We decided late last winter (when it was cold and wet, looking a lot like Southeast Alaska in the summer) that we didn’t need to go to Alaska every summer. What to do? Where to go? Did it matter? Not to Greywolf: Leave Eagle Harbor and TURN LEFT.
We planned to leave right after Memorial Day, but part of our out exhaust system became exhausted, so we postponed, awaiting repairs.
In late May, our long-time friend Robert Brown had a sudden decline on his journey with Alzheimer's disease. Robert was always one to make things happen. Focused and energetic, incredibly loving and generous, he was able to use this decline as an opportunity to shorten his experience with Alzheimer’s. We left for the San Juan’s, June 15th, the day after the celebration of Robert’s wonderful life.
 |
Doug and Robert, in the mid-’70’s on Wind’s Call, our 26 foot Westerly Centaur.
We’re taking his spirit with us!
|
Another friend from our days as puppies traveled to the Northwest from Florida for Robert’s celebration; we took Etta with us for a few days in the San Juans High wind warnings (the gales never materialized) made our journey convoluted, but no one cared. We were once again living together in a small fiberglass space on the water (different dog and no small child), enjoying each others’ company and whatever scenery coasted by.
Since we were only going to Port Townsend the first day, we decided to forgo our usual o’dark hundred departure. Leaving Winslow Wharf at the civilized hour of 9AM, we were faced with not one, but two, ferries in Eagle Harbor. Apparently the Sealth had been in the maintenance yard for …. maintenance.
Greywolf followed the empty ferry out into Puget Sound, turning left at the marker. The Sealth turned right, headed to Fauntleroy to make money to pay her yard bill.
The day brought more unusual encounters (none of them close) with ships and Huge Floating Contraptions.
North of Point Monroe, the Polar Pioneer, her tugs, and the Coast Guard
seemed to be taking a break from their journey north to Dutch Harbor.
Only three kayaks and one small support boat maneuvered, maintaining the
proscribed legal distance from the oil drilling rig.
As Greywolf (40 feet) headed north at 6.9 knots, the Caesar Chavez ( 689 feet)
steamed past us at 19 knots. We don’t often see Military Sealift Command ships on our travels in Admiralty Inlet.
We also don’t hear them call the Coast Guard. The Caesar Chavez had lost her steering. The skipper would take her to the waters west of the shipping lanes, using their manual steering gear, to try to facilitate a repair. Greywolf was directly in her path.
We steered for her ample stern and the Caesar Chavez passed in front of us at a much reduced speed. A short time later, she steamed past us again, headed south to Everett, according to her VHF radio transmission with the Coast Guard. We’re not the only ones incapable of solving mechanical causalities at sea.
Having both of our laptops in use while underway was an anomaly, but I was struck
by the changes since Etta cruised with us n the ’70’s.
....including the Wells Gray After a few years in Sitka, she and her skipper, Albert Manchester, are back in the northwest, a much friendlier environment for a wooded boat.
Doug and Albert in Sitka, 2012.
On the way back to the boat after a hot walk into town, we dined on wonderfully greasy fish and chips at a fine establishment with equally fine decor. The waitress’s personalities at C J’s Cafe always compliment the meal. They have fun and so did we.
An elegant solution to a non-functioning stern light.
We should have been so clever.
Early morning dog walkies.
Gales were predicted in the Straits for the next 3 days. Greywolf said she
was fine with that. The skipper and crew told her she was going to back-track.
Fine. Be that way.
Red Bluff is our neighbor at the dock directly behind us in Eagle Harbor. Here she is working in the Swinomish Channel.
These ladies in Anacortes were happy to welcome a visitor from Florida.
From Anacortes, Greywolf finally headed for the San Juans
with Mt. Baker keeping watch over the boat traffic.
On Stuart Island, we found peaceful vistas and steep trails.
Allie found a stick.
Cowabunga, a sister ship, followed Greywolf out of Prevost Harbor,
both little ships headed for Friday Harbor.
Greywolf’s galley has more conveniences than Wind’s Call’s,
but the chores are still the same.
Etta and I took the ferry back to Anacortes where my sister and brother-in-law picked her up to continue her visit with more northwest friends. And where they could hand off the Allie flea meds I had forgotten to order. It takes a village....
No comments:
Post a Comment