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Early Spring Cruise

It’s finally spring. Just barely.

Friday, March 22
This weekend adventure began with finishing up a few chores at home, locking up the house and heading for the boat Friday evening.

JaCarol’sJim & Carol had just arrived at the marina- their first visit for the year. After dropping some things of on my boat, I ventured over to C Dock where I joined in sipping a cold one, already in progress. Cara (Enough Time) was there, too. It was nice to sit and catch up. JaCarol would be staying at the dock this weekend due to some commitments at home for her crew.

The consensus was we were all hungry, and after minimal deliberation, we loaded up and headed downtown for some dinner at the Rockfish Grill. Jonathan, Lori, and Thomas (Briar Patch) rolled into town and joined us at our table, as well as some other riff raff that made their way in. Overall, a nice evening, but it was nice to say goodnight and head back to the boat and find my bed.

Saturday, March 23
Up early, I readied the boat, found some breakfast, made some coffee and waited for the cue that the rest of the fleet was ready to go. After a quick stop at the fuel dock, Jolly Mon, Enough Time, and Briar Patch were under way.

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An Overdue Upgrade

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A few years ago, I was backing Jolly Mon out of her slip, heading out for a trip. Being a twin screw boat, most of my close-in maneuvering is done with the transmissions and throttles and the rudders remain centered, but as I motored down the fairway, I grabbed the wheel to correct my course. As I attempted to turn it – nothing. Locked up… I tried again. Locked up. I was able to negotiate the fairways to get to a more open area of the marina without a problem. I tried to turn the wheel once again, this time with a little more muscle. “POP!” The wheel turns. So does the boat, fortunately.

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Windy…

I guess this is technically a “boating” trip. Not on my boat, but one of the big green and white ones owned by the state.

This morning, I woke to the sounds of garbage cans, lawn furniture, and whatever else may have gotten free thrashing around outside the house from the strong winds that blew through the night and the previous few days. I decided – on a whim, as I often do, to get on the ferry to Friday Harbor to check out the wind-driven rough water.

Within minutes of initiating launch sequence, I was out the door and en route to the ferry terminal, where I boarded MV Yakima.

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January Cruise – Eagle Harbor, Friday Harbor

January 18-20

Boating was penciled into the calendar for this weekend well in advance, hoping for some decent winter weather for a chance to get away and enjoy winter’s quiet time in the islands for the Martin Luther King Jr. long weekend. For once, luck and Mother Nature were on our side and plans were made to go!

I decided – pretty much last minute – to leave a day early on Friday, with Jon, Lori, and Thomas on Briar Patch, heading out the next morning. I ran through the grocery store, throwing some things in my cart, and got to the marina where I quickly loaded the boat and prepared to get under way. I made a quick run to Eagle Harbor, cozy with my newly installed cabin heat drawing off the starboard engine. I arrived and tied to a buoy just before dark. I shared the bay with one other boat, who’s crew was probably surprised to have company. As the darkness fell, the cabin was filled with good music playing and the pleasing smells of dinner in the oven. I watched a movie and called it a night.

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