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Monday, October 26, 2014 – She is for sale

By on October 26, 2014 in Serenity

We finally got all our stuff out of cupboards and hiding places and off the boat.  What a job!  Anyway, Serenity is now ready for some lucky person.  We have so loved her!  We are going to try to market her ourselves since we are not really in a hurry.  We are posting the full specs on NordhavnFSBO.com and lots of photos here.  If anyone knows someone who might be interested, have them call Earl (360-333-1546).

SALON

Storage under settee

















GALLEY
 


Combo Frig/Freezer with ice maker

PILOT HOUSE

Pilot Berth

Chart Drawer

GUEST STATEROOM & HEAD

Pipe berth stowed above bed
Swing out seat

 MASTER STATEROOM AND HEAD

ENGINE ROOM
OOPS!  I FORGOT!  I’ll GET PHOTOS NEXT TIME I AM AT THE BOAT

LAZARETTE
DITTO

SWIMSTEP

Great for landing fish
Watching fish in the blue lights

Sea of Cortez fish

BOAT DECK

Earl’s “Pavilion”

Plenty of room to entertain
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Serenity was commissioned in the Spring of 2007 and has taken her original owners north to Alaska and south to Mexico. She is berthed in Anchortes, Washington and is available for inspection by appointment.  In keeping with her primary mission as a passage maker, she has no flybridge, keeping her wind profile low, a feature valued by her owners who have many years experience commercial fishing in Alaska.  She has been beautiful maintained and is completely ready to take her new owners wherever they may wish to go. 
She is outfitted with many features that make her perfect for cruising couple.  She is one of the few 43s with an extended swim step complete with staples for ease of loading or unloading a tender or kayak.  In addition to Trac stabilizers – which allow you to leave items on the counter without fear – she has a flopper stopper for anchoring.  She has a water maker, extra batteries, and LED lights. The boat deck is equipped with a unique sun shade and dingy rack that swings out of the way, making the boat deck an additional entertainment area.  The deployment of the dingy is done using a Steelhead crane and does not require removal of the sun shade.  
The boat has been continually upgraded and preventive maintenance performed.  For example, just over the past year, the owners have replaced the stabilizer pistons, the water maker membranes, the carpets, upgraded the alternator to 165 amps, replaced the master head with upgraded dometic model, painted the bottom and replaced zincs. 
DETAIL SPECS
INTERIOR TOUR OF THE BOAT
The interior is teak through out with teak and spruce sole.  The custom non-skid area rugs through out were replaced in May 2014.  The upholstery in the salon and pilothouse was upgraded to ‘ultraleather ‘ (color eucalyptus) and all counters in the galley and heads are granite.  All windows and doors have screening.  Most of the interior lights have been replaced with LEDs.  Extra railings have been installed on the stairways and overhead in the salon and pilothouse for safety.  Both staterooms have custom mattresses and Dometic fresh water flush electric heads. 
Salon and Galley
The Salon and Galley share the same space making it easy to prepare and serve food and refreshments.  There is a settee on the port side and an L shaped settee on the starboard side.  Under and behind the settees, there is generous storage.  The teak table in front of the settee is equipped with a slide that facilitates use of the storage and seating. High end accordion style shades provide light control and privacy.
The “U” shaped Galley is forward on the port side.  It has lots of storage, a Force Ten 3 burner propane stove/oven, a trash compactor, microwave, double stainless sink, under counter sub zero refrigerator, a combination sub zero refrigerator/freezer with ice maker and a 5 cubic foot top loading freezer.
A Splendide washer dryer combo is located on the port side of the Pilot House
Pilothouse and Navigation Electronics Equipment
Aft is a pilot berth with raised bench seat and teak table forward. There is a full-sized chart storage locker located under the footrest step. There are waterproof dutch doors on port and starboard sides leading to side decks.  In lieu of a captain’s chair, this experienced owner opted to drive from the bench seat using the remote control autopilot.  This creates space for easy flow through the Pilot House. All AC and DC panels are in the console. There is a replacement panel for the instrument cluster.  Full engine and navigation controls include:
Furuno NAVNET package including:
·      ·       Autopilot (NAVpilot-511)
·      ·       Autopilot Remote Contol (NAVpilot -520)
·      ·       Dual Displays (NavnetVX2) cmaps
·      ·       CMap cartridge for West Coast including Mexico, Canada and Alaska
·      ·       Radar
·      ·       Color Video Plotter
·      ·       Video Sounder
·      ·       AIS receiver
·      ·       GPS Receiver (GP-320B)
Other items include:
·      ·       GPS WA-AS Navigtaor (GP-32)
·      ·       Furuno RD-30 Depth Sounder, Temperature etc
·      ·       Sirius Weather Module
·      ·       Iridium Sat phone
·      ·       Village Marine Water Maker
·      ·       Icom sideband receiver
·      ·       Icom 504 VHF
·      ·       Icom Waterproof handheld
·      ·       Ritchie Compass
Master Stateroom and Ensuite Head and Shower
On the starboard side of the Pilothouse is a circular staircase leading to the Staterooms and Engine Room. On the starboard side of this staircase is a small hanging closet and a drop-in storage area.  Down and aft is the large Master Stateroom with walk-around athwartship berth to port, night stands with drawers on both sides and storage underneath. There are three hanging lockers and a shelf behind the headboard with two opening portholes.
To starboard is the large master Head and separate shower stall. There are two Tank Watches in the Head-one for grey water and one for holding tank- and a water tank level meter.
Aft of the MSR is a watertight, sound dampening bulkhead door to engine room.
Guest Stateroom and Head
Forward of the staircase and in the bow is the Guest Stateroom with double berth to port and a desk with swing out seat to starboard.  Storage incudes a hanging locker, night stand with two drawers, two file drawers in cabinetry under berth, shelf at side of berth, shelves at desk, and overhead opening cabinetry at berth and over desk.  There is one porthole above the desk and one overhead opening hatch with screen.
Folded into a storage space on the port wall, is a pipe berth that can be hung over the berth. 
Forward is the Head with separate shower. .  There is one opening hatch with screen.  There are two waterproof storage cabinets in the shower as well four teak cabinets for more storage in the Head.
EXTERIOR TOUR OF THE BOAT
Swimstep, Cockpit and Lazarette
Serenity has been upgraded with a generous extended swimstep complete with moveable staples that has totally changed the functionality of this area for getting on and off tenders, kayaks, and paddle boards as well as for fishing and swimming.  At night blue underwater lights provide a splendid show, especially in clear water.
The Cockpit has high freeboard and overhead protection.  A mesh sunscreen can be hung from the boat deck to provide additional shade if needed.  A custom stainless steel coat rack provide a handy place for raingear or swimsuits.  Doors lead to the dock off each side and to the swimstep in the stern. There is hot and cold water for showers, a fresh water washdown and storage.  Large LED lights provide excellent security. Access to the large lazarette is from the cockpit. 
The lazarette houses the inverter, water maker, hot water tank, pressure water pump and batteries but still has generous room for other storage.  The inverter was upgraded to 3000 watt Magnum model.  The house battery bank was increased to 1200 AMP hour AGM batteries and all were replaced in 2012.  The water maker is a 400 gpd Village Marine. The membranes were replaced in 2014.
There’s plenty of room in the cockpit for a couple of chairs and table to enjoy the early morning sunrise coffee or the evening sunset cocktails!
Boat Deck
The boat deck is accessed on the starboard side and features a dry stack, a Steelhead 1000 lb crane,.  Flexlboat SR- 10 foot dingy with a 15 hp Honda motor, wheels. anchor line and sunbrella cover, and unique sunshade support and dingy cradle.  The sunshade support accommodates a large cover, and the dingy cradle swings out of the way so as to clear the entire boat deck for group activities.  The dingy can be deployed without removing the sunshade. There are two stainless steel dock fender holders on the port side and on each side there are kayak/paddle board supports.  A Forespar boom on the port side can be deployed to support a flopper stopper when the anchorage is rolly.  There is a ladder giving access to the top of the pilot house which is completed with a 15 inch high rail on three side and a 6 person life raft. 
Foredeck and Portugese Bridge
Access to the foredeck is on the starboard side through the Portugese bridge.  There is ample room to set up a chair and enjoy the ride from outside.  The autopilot remote reaches far enough that the skipper can enjoy this spot
·      •    SS Railing
·      •    (2) open hatches to guest head and stateroom
·      •    (2 )custom stainless steel fender holders
·      •    (2) Built-in Storage Boxes
·      •    105 pound CQR anchor
·      •    Fresh water wash down
·      •    Double bow roller on pulpit
·      •    Maxwell 12v 3500 lb windlass
Engine Room – Mechanical
·      •    Single Lugger 668 diesel – 3900 engine hours equipped with a 3.9 ZF reduction gear
·      •    Dry exhaust with keel cooler
·      •    American Bow Thruster (TRAC) 220 stabilizing system – keel cooled
·      •    12 KW / 50 Hz Northern Lights Generator with sound enclosure and gen separator muffler
·      •    Cruisair AC system (15k + 15k + 15k) SMX controls
·      •    8 HP Bow Thruster 12v
·      •    Engine room fire suppression with auto engine, generator and blower shutdowns. Manual pull cable.
·      •    Lazarette fire suppression system with manual pull cable
·      •    Reverso oil change pump – main/genset/and gethome
·      •    Yanmar Wing Engine 3YM30V with 10-gallon day tank and fuel transfer system
·      •    2-blade Martec folding prop for wing engine
·      •    Handrail around main engine  
Deck and Hull Equipment
·      •    Flopper stabilizer
·      •    Maxwell 12v 3500 windlass with bow, and pilot house controls
·      •    CQR 106 pound anchor
·      •    400’ 3/8” Hi Test chain
·      •    Delta 55 pound with chain and rode
·      •    Crewsaver 6 person life raft
·      •    Spurs line cutter on main shaft
·      •    Chain stopper
·      •    Sumbrella covers – windows, hatches, and dingy,
·      •    Guest “Beamer” spotlight with controls in pilothouse
·      •    1,000 watt halogen flood light
·      •    20,000 lumen LED flood and spot light
·      •    Port side exterior SS hand rail
·      •    Complete set of dock lines and fenders
·      •    Scandvik hot and cold shower in cockpit
·      •    Fresh water wash down fore and aft
·      •    Bottom was painted April 2014 (2 coats)
·      •    Zincs replaced April 2014
·      •    Stainless rod holders
·      •    Fish rod ceiling storage rack
·      •    Retractable screen door for salon
·      •    Spare propeller for main
·      •    400 feet ¾ inch extra line in lazarette
·      •    Handheld spot
·      •    All navigation lights are LEDs
·      •    Epirb
Dimensions
LOA: 44 ft 6 in
Beam: 14 ft 10 in
Maximum Draft: 4 ft 11 in
Displacement: 54540 lbs
Engine 1:
Engine Brand: Lugger
Engine Model: 668
Engine/Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine Power: 105 HP
Engine 2: (get-home)
Engine Brand: Yanmar
Engine Power: 30 HP
Tanks
Fresh Water Tanks: (300 Gallons)
Fuel Tanks: Fiberglass (1200 Gallons)
Holding Tanks: (50 Gallons)
Accommodations
Number of cabins: 2
Number of heads: 2

Monday, October 26, 2014 – She is for sale

By on October 26, 2014 in Serenity

We finally got all our stuff out of cupboards and hiding places and off the boat.  What a job!  Anyway, Serenity is now ready for some lucky person.  We have so loved her!  We are going to try to market her ourselves since we are no…

Thursday, October 16, 2014 LaConner Washington

By on October 16, 2014 in Serenity

Friday, September 5, 2014 – underway from Anacortes to Vancouver BC
It feels good to be back on Serenity again.  She has spent the last two months in covered moorage with little company.  Earl found someone to wash her while she sat there.  It was a job to rival Fito’s in Mexico, for not quite twice as much, which is still not at all bad considering the work involved.
We are having a beautiful trip to Vancouver.  We plan on overnighting in Coal Harbor.  Depending on what we need to dispose of at customs, we will need to add to our stores, before leaving the dock with our dear friends John and Maria Luisa who are in Vancouver visiting John’s son Peter.  We are looking to showing off the Coast of British Columbia to these friends from Mexico.
The US gillnet fleet is out in force.  “Pushing the line” here means the international border.  They have apparently not had a good season with most of the salmon entering Puget Sound from the north.  The BC fleet is not fishing today.  We are seeing lots of salmon jumping and I can’t help thinking of the thrill of setting out the net and seeing it light up with splashing fish.  Those were some of the most memorable times of our gillnetting in Cook Inlet and I feel quite nostalgic!
Vancouver is a beautiful city
Thursday, September 11, 2014 – Returning from Vancouver BC to Anacortes
After a lovely trip up the coast, we pulled into Coal Harbor Marina about 7 pm on Friday.  This is a beautifully located marina, right in a downtown area near some big hotels and the cruise ship marina.  My only complaint was the absence of WiFi at the docks.  It was available at the office, but that is not the same. 
The next morning we went to look at a new boat, a 38 foot Sabre Express. Knowing that our long range cruising is now behind us, we are looking for something that might be better suited to shorter trips around Puget Sound.  Earl loved it. 
Around noon, our friends John and Maria Luisa togerther with John’s son Peter and his wife Miriam and children Kevin and Kerstin arrived for a luncheon cruise.  Kevin and Kerstin are delightful children.  They moved up from Mexico two years ago and are thoroughly acclimated and doing beautifully in school.  Kevin was the number 1 student in his class.
 
Kevin, Miriam, Peter and Kerstin

We cruised inland, up Indian Arm and found a place to anchor.  Being a Saturday and very much in the Vancouver area, it was relatively crowded, but Peter and family loved being out on the boat and we had a pleasant hamburger lunch.  We returned to Coal Harbor in late afternoon and said goodbye to Peter and his family.
The next morning, we made an early start to head north to Princess Louisa Inlet.  We were anxious to show John and Maria Luisa some of this beautiful country and have them experience our Trac stabilizers.  Maria Luisa who is not an adventurous boater was thrilled with the stabilized ride and they are looking forward to installing stabilizers on the Viking Spirit when they return to Mexico.  
Beautiful BC
 
It doesn’t get much better than this

There are few things as fulfilling as showing off an area you love to someone who has not seen it before.  It makes you realize how very special something you have started to take for granted is.  We could not have had lovelier day and made good time to our anchorage at McMurray Bay in Prince of Wales Inlet.  It is a marginal anchorage with only a small shelf on which to put your anchor.  It took us a couple a tries to get a secure hold.
Everyone was enjoying the warm weather
The next morning we were up early to be sure to get to the inlet to Princess Louisa in time for the tide at Malibu rapids.  John had never been through tidal rapids before and was very apprehensive.  It is quite something to see a boiling stretch of water come to a halt.  It was for us an uneventful passage into Princess Louisa.  Although it was late summer and there had been little rain, there were still water falls.  We motored up to Chatterbox Falls where we found two other Nordhavns and a couple of other boats and spent a wonderful day enjoy the peace of the special place.  For the entire cruise we were blessed unseasonably warm weather – over 80 – and we loved it.

 
Slack water at Malibu Rapids

chatterbox Falls


Making use of Earl’s ‘Pavillion” – lunch on the boat deck  
Dawn on Tuesday we were up and waiting for the tide at the Malibu Rapids.  Once again, John was anxious, but, once again, it was needless.  We cruised pleasantly down to Smuggler Cove, a delightful hidden anchorage where we spent a lazy afternoon and pleasant evening. 
 
Smugglers Cove afternoon

 
Smuggler Cove sunset


 
Northwest Light House

From Smuggler it was a short trip back to Coal Harbor and another look at the Sabre Express.  I don’t know how happy I would be to trade Serenity’s fuel consumption of less than 1.5 gallons per hour for something that takes 4 or 5 times as much.
With promises to see them in early 2015 in Mexico, we said goodbye to Maria Luisa and John and left early on Thursday September 11th for the return trip to Anacortes.  This time the Canadian commercial fleet was out in front of the Frazer and we watched as they hauled in the salmon as we made our way south.  It was a speedy trip as we had the tide with us and we were all tied up in by mid afternoon.
 
Catching salmon


It has been quite a month since our cruise to Princess Louisa.  We spent the next few days watching in horror as hurricane Odile slammed into Baja and devastated our beloved La Paz. The boats anchored out were heavily hit and three cruisers drowned.  We are in sorrow for the lovely people that we lived among for five winters. 
We also made the big decision to sell our beloved Serenity.  We have spent the last month emptying her.  I have come to realize that it is always low tide when I have a cartload of stuff to take up to the car.  As we unloaded her, I was reminded by how much storage there is on a Nordhavn 43 and horrified at just how much we had accumulated in the time we had used her as a second home.  Our garage is now stuffed and we have a job ahead of us to sort through all of it.
We will be trying to sell her ourselves using NordhavnFSBO.  We are waiting for a sunny day to take some photos of her interior and I have the task of putting together the list of her equipment etc to list her.  It will be a bittersweet day when we turn the keys over to someone else.

Thursday, October 16, 2014 LaConner Washington

By on October 16, 2014 in Serenity

Friday, September 5, 2014 – underway from Anacortes to Vancouver BC
It feels good to be back on Serenity again.  She has spent the last two months in covered moorage with little company.  Earl found someone to wash her while she sat there.  It was a job to rival Fito’s in Mexico, for not quite twice as much, which is still not at all bad considering the work involved.
We are having a beautiful trip to Vancouver.  We plan on overnighting in Coal Harbor.  Depending on what we need to dispose of at customs, we will need to add to our stores, before leaving the dock with our dear friends John and Maria Luisa who are in Vancouver visiting John’s son Peter.  We are looking to showing off the Coast of British Columbia to these friends from Mexico.
The US gillnet fleet is out in force.  “Pushing the line” here means the international border.  They have apparently not had a good season with most of the salmon entering Puget Sound from the north.  The BC fleet is not fishing today.  We are seeing lots of salmon jumping and I can’t help thinking of the thrill of setting out the net and seeing it light up with splashing fish.  Those were some of the most memorable times of our gillnetting in Cook Inlet and I feel quite nostalgic!
Vancouver is a beautiful city
Thursday, September 11, 2014 – Returning from Vancouver BC to Anacortes
After a lovely trip up the coast, we pulled into Coal Harbor Marina about 7 pm on Friday.  This is a beautifully located marina, right in a downtown area near some big hotels and the cruise ship marina.  My only complaint was the absence of WiFi at the docks.  It was available at the office, but that is not the same. 
The next morning we went to look at a new boat, a 38 foot Sabre Express. Knowing that our long range cruising is now behind us, we are looking for something that might be better suited to shorter trips around Puget Sound.  Earl loved it. 
Around noon, our friends John and Maria Luisa togerther with John’s son Peter and his wife Miriam and children Kevin and Kerstin arrived for a luncheon cruise.  Kevin and Kerstin are delightful children.  They moved up from Mexico two years ago and are thoroughly acclimated and doing beautifully in school.  Kevin was the number 1 student in his class.
 
Kevin, Miriam, Peter and Kerstin

We cruised inland, up Indian Arm and found a place to anchor.  Being a Saturday and very much in the Vancouver area, it was relatively crowded, but Peter and family loved being out on the boat and we had a pleasant hamburger lunch.  We returned to Coal Harbor in late afternoon and said goodbye to Peter and his family.
The next morning, we made an early start to head north to Princess Louisa Inlet.  We were anxious to show John and Maria Luisa some of this beautiful country and have them experience our Trac stabilizers.  Maria Luisa who is not an adventurous boater was thrilled with the stabilized ride and they are looking forward to installing stabilizers on the Viking Spirit when they return to Mexico.  
Beautiful BC
 
It doesn’t get much better than this

There are few things as fulfilling as showing off an area you love to someone who has not seen it before.  It makes you realize how very special something you have started to take for granted is.  We could not have had lovelier day and made good time to our anchorage at McMurray Bay in Prince of Wales Inlet.  It is a marginal anchorage with only a small shelf on which to put your anchor.  It took us a couple a tries to get a secure hold.
Everyone was enjoying the warm weather
The next morning we were up early to be sure to get to the inlet to Princess Louisa in time for the tide at Malibu rapids.  John had never been through tidal rapids before and was very apprehensive.  It is quite something to see a boiling stretch of water come to a halt.  It was for us an uneventful passage into Princess Louisa.  Although it was late summer and there had been little rain, there were still water falls.  We motored up to Chatterbox Falls where we found two other Nordhavns and a couple of other boats and spent a wonderful day enjoy the peace of the special place.  For the entire cruise we were blessed unseasonably warm weather – over 80 – and we loved it.

 
Slack water at Malibu Rapids

chatterbox Falls


Making use of Earl’s ‘Pavillion” – lunch on the boat deck  
Dawn on Tuesday we were up and waiting for the tide at the Malibu Rapids.  Once again, John was anxious, but, once again, it was needless.  We cruised pleasantly down to Smuggler Cove, a delightful hidden anchorage where we spent a lazy afternoon and pleasant evening. 
 
Smugglers Cove afternoon

 
Smuggler Cove sunset


 
Northwest Light House

From Smuggler it was a short trip back to Coal Harbor and another look at the Sabre Express.  I don’t know how happy I would be to trade Serenity’s fuel consumption of less than 1.5 gallons per hour for something that takes 4 or 5 times as much.
With promises to see them in early 2015 in Mexico, we said goodbye to Maria Luisa and John and left early on Thursday September 11th for the return trip to Anacortes.  This time the Canadian commercial fleet was out in front of the Frazer and we watched as they hauled in the salmon as we made our way south.  It was a speedy trip as we had the tide with us and we were all tied up in by mid afternoon.
 
Catching salmon


It has been quite a month since our cruise to Princess Louisa.  We spent the next few days watching in horror as hurricane Odile slammed into Baja and devastated our beloved La Paz. The boats anchored out were heavily hit and three cruisers drowned.  We are in sorrow for the lovely people that we lived among for five winters. 
We also made the big decision to sell our beloved Serenity.  We have spent the last month emptying her.  I have come to realize that it is always low tide when I have a cartload of stuff to take up to the car.  As we unloaded her, I was reminded by how much storage there is on a Nordhavn 43 and horrified at just how much we had accumulated in the time we had used her as a second home.  Our garage is now stuffed and we have a job ahead of us to sort through all of it.
We will be trying to sell her ourselves using NordhavnFSBO.  We are waiting for a sunny day to take some photos of her interior and I have the task of putting together the list of her equipment etc to list her.  It will be a bittersweet day when we turn the keys over to someone else.

Sunday, June 8, 2014 – Westport to Anacortes

By on June 10, 2014 in Serenity

Sunday June 8, 2014 – LaConner, Washington
Last Sunday afternoon we had a mini reunion for members of Earl’s high school class.  There were probably about 8, which is not bad considering that the class was only 23 members when it graduated over 60 years ago.  The weather turned out perfect and Earl hung the dingy over the side so that we could use the boat deck and pavilion.  It was a very pleasant time and I enjoyed putting faces to some of the names that I had heard over the years. 
The next morning was grey again.  We woke at 5, but hung around to 6:30 am, waiting to see trollers and charter boats starting out.  It was not the best timing for the tide on the bar and we wanted to make sure that others with more recent experience were on their way. 
It is quite a long trip from the harbor and out over the bar at Westport.  It seems like 45 minutes but it was probably less.  Until we got away from the effect of the rivers on the ocean, it was quite lumpy.  Once we did get further, it flattened out a bit, but then we were into crab pots, sometimes on each side.  Nevertheless, we stayed near shore to mitigate the swell. 

As in other places on our trip north, we passed some fabulous rock formations.  One of the most spectacular is called the Giants Graveyard. 
 
Giants Graveyard

We had planned to anchor in Strawberry Cove, right near La Push.  When we got in the area, around 4 pm, I pulled up the weather forecast and we decided we should keep going around Cape Flattery and into Puget Sound.  There were gale warnings for the west coast of Vancouver Island and the offshore weather was for swells of 12 feet at 9 seconds.  Near shore would be less, but still not nice, so once again, we continued on.  We rounded Tatoosh Island off the cape at around 9:30 pm and not too long after we were in the Straights of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. 
We pulled into Neah Bay and anchored around 11:30 – too late to drink champagne – but we felt that we had done it! 
The next morning we decided to head for the San Juans for the night, which would leave us a short run into Anacortes the next day.  The seas were essentially flat and we reveled in it!  As we passed Race Rocks outside of Victoria on the tip of Vancouver Island, the flood tide really showed itself and we found ourselves traveling at 9 mph.  WOW!  But that speed was bested when we entered the waters south of San Juan Island, a place called Cattle Pass.  We actually hit 10.5.  Glad we were going with it. 
 
Beautiful green Northwest
Tidal current at Race Rocks Lighthouse

We anchored around the corner of the pass next to San Juan Island.  It was beautiful, flat water and green hills,  and we really felt at home. 
Coming into an anchorage at San Juan Island
The next day, Wednesday June 4th, was a leisurely trip Anacortes.  We tucked Serenity into her new home under cover at Fidalgo Marina.  Much to our relief, the work Earl had done on the antennae was enough so that we had no problem getting her under cover.
 
Her new home – She misses the  sunshine

The trip from La Paz had taken us 8 weeks and we covered 2,344 miles.  We had encountered some great weather, some okay weather, and some really nasty weather, but through it all the Serenity behaved perfectly.  Earl kept saying that she was just like a duck, taking the swells as the came.  We were always confident in the ability of the boat to take whatever weather we encountered. 
On our trip,  we had taken 2 days for fishing for marlin, 3 days visiting San Jose, 3 days for weather in Turtle Bay, 5 days in Dana Point, 2 days for weather in LA, 5 days in Bodega Bay to visit family, 1 day in Fort Bragg for weather, and 5 days in Westport to visit with old friends.  Out of 56 days, 30 had been travel days, averaging 78 miles each.  No wonder we are weary!  My advice for anyone making this trip would be to set aside 4 months and make the most of it, stopping in San Francisco Bay and other places. 

Sunday, June 8, 2014 – Westport to Anacortes

By on June 10, 2014 in Serenity

Sunday June 8, 2014 – LaConner, Washington
Last Sunday afternoon we had a mini reunion for members of Earl’s high school class.  There were probably about 8, which is not bad considering that the class was only 23 members when it graduated over 60 years ago.  The weather turned out perfect and Earl hung the dingy over the side so that we could use the boat deck and pavilion.  It was a very pleasant time and I enjoyed putting faces to some of the names that I had heard over the years. 
The next morning was grey again.  We woke at 5, but hung around to 6:30 am, waiting to see trollers and charter boats starting out.  It was not the best timing for the tide on the bar and we wanted to make sure that others with more recent experience were on their way. 
It is quite a long trip from the harbor and out over the bar at Westport.  It seems like 45 minutes but it was probably less.  Until we got away from the effect of the rivers on the ocean, it was quite lumpy.  Once we did get further, it flattened out a bit, but then we were into crab pots, sometimes on each side.  Nevertheless, we stayed near shore to mitigate the swell. 

As in other places on our trip north, we passed some fabulous rock formations.  One of the most spectacular is called the Giants Graveyard. 
 
Giants Graveyard

We had planned to anchor in Strawberry Cove, right near La Push.  When we got in the area, around 4 pm, I pulled up the weather forecast and we decided we should keep going around Cape Flattery and into Puget Sound.  There were gale warnings for the west coast of Vancouver Island and the offshore weather was for swells of 12 feet at 9 seconds.  Near shore would be less, but still not nice, so once again, we continued on.  We rounded Tatoosh Island off the cape at around 9:30 pm and not too long after we were in the Straights of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. 
We pulled into Neah Bay and anchored around 11:30 – too late to drink champagne – but we felt that we had done it! 
The next morning we decided to head for the San Juans for the night, which would leave us a short run into Anacortes the next day.  The seas were essentially flat and we reveled in it!  As we passed Race Rocks outside of Victoria on the tip of Vancouver Island, the flood tide really showed itself and we found ourselves traveling at 9 mph.  WOW!  But that speed was bested when we entered the waters south of San Juan Island, a place called Cattle Pass.  We actually hit 10.5.  Glad we were going with it. 
 
Beautiful green Northwest
Tidal current at Race Rocks Lighthouse

We anchored around the corner of the pass next to San Juan Island.  It was beautiful, flat water and green hills,  and we really felt at home. 
Coming into an anchorage at San Juan Island
The next day, Wednesday June 4th, was a leisurely trip Anacortes.  We tucked Serenity into her new home under cover at Fidalgo Marina.  Much to our relief, the work Earl had done on the antennae was enough so that we had no problem getting her under cover.
 
Her new home – She misses the  sunshine

The trip from La Paz had taken us 8 weeks and we covered 2,344 miles.  We had encountered some great weather, some okay weather, and some really nasty weather, but through it all the Serenity behaved perfectly.  Earl kept saying that she was just like a duck, taking the swells as the came.  We were always confident in the ability of the boat to take whatever weather we encountered. 
On our trip,  we had taken 2 days for fishing for marlin, 3 days visiting San Jose, 3 days for weather in Turtle Bay, 5 days in Dana Point, 2 days for weather in LA, 5 days in Bodega Bay to visit family, 1 day in Fort Bragg for weather, and 5 days in Westport to visit with old friends.  Out of 56 days, 30 had been travel days, averaging 78 miles each.  No wonder we are weary!  My advice for anyone making this trip would be to set aside 4 months and make the most of it, stopping in San Francisco Bay and other places. 

Saturday May 31, 2014 – Port Orford, Oregon to Westport Wa.

By on May 31, 2014 in Serenity

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 – Underway from Newport Oregon
Port Orford proved to be a great moorage.  Because we had stopped at noon on the 24th, we felt like we had a holiday.  By 6 am on Sunday the 25twe were off and heading north to Coos Bay. 
It was glassy leaving Port Orford and we ran close enough to the shore to see the almost endless display of offshore rocks that seems to characterize this part of the coast.  Many of these are named. While some, like Pillar Rock, NW Rock, Haystack Rock are obvious, others, like Fox Rock must have really stories.  
 
Pt Orford reef Oregon coast

The seas were so pleasant that we decided bypass Coos Bay and instead go into the little harbor of Winchester Bay at the outlet of the Umpqua River.  Although in bad weather this bar has a nasty reputation, we had no worries given our weather and going the extra distance would split the trip to Newport into two more equal portions.  A stop at Coos Bay would would have been about an 8 hour day and would leave us with a 14 hour day following to get into Newport.  By going on to Winchester Bay, we broke the trip into two more reasonable days.
Typical NW lighthouse
Winchester Bay is served by the Salmon Marina.  We called the telephone number in the cruising guide and got a recorded message telling us that the office hours were 8 to 5, Monday through Friday.  It being Sunday, that was not helpful.  I finally pushed the button for the “emergency operator” as distinguished from 911, and was connected to a lovely young lady.  I explained that we wanted to tie up that night around 6 with a 6 am departure and would not be there during office hours.  The operator finally put me through to Heidi who manages the RV park.  Heidi was very helpful and radioed Ralph, who radioed Steve, who finally explained we could use the after hours dock by the Coast Guard Station and leave $15 in the box at the head of the dock. 
For me, this marina was a real return to the Northwest.  It is a large marina, but nowhere near full and mostly populated by fishing boats displaying varing degrees of prosperity.  Many were the little classic wooden trawlers.  One was an old Tolly, literally covered with vegetation. One might have thought the fern glimpsed through the window was a house plant had it not been for the ferns growing through various portions of the exterior.  For $15 dollars we were  snug and slept very well.
For Earl, the Umpqua held old memories.  One of his jobs with the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration in the early 60’s involved lots of sampling at the mouth of this river.

The next day was Memorial Day and as we neared Newport late in the afternoon we were treated to the sight of two multimasted wooden boats.  Once was the Lady Washington who we have seen before.  I never did get the name of the other. They were apparently engaged in a mock battle because we could hear cannons.  Both boats carried passengers, apparently in period costumes,  and as they rocked around we wondered it any of them were not sea sick.  It was fun.
Memorial Day seabattle in front of Newport OR
Newport is huge harbor with multiple marinas.   We opted to anchor out.  Earl says we are too cheap to pay, but the truth is that it is much less work to anchor than to pull out all the ropes and bumpers to tie up at a dock and then undo them early the next morning.  
Newport Or Coast Guard station
Our anchorage was just perfect.  We are apparently in the season when birds ‘do their thing”.  At Winchester, we saw gulls doing it.  (She did not seem impressed.)  In Newport we had a trio of pigeon guillemots.  They are a flashy bird, black with white winds and red feet.  The inside of their beaks are also bright red.     The three seems to be getting along fine, when suddenly two went off in one direction and started engaging in courtship rituals while the other had a tantrum.  He squawked with his red mouth open and thrashed around in the water.  Not a happy loser.
 
Condos near our anchorage

Newport Bridge from our anchorage

Today we left early, around 5, as soon as the tide was easing on the bar and are headed north towards the Columbia River.  We will cross the bar and anchor in the river or keep going over night to Westport, Earl’s home town.
Going is nice.  We passed Cape Lookout where in one scenario we had thought to anchor.  It has a spectacular cave at the base.

Point Lookout

Saturday, May 31, 2014  – Westport Washington
 Well, as on other occasions this trip, the weather looked better than it was forecasted to be the next day, so we continued on past the Columbia River and on to Westport.  Not having to negotiate the Columbia River Bar and the additional mileage in and out of the river was a definite time saver and the weather was reasonable.  It was no doubt the right thing to do, but after we finally tied up in Westport at 7 am after having to kill time waiting for the tide at the bar, we were pooped.  No more overnights ever, says Earl.  AMEN
 
Sunset off the Columbia River

I don’t really remember much of anything about Wednesday our first day here.  I think we both spent most of it sleeping.
Bright and early on Thursday morning, Earl’s long time friend -75 years worth- Brady came by for coffee and muffins.  They had a great time catching up.  It was a rainy day and not very conducive to washing the boat which we had put on the agenda.  Instead, Earl and I took the bus to Aberdeen, the closest town with a car rental agency.  It is wonderful that there is a public transportation system here, even if it only runs Monday through Friday during the day.  It cost us each $1.  We took a little van that picked us up from the head of the dock and took us and a number of other people who waved it down, to the park and ride on the outskirts of town where we transferred to a larger bus for the 20 miles to Aberdeen.
We picked up the car and scheduled to return it before the agency closed for the weekend and went to look for a haircut for Earl.  The closest turned out, from Earl’s brief observation, to be haircut plus some preaching the word of God, so he decided to look for something else.  We stopped first for what turned out to be surprisingly good Thai food at a takeout place that had a few tables outside, but under cover.  On the proprietor’s recommendation we drove to Rex’s barber shop in the adjoining community of Hoqium and Earl emerged 30 minutes later looking much more respectable.  His last haircut had been close to 2 months ago and he was beginning to look like a street person.
We did shopping and drove back to town.  Rhododendrons thrive in this coastal climate.  Most of the old houses are very modest and many of them are drarfed by rhodies planted along side them, probably when the houses were new.  They are very beautiful.
After a little boat cleaning, we treated ourselves to dinner on the town.  It turned out the most highly recommended place was not in Westport, but at Bennets in the little community of Grayland down the highway.  We had a very good dinner, with crab cakes and chicken left over for lunch the next day.
Friday the sun was out and we went to work getting the boat spic and span.  Earl did a wonderful job outside.  I did the galley before leaving to return the car.  I found the battery was dead –apparently someone left the lights on the night before.  But this is small and friendly town and a nice woman passerby offered to get me a jump.
That night Brady and his wife Happy came for dinner and, again, we had a wonderful time catching up.  Brady brought Earl a huge bag of live oysters.  He knows how to make Earl happy!  The big party will be tomorrow.  We are hosting an open house for Earl’s school classmates that are still in the area and, probably, a few others.  His class only had 20 some kids in it, so I expect it will be a small reunion, but probably we will have enough to make it a crowd for the Serenity.  Daisy will be in heaven thinking everyone is there to see her.
This morning as we were having breakfast, Brady showed up with a bunch of freshly dug razor clams for Earl.  Razor clams are absolutely Earl’s favorite food.  He had thought about going to dig some but instead he just whined to Brady. Between the clams and the oysters, he is in heaven.

 
NW shellfish heaven!

“small” oyster appetizer – just a snack!
Monday we will be heading off again.  Of course the weather gods are probably not smiling on us.  It looks like today and Sunday will be the best weather of the week.   Regardless, I am sure we will go.  Like a horse that smells the barn door, we are ready to be home. 

Saturday May 31, 2014 – Port Orford, Oregon to Westport Wa.

By on May 31, 2014 in Serenity

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 – Underway from Newport Oregon to Columbia River
Port Orford proved to be a great moorage.  Because we had stopped at noon on the 24th, we felt like we had a holiday.  By 6 am on Sunday the 25twe were off and heading north to Coos Bay.  That would have been about an 8 hour day and would leave us with a 14 hour day following to get into Newport where we planned to take a full day of rest. 
It was glassy leaving Port Orford and we ran close enough to the shore to see the almost endless display of offshore rocks that seems to characterize this part of the coast.  Many of these are named. While some, like Pillar Rock, NW Rock, Haystack Rock are obvious, others, like Fox Rock must have really stories. 
The seas were so pleasant that we decided bypass Coos Bay and instead go into the little harbor of Winchester Bay at the outlet of the Umpqua River.  Although in bad weather this bar has a nasty reputation, we had no worries given our weather and going the extra distance would split the trip to Newport into two more equal portions. 
Winchester Bay is served by the Salmon Marina.  We called the telephone number in the cruising guide and got a recorded message telling us that the office hours were 8 to 5, Monday through Friday.  It being Sunday, that was not helpful.  I finally pushed the button for the “emergency operator” as distinguished from 911, and was connected to a lovely young lady.  I explained that we wanted to tie up that night around 6 with a 6 am departure and would not be there during office hours.  The operator finally put me through to Heidi who manages the RV park.  Heidi was very helpful and radioed Ralph, who radioed Steve, who finally explained we could use the after hours dock by the Coast Guard Station and leave $15 in the box at the head of the dock. 
For me, this marina was a real return to the Northwest.  It is a large marina, but nowhere near full and mostly populated by fishing boats displaying varing degrees of prosperity.  Many were the little classic wooden trawlers.  One was an old Tolly, literally covered with vegetation. One might have thought the fern glimpsed through the window was a house plant had it not been for the ferns growing through various portions of the exterior.  For $15 dollars we were  snug and slept very well.
For Earl, the Umpqua held old memories.  One of his jobs with the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration in the early 60’s involved lots of sampling at the mouth of this river.

The next day was Memorial Day and as we neared Newport late in the afternoon we were treated to the sight of two multimasted wooden boats.  Once was the Lady Washington who we have seen before.  I never did get the name of the other. They were apparently engaged in a mock battle because we could hear cannons.  Both boats carried passengers and as they rocked around we wondered it any of them were not sea sick.  It was fun.
Newport is huge harbor with multiple marinas.   We opted to anchor out.  Earl says we are too cheap to pay, but the truth is that it is much less work to anchor than to pull out all the ropes and bumpers to tie up at a dock and then undo them early the next morning. 
Our anchorage was just perfect.  We are apparently in the season when birds ‘do their thing”.  At Winchester, we saw gulls doing it.  (She did not seem impressed.)  In Newport we had a trio of pigeon guillemots.  They are a flashy bird, black with white winds and red feet.  The inside of their beaks are also bright red.     The three seems to be getting along fine, when suddenly two went off in one direction and started engaging in courtship rituals while the other had a tantrum.  He squawked with his red mouth open and thrashed around in the water.  Not a happy loser.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014 – Underway from Newport Oregon to Columbia River
Port Orford proved to be a great moorage.  Because we had stopped at noon on the 24th, we felt like we had a holiday.  By 6 am on Sunday the 25twe were off and heading north to Coos Bay.  That would have been about an 8 hour day and would leave us with a 14 hour day following to get into Newport where we planned to take a full day of rest. 
It was glassy leaving Port Orford and we ran close enough to the shore to see the almost endless display of offshore rocks that seems to characterize this part of the coast.  Many of these are named. While some, like Pillar Rock, NW Rock, Haystack Rock are obvious, others, like Fox Rock must have really stories.  
 
parade of rocks off Oregon coast

The seas were so pleasant that we decided bypass Coos Bay and instead go into the little harbor of Winchester Bay at the outlet of the Umpqua River.  Although in bad weather this bar has a nasty reputation, we had no worries given our weather and going the extra distance would split the trip to Newport into two more equal portions. 
Typical NW lighthouse
Winchester Bay is served by the Salmon Marina.  We called the telephone number in the cruising guide and got a recorded message telling us that the office hours were 8 to 5, Monday through Friday.  It being Sunday, that was not helpful.  I finally pushed the button for the “emergency operator” as distinguished from 911, and was connected to a lovely young lady.  I explained that we wanted to tie up that night around 6 with a 6 am departure and would not be there during office hours.  The operator finally put me through to Heidi who manages the RV park.  Heidi was very helpful and radioed Ralph, who radioed Steve, who finally explained we could use the after hours dock by the Coast Guard Station and leave $15 in the box at the head of the dock. 
For me, this marina was a real return to the Northwest.  It is a large marina, but nowhere near full and mostly populated by fishing boats displaying varing degrees of prosperity.  Many were the little classic wooden trawlers.  One was an old Tolly, literally covered with vegetation. One might have thought the fern glimpsed through the window was a house plant had it not been for the ferns growing through various portions of the exterior.  For $15 dollars we were  snug and slept very well.
For Earl, the Umpqua held old memories.  One of his jobs with the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration in the early 60’s involved lots of sampling at the mouth of this river.

The next day was Memorial Day and as we neared Newport late in the afternoon we were treated to the sight of two multimasted wooden boats.  Once was the Lady Washington who we have seen before.  I never did get the name of the other. They were apparently engaged in a mock battle because we could hear cannons.  Both boats carried passengers and as they rocked around we wondered it any of them were not sea sick.  It was fun.
Memorial Day seabattle in front of Newport OR
Newport is huge harbor with multiple marinas.   We opted to anchor out.  Earl says we are too cheap to pay, but the truth is that it is much less work to anchor than to pull out all the ropes and bumpers to tie up at a dock and then undo them early the next morning.  
Newport Or Coast Guard station
Our anchorage was just perfect.  We are apparently in the season when birds ‘do their thing”.  At Winchester, we saw gulls doing it.  (She did not seem impressed.)  In Newport we had a trio of pigeon guillemots.  They are a flashy bird, black with white winds and red feet.  The inside of their beaks are also bright red.     The three seems to be getting along fine, when suddenly two went off in one direction and started engaging in courtship rituals while the other had a tantrum.  He squawked with his red mouth open and thrashed around in the water.  Not a happy loser.
 
Condos near our anchorage

Newport Bridge from our anchorage

Today we left early, around 5, as soon as the tide was easing on the bar and are headed north towards the Columbia River.  We will cross the bar and anchor in the river or keep going over night to Westport, Earl’s home town.
Going is nice.  We passed Cape Lookout where in one scenario we had thought to anchor.  It has a spectacular cave at the base.

Point Lookout

Saturday, May 31, 2014  – Westport Washington
 Well, as on other occasions this trip, the weather looked better than it was forecasted to be the next day, so we continued on past the Columbia River and on to Westport.  Not having to negotiate the Columbia River Bar and the additional mileage in and out of the river was a definite timesaver and the weather was reasonable.  It was no doubt the right thing to do, but after we finally tied up in Westport at 7 am after having to kill time waiting for the tide at the bar, we were pooped.  No more overnights ever, says Earl.  AMEN
 
Sunset off the Columbia River

I don’t really remember much of anything about Wednesday our first day here.  I think we both spent most of it sleeping.
Bright and early on Thursday morning, Earl’s childhood friend Brady came by for coffee and muffins.  They had a great time catching up.  It was a rainy day and not very conducive to washing the boat which we had put on the agenda.  Instead, Earl and I took the bus to Aberdeen, the closest town with a car rental agency.  It is wonderful that there is a public transportation system here, even if it only runs Monday through Friday during the day.  It cost us each $1.  We took a little van that picked us up from the head of the dock and took us and a number of other people who waved it down, to the park and ride on the outskirts of town where we transferred to a larger bus for the 20 miles to Aberdeen.
We picked up the car and scheduled to return it before the agency closed for the weekend and went to look for a haircut for Earl.  The closest turned out, from Earl’s brief observation, to be haircut plus some preaching the word of God, so he decided to look for something else.  We stopped first for what turned out to be surprisingly good Thai food at a takeout place that had a few tables outside, but under cover.  On the proprietor’s recommendation we drove to Rex’s barber shop in the adjoining community of Hoqium and Earl emerged 30 minutes later looking much more respectable.  His last haircut had been close to 2 months ago and he was beginning to look like a street person.
We did shopping and drove back to town.  Rhododendrons thrive in this coastal climate.  Most of the old houses are very modest and many of them are drarfed by rhodies planted along side them, probably when the houses were new.  They are very beautiful.
After a little boat cleaning, we treated ourselves to dinner on the town.  It turned out the most highly recommended place was not in Westport, but at Bennets in the little community of Grayland down the highway.  We had a very good dinner, with crab cakes and chicken left over for lunch the next day.
Friday the sun was out and we went to work getting the boat spic and span.  Earl did a wonderful job outside.  I did the galley before leaving to return the car.  I found the battery was dead –apparently someone left the lights on the night before.  But this is small and friendly town and a nice woman passerby offered to get me a jump.
That night Brady and his wife Happy came for dinner and, again, we had a wonderful time catching up.  Brady brought Earl a huge bag of live oysters.  He knows how to make Earl happy!  The big party will be tomorrow.  We are hosting an open house for Earl’s school classmates that are still in the area and, probably, a few others.  His class only had 20 some kids in it, so I expect it will be a small reunion, but probably we will have enough to make it a crowd for the Serenity.  Daisy will be in heaven thinking everyone is there to see her.
This morning as we were having breakfast, Brady showed up with a bunch of freshly dug razor clams for Earl.  Razor clams are absolutely Earl’s favorite food.  He had thought about going to dig some but instead he just whined to Brady. Between the clams and the oysters, he is in heaven.
Monday we will be heading off again.  Of course the weather gods are probably not smiling on us.  It looks like today and Sunday will be the best weather of the week.   Regardless, I am sure we will go.  Like a horse that smells the barn door, we are ready to be home. 
Today we left early, around 5, as soon as the tide was easing on the bar and are headed north towards the Columbia River.  We will cross the bar and anchor in the river or keep going over night to Westport, Earl’s home town.
Going is nice.  We passed Cape Lookout where in one scenario we had thought to anchor.  It has a spectacular cave at the base.
Saturday, May 31, 2014  – Westport Washington
 Well, as on other occasions this trip, the weather looked better than it was forecasted to be the next day, so we continued on past the Columbia River and on to Westport.  Not having to negotiate the Columbia River Bar and the additional mileage in and out of the river was a definite timesaver and the weather was reasonable.  It was no doubt the right thing to do, but after we finally tied up in Westport at 7 am after having to kill time waiting for the tide at the bar, we were pooped.  No more overnights ever, says Earl.  AMEN
I don’t really remember much of anything about Wednesday our first day here.  I think we both spent most of it sleeping.
Bright and early on Thursday morning, Earl’s childhood friend Brady came by for coffee and muffins.  They had a great time catching up.  It was a rainy day and not very conducive to washing the boat which we had put on the agenda.  Instead, Earl and I took the bus to Aberdeen, the closest town with a car rental agency.  It is wonderful that there is a public transportation system here, even if it only runs Monday through Friday during the day.  It cost us each $1.  We took a little van that picked us up from the head of the dock and took us and a number of other people who waved it down, to the park and ride on the outskirts of town where we transferred to a larger bus for the 20 miles to Aberdeen.
We picked up the car and scheduled to return it before the agency closed for the weekend and went to look for a haircut for Earl.  The closest turned out, from Earl’s brief observation, to be haircut plus some preaching the word of God, so he decided to look for something else.  We stopped first for what turned out to be surprisingly good Thai food at a takeout place that had a few tables outside, but under cover.  On the proprietor’s recommendation we drove to Rex’s barber shop in the adjoining community of Hoqium and Earl emerged 30 minutes later looking much more respectable.  His last haircut had been close to 2 months ago and he was beginning to look like a street person.
We did shopping and drove back to town.  Rhododendrons thrive in this coastal climate.  Most of the old houses are very modest and many of them are drarfed by rhodies planted along side them, probably when the houses were new.  They are very beautiful.
After a little boat cleaning, we treated ourselves to dinner on the town.  It turned out the most highly recommended place was not in Westport, but at Bennets in the little community of Grayland down the highway.  We had a very good dinner, with crab cakes and chicken left over for lunch the next day.
Friday the sun was out and we went to work getting the boat spic and span.  Earl did a wonderful job outside.  I did the galley before leaving to return the car.  I found the battery was dead –apparently someone left the lights on the night before.  But this is small and friendly town and a nice woman passerby offered to get me a jump.
That night Brady and his wife Happy came for dinner and, again, we had a wonderful time catching up.  Brady brought Earl a huge bag of live oysters.  He knows how to make Earl happy!  The big party will be tomorrow.  We are hosting an open house for Earl’s school classmates that are still in the area and, probably, a few others.  His class only had 20 some kids in it, so I expect it will be a small reunion, but probably we will have enough to make it a crowd for the Serenity.  Daisy will be in heaven thinking everyone is there to see her.
This morning as we were having breakfast, Brady showed up with a bunch of freshly dug razor clams for Earl.  Razor clams are absolutely Earl’s favorite food.  He had thought about going to dig some but instead he just whined to Brady. Between the clams and the oysters, he is in heaven.

 
NW shellfish heaven!

“small” oyster appetizer – just a snack!
Monday we will be heading off again.  Of course the weather gods are probably not smiling on us.  It looks like today and Sunday will be the best weather of the week.   Regardless, I am sure we will go.  Like a horse that smells the barn door, we are ready to be home. 

Sunday, May 24, 2014 – from Fort Bragg, CA to Port Orford, OR

By on May 24, 2014 in Serenity

Friday, May 23, 2014 – heading north from Trinidad Harbor
Fort Bragg Marina
Departure from Fort Bragg on Thursday was predawn.  The tide had already begun to ebb and full ebb is the worst time to cross bars.  The crabber tied next to us pulled out and we followed within 10 minutes around 5 am. 
I was not looking forwarded to the day, and, in retrospect, it is one I could happily have skipped altogether.  We knew from the weather that it would be better today then any other day for a week so we felt we had to go regardless. The lump started as soon as we left the river.  After Wednesday, I was apprehensive.  I have to say that it was not as bad as Wednesday, but it was still an uncomfortable ride for most of the day.  Initially we were barreling along at over 7 knots, and with the current against the wind the swells were large and close. 
At some point between Punta Gorda and Cape Mendocino the current changed, so we traded 2 knots of speed for a more comfortable, if longer, ride.  It was cold so we had all the windows closed and I was taking comfort from the wind gauge that never varied from 6.  Of course, Earl had to point out to me that it was not working and he thought it was probably blowing 30 to 35.  I was happier thinking it was 6.
I am now accustomed to having everything on the floor.  I had been diligently putting things back on the berth above the bench in the pilot house.  I am no longer bothering.  It is easier to step over stuff than dodge it.
Our choice was between going into Eureka and getting a slip or going on 20 miles to Trinidad and anchoring.  Bypassing Eureka was a time saver and also allowed for an early departure today.  The downside of that decision was it was 12:30 by the time we inched our way into the Trinidad harbor between crab pots.  As it turned out, we did not go in far enough and ended up with a very rocky night, made even worse by the periodic banging of an unlatched closet door.  I was too tired to care, but it was not a great night.  Earl called it quits at 6 and pulled the anchor. 
We are headed for Brookings, just above the California Border, and more than halfway up the US coast.  It is a beautiful ride.  The wind gauge which has been reset says 8, the seas are flat and we are going 6.6.  An added bonus, so far we have seen no crab pots once past Trinidad.  Who cares if it is foggy!  Even better, Brookings is about 60 miles from Trinidad.  We should be able to tie up by late afternoon and have a nice dinner on a stable table. 
Saturday, May 24, 2014 – Anchored at Port Orford, Oregon
Well I spoke too soon.  Not 5 minutes after writing that we had seen no crab pots, we started to see them.  However, the weather remained reasonable and the fog lifted. 
Brookings turned out to be out of the question.  They required that our insurance company fax them a copy of our insurance policy specifically adding Brookings port as a covered party.  At 4:45 pm that was not going to happen.  We had found a couple of possible anchorages not too far from Brookings and, since the weather was okay, decided to head north. 
We opted for Mack Arch.  Here the anchorage is tucked behind a combination of reef and standing rocks and it looked good.  In we went and found that the seas were definitely reduced, but the swell did continue.  Dinner demanded coordination as the boat rolled and when we got to bed, the gentle rocking was sometimes rather more than less.  It was, however, far better than the night we had spent in Trinidad! 
Mach Arch
By morning we were in a sea of fog.  At about 6 we headed north.  It was not the best, but far from the worst, of conditions.  The only other boats we saw were some good sized crabbers.  They must have thought we were nuts (and who is to say that we aren’t?)  The winds were 20 to 25 and gusting to 35.
Happiness is a great anchorage, with no swell, at noon!  We got into Port Orford and tucked in behind a cliff to the north and watch as our wind gauge dropped from 35+ to 15.  There was time for Earl to wash down the boat while I picked up the debris from the last few days before of lovely lunch of Bloody Marys and potstickers.  The afternoon included naps, reading, knitting, trimming Daisy’s eyebrows and just enjoying a boat that was not moving. 
Happy anchorage at Port Orford

Port Orford is not your usual harbor.  There is no marina.  Instead the boats are lifted out of the water by cranes and stored on land. 
Port Orford non- marina

After the last few days since leaving Bodega Bay our expectations of sea conditions have certainly changes.  White water seems normal.  However, I am an optimist.  The weather for the next few days looks like it will be better.  Here’s hoping!

Sunday, May 24, 2014 – from Fort Bragg, CA to Port Orford, OR

By on May 24, 2014 in Serenity

Friday, May 23, 2014 – heading north from Trinidad Harbor
Fort Bragg Marina
Departure from Fort Bragg on Thursday was predawn.  The tide had already begun to ebb and full ebb is the worst time to cross bars.  The crabber tied next to us pulled out and we followed within 10 minutes around 5 am. 
I was not looking forwarded to the day, and, in retrospect, it is one I could happily have skipped altogether.  We knew from the weather that it would be better today then any other day for a week so we felt we had to go regardless. The lump started as soon as we left the river.  After Wednesday, I was apprehensive.  I have to say that it was not as bad as Wednesday, but it was still an uncomfortable ride for most of the day.  Initially we were barreling along at over 7 knots, and with the current against the wind the swells were large and close. 
At some point between Punta Gorda and Cape Mendocino the current changed, so we traded 2 knots of speed for a more comfortable, if longer, ride.  It was cold so we had all the windows closed and I was taking comfort from the wind gauge that never varied from 6.  Of course, Earl had to point out to me that it was not working and he thought it was probably blowing 30 to 35.  I was happier thinking it was 6.
I am now accustomed to having everything on the floor.  I had been diligently putting things back on the berth above the bench in the pilot house.  I am no longer bothering.  It is easier to step over stuff than dodge it.
Our choice was between going into Eureka and getting a slip or going on 20 miles to Trinidad and anchoring.  Bypassing Eureka was a time saver and also allowed for an early departure today.  The downside of that decision was it was 12:30 by the time we inched our way into the Trinidad harbor between crab pots.  As it turned out, we did not go in far enough and ended up with a very rocky night, made even worse by the periodic banging of an unlatched closet door.  I was too tired to care, but it was not a great night.  Earl called it quits at 6 and pulled the anchor. 
We are headed for Brookings, just above the California Border, and more than halfway up the US coast.  It is a beautiful ride.  The wind gauge which has been reset says 8, the seas are flat and we are going 6.6.  An added bonus, so far we have seen no crab pots once past Trinidad.  Who cares if it is foggy!  Even better, Brookings is about 60 miles from Trinidad.  We should be able to tie up by late afternoon and have a nice dinner on a stable table. 
Saturday, May 24, 2014 – Anchored at Port Orford, Oregon
Well I spoke too soon.  Not 5 minutes after writing that we had seen no crab pots, we started to see them.  However, the weather remained reasonable and the fog lifted. 
Brookings turned out to be out of the question.  They required that our insurance company fax them a copy of our insurance policy specifically adding Brookings port as a covered party.  At 4:45 pm that was not going to happen.  We had found a couple of possible anchorages not too far from Brookings and, since the weather was okay, decided to head north. 
We opted for Mack Arch.  Here the anchorage is tucked behind a combination of reef and standing rocks and it looked good.  In we went and found that the seas were definitely reduced, but the swell did continue.  Dinner demanded coordination as the boat rolled and when we got to bed, the gentle rocking was sometimes rather more than less.  It was, however, far better than the night we had spent in Trinidad! 
Mach Arch
By morning we were in a sea of fog.  At about 6 we headed north.  It was not the best, but far from the worst, of conditions.  The only other boats we saw were some good sized crabbers.  They must have thought we were nuts (and who is to say that we aren’t?)  The winds were 20 to 25 and gusting to 35.
Happiness is a great anchorage, with no swell, at noon!  We got into Port Orford and tucked in behind a cliff to the north and watch as our wind gauge dropped from 35+ to 15.  There was time for Earl to wash down the boat while I picked up the debris from the last few days before of lovely lunch of Bloody Marys and potstickers.  The afternoon included naps, reading, knitting, trimming Daisy’s eyebrows and just enjoying a boat that was not moving. 
Happy anchorage at Port Orford

Port Orford is not your usual harbor.  There is no marina.  Instead the boats are lifted out of the water by cranes and stored on land. 
Port Orford non- marina

After the last few days since leaving Bodega Bay our expectations of sea conditions have certainly changes.  White water seems normal.  However, I am an optimist.  The weather for the next few days looks like it will be better.  Here’s hoping!