is off today. Well the food was excellent as always. We then went down to the boat. She is all docked and waiting for us. The place is still a bit messy until we get everything put away but we are officially living aboard at last. In the afternoon we take the car out to American Heritage Storage to put the car away for the summer. We have a nice unit with power so Fred can hook up the battery tender. After getting the car wedged in Fred could not make the battery tender come on line. After a few choice words we take the car out again and go look on Emerald Star for another battery tender. I told Dianna at the office we would be off the dock tomorrow morning as soon as the car is put away

Anacortes

Today we went to Costco in Burlington and tried very hard to buy everything in sight.  We would up with two shopping carts and lots of good stuff.  From meat & cheese to engine oil.  The boat was waxed and carpets cleaned yesterday.  She looks great.  We spent the afternoon putting supplies away.  This is not the fun part of cruising.  It looks like we will be splashed tomorrow morning on the high tide.  We hope to have a slip at the North Harbor docks to get systems online.  When I asked what time we need to be at the boat in the morning to help I was asked "do you mind if we just do early and tie it up at the dock?"  Are you kidding, of course not.  High tide will be quite early apparently.    Dianna said to come in at 10-11 am.  No problem.  As we were leaving the boat she was being washed again to remove any residue from the waxing.  We had the dinghy engine serviced and someone was busy washing that boat as well before it goes back on Emerald Star. 

After working so hard we went out to dinner to Anthony's Cabana.  It is the relaxed outdoor restaurant next to Anthony's.  It just opened 6 weeks ago.  Beautiful way to end the day.  The mahi mahi tacos were delicious. 

Anacortes

We went to the boat this morning to meet up with our electrical guy, Brent Richards.  Our old Raymarine chart plotter died so we have had a new system installed.  It is very impressive.  Our old system would just show charts and your location on them.  This new Simrad has tides, currents, detailed information and photos of harbors and marinas and probably makes coffee. We can also send and receive AIS now.

AIS is a maritime navigation safety communications system that provides vessel information, including the vessel's identity, type, size, position, course, speed, navigational status and other safety-related information automatically to appropriately equipped shore stations, other ships, and aircraft. Our friends and family will now be able to track us via computer.

AIS can read signals from a vessel anywhere within range.  Even when they are hidden behind a land mass.  Radar can only see unobstructed objects.

 We left the boat so that the carpets could get cleaned and went over to the Swinomish Casino.  We usually fill-up on fuel there because it is cheaper than in town.  I usually take a $20 bill and try my luck at the slot machines.   I got lucky on the second slot machine but I was surprised to see how lucky.  I started on a penny machine but the second one a nickel machine.  I am playing away and I won a couple jackpots.  I played a little more when it looked like I was down to $40 I went to cash out.  Well, the lady says "would you like large bills"?  Huh??  I forgot I was on a nickel machine and walked away with $202.00!!  That is a big win in my book. Fred was pleased to announce that he played a $1 machine for $10 and had a return of $18.  Until of course I showed him my winnings...

The carpets look great and almost all of the electrical work is done.  The boat has been fueled, the hull waxed and a new bottom paint around the edges. 

It is Fred's turn to pick a place for dinner so we went to Bob's Chowder House.  http://www.bobschowderbar.com/  Everything here is delicious but Fred loves the clam chowder in a bread bowl.

  

Anacortes

The work started in earnest on Saturday morning.  It took awhile but we finally got the car emptied.  There is always a lot to do to get ready for the cruising season.  Fred is taking care of the mechanical side of things and I am looking at supplies and making our shopping lists for Costco & Safeway.  This boatyard, North Harbor Diesel, is wonderful.  http://www.northharbordiesel.com/  We used to go out and find individuals for each service we needed prior to cruising.  This yard does it all.  They even have fuel delivered.  What a treat to have things so simple.  Of course it isn't free.  Today we removed the dinghy onto a forklift to have it serviced.  Tomorrow its clean the carpets and get fueled.  We hope to be out of here by the end of the week. 

We went out to an early dinner to the Fidalgo Drive-In.  They actually have drive-up stalls where the meal can be ordered from the car and the food is delivered to the car.  No one on roller skates though.  They have delicious burgers and also serve Ivar's clam chowder. 

Day 2 Sutherlin, OR to Anacortes, WA 420 miles

After an amazing hot breakfast at the hotel we got in line at Dutch Brothers Coffee for a latte for the road.  Today's ride is much more urban and not quite as nice as yesterday.  We run through periods of sun, clouds and pouring rain.  At least we are out of the 80's and 90's.  Fred is comfortable being the pilot in command while I sit with Merlin on my lap.  We head for another one of our favorite places for lunch in Washington.  A little diner in Castle Rock called C & L Burgers and Expresso.  I love the patty melt and the milkshakes are awesome (this army travels on it's stomach).

Now the traveling gets brutal.  Why do we do this on a Friday afternoon??  From Portland on it has been busy but by the time we reach Sea-Tac Airport we are moving at a crawl.  And this is even with an HOV lane.  Fred remembered a Rest Stop before we get close to Anacortes that has a magnificent big red cedar stump.  http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMAMD  We needed the pit stop before fighting our way into Anacortes.  The traffic doesn't pick up until after Mount Vernon.   Fred called North Harbor Diesel to check on Emerald Star.  There has been a mix-up and the boat is still in the storage shed.  Yikes!  Dianna there stepped up as usual.  The boat was out on blocks in the work yard by the time we swung by to take a look at 5:30 PM.   A couple days ago I made reservations at the San Juan Motel in Anacortes.  It is inexpensive but well located.  Trawler Fest is going on so hotel rooms are tight.  We were both a little frazzled by the long day on the road so we were thrilled to finally make it to the motel.  Well...  Where do I begin.  Location, good.  The woman behind the counter was surly and informed me that if my dog was noisy we would have to leave.  Merlin is an awesome traveler.  One of the reasons we have a small dog (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) is to keep him with us and well socialized.  You do not criticize my Merlin.  I guess this is only something animal lovers understand.  We schlepped our stuff up to a second floor room (no elevator) and were quite stunned by the room.  I wanted to cry.  The layout was quite good.  Two separate bedrooms separated by a kitchenette.  No dishes, glasses or silverware and half the lights had bare light bulbs without shades.  The queen beds were hard and broken down and we couldn't imagine staying in a place like this, even for $66/night.

 I made a couple phone calls and schlepped the stuff back down to the car.  I told Ms. Surly Lady that this was not a good fit and we were checking out again.  We are now settled into the Fidalgo Country Inn.  http://www.fidalgocountryinn.com/ It is a little out of town but includes breakfast and is quite nice. 

Day 1 Walnut Creek, CA to Sutherlin, OR 450 miles

We got out of the house at 9:30 and hit the road north toward Emerald Star.  The weather has been brutally hot at home and we are looking forward to the more temperate climate in Oregon & Washington.  Fred has said, we could not possibly fit a toothpick into the car.  We have outdone ourselves.  Every year we swear this won't happen, but it does.

The ride today was quite beautiful but OMG the number of trucks.  We stopped at the Black Bear Diner in Redding for a yummy lunch but kept up a brisk pace.  We arrived at out hotel, Best Western Plus Hartford Lodge in Sutherlin, OR, at 5:30 PM. http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/OR/Sutherlin-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-Plus-Hartford-Lodge/Hotel We have stayed her many times and it is by far the nicest BW we have ever seen.  We ordered a delicious Greek Vegetarian pizza from Abby's Pizza and then relaxed for another day of driving tomorrow to get to our final destination.  

Saturday. May 14

The chaos is beginning as I put things out to be loaded in the car and Fred says "don't we have three of those on the boat already!".  And I say "but these are new and we really need them".  We hope to be out of here next week some time.   Why do I let things wait until the last minute every year? 

We can hardly wait to be on the road and say hello to our beloved Emerald Star again.