Winter Update

It's been awhile since we've graced the web with any sailing stories. Many people have asked how we've faired through the moody weather. We are okay. As many of you have seen, there have been multiple storms in the Northwest this winter. The first storm knocked our boat around a bit, breaking our bow line and slamming our boat against the dock. We've replaced all lines and retied everything multiple times. Other than a few birds seeking refuge on deck, we have been "normal". We've had water and power almost all season, our new heater is warmer and the boat is dry! Our new slip has proved to be much nicer as we pull on our moorings instead of swaying around violently.

More posts to follow. During these cold months the news may be far in between.

Thank you for peeking in.

Holiday Soiree

The Christmas Boat Parade was last weekend! Thank you all who came. Such fun!

Terry and Brooklyn with Whisper

Watching the boats come in

The WINNER!

New Slip

We moved just a few doors down but now we have a nice dock box and a downwind slip! Winter may just be a little nicer this year.

A "Crappy" Job

Many online forums for Hunter Sailboats report holding tank issues. The aluminum is weak and untrustworthy and many people report problems with the tanks as well as the lines into the head. We decided  not to wait until it broke and replace ours. After replacing lines, adding a few gadgets,and a few disgusting spills we have a new holding tank which is 5 gallons more than the old one! So far no major leaks...lets hope it stays that way. 

new holding tank

The new meter that will tell us how much waste and fresh water we have aboard!

Whisper from the Air

At least once a year someone must climb the mast, do a good inspection and change any burned out lights. On our boat that means me, Nicole. As scary as it is to be dangling from a line swaying back and forth atop a fiberglass giant and a potentially painful landing,  the view is simply breathtaking!

Our neighborhood

Climbing Frenchman Coulee

We took a semi-annual climbing trip with Travis and Laura over Labor Day. The goal was to climb the Icicle Canyon in Leavenworth but alas it was full so we made an impromptu plan B and headed to the desert.

Frenchman Coulee is in the smack dab middle of Washington near the famous "Gorge". Climbing is much easier on the basalt rather than the crystal granite of Icicle Canyon. We will definitely climb here again!

Orcas Island

Once again we ventured to the San Juans, this time to Orcas Island. Our goal was to make it to Doe Bay by sun down the first day. Doe Bay is a rocky shored little retreat on the far east side of the Island. It is home to a quirky little resort where most food is grown on site and the grounds are a web of trails leading to various yurts, cabins, tent sites and relaxation areas. A native of the area informed us of a thick fog that often covers the local region and surely he was right as we found ourselves fogged in the entire morning. After a delicious breakfast at the local organic cafe, we left in search of brighter weather.

About 8 nautical miles northwest is Eastsound, Orcas Island which was sunny and much more lively. It is worth noting, Fishing Bay was difficult to anchor in and has a very sandy bottom. There are also NO public moorings, only a public dock available for recreational use. Overall, our stay in Eastsound was pleasant. The town is artsy, inviting, expensive and entertaining, plus we caught a bioluminescent show at night thanks to the red tide.

Doe Bay Coordinates:

 48° 38' 28" N 122° 46' 51" W

Eastsound Coordinates: 48°41′48″N 122°54′15″W

Doe Bay Beach

Games at Anchor!

Eastsound, Orcas Island visitors dock

Jackpot! We found a restaurant broadcasting the Seahawks vs. Broncos game!

Old school anchor

Coming home...

Cone Islands

Directly off the coast of Cypress there lie a small group of rocky islands named The Cone Islands. We noticed the little rocky retreats are beaming with life including underwater reefs, seals, and dolphins.

There appeared to be no safe place around the islands to anchor so sailors must moor at Sinclair or Cypress and use smaller vessels to explore.

 

Cypress Island

In our quest to continue exploring the San Juan Islands, we headed out for an overnight trip to Cypress. The island is in the Salish Sea off the coast of Washington and is only 8.5 square miles in size. Like some of the other islands we've visited, Cypress is partially a state park and is covered in trails leading to obscure lakes and hidden coves. In our opinion, a fantastic place to explore!

Coordinates: 48°34′28″N 122°42′16″W

The view on the way. This shot is between Gomez and Sinclair.

Eagle Harbor- 14 mooring buoys available

Mozart and candle light!

Duck Lake