Our second summer - it all started so smoothly. We picked up Chris, Peter and the grandkids at the airport, got them settled on the boat and cruised off to our first stop - Port Ludlow. Safely docked, we watched a seaside wedding take place just yards from our boat, we walked through the serene woods to a picturesque waterfall and had an outdoor dinner. Who knew what awaited us just 36 hour later when we crossed the Straits of Juan De Fuca.
Up and ready to make the crossing, we first prudently listen to the weather forecast. There are small craft warnings but surely they don't apply to us. A kakyak yes, a row boat certainly, a dinghy definitly - but Celestine can handle 25-30 kt winds - "It's like a carnival ride!" Matthew said as we started bucking. I think that was the last thing he said. We rode the waves like a rip-roaring rollercoaster, a three hour long-hang on for your life-there goes breakfast kind of roller coaster ride. Let’s just say that Matthew and I were the last ones standing. And even we were a whiter shade of pale.
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We survived!!!!
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| The Girls in Gear |
Once we landed in Friday Harbor in San Juan Island and everyone found their footing on dry land, we headed for another adventure. Instead of a water ride, we strapped ourselves in for a zipline ride. Fifty feet above the forest floor and across a pond we zipped at 25 mph to tree house like landings in the pines - platforms that were not much more steady than the boat bobbing in the water. We traversed the woods one zip line after another, tree to tree, at dizzing heights and dazzling speeds.
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| Chris Zipping |
Now both wobbly and whirling, we head back to the boat for some R&R.
Someone suggests a dinghy ride across the harbor and Peter, Matthew, Emily and I jump at the chance. It looks like rain but heedless of the weather conditions – again – we head out. The 10 minute ride to the other side of the harbor goes well and we avoid colliding with the ferries and pleasure craft zooming by our tiny tender. On the way back the sky darkens, the waves roll up and the spray washes in our dinghy. Then it starts raining. Emily and I are in the front so we get wet from the top down and the bottom up as we are sitting in sea water.
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| Peter and Matthew - stunned to be riding in the rain |
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Emily with life jacket over her head - for rain protection?
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The next day we decide to have a relaxed sight-seeing tour of the island by mopeds. They are all rented so in the excitement of the moment we instead, irrationally, rent bicycles for the 22 mile round trip ride over rolling hills. Six people who have not biked in ???? Still, we believe this is a good idea and will be “lots of fun!” Five hours later, we are now, wobbly, whirling and have noodle legs and raw rumps.
Having exhausted ourselves and all the death defying activites San Juan Island has to offer, we hop in the boat for a short evening cruise to another island, Orcas. We arrive in Deer Harbor, eat on board and collapse.
We opt for milder entertainment on Orcas Island. Matthew learns to sail and Emily and Matthew master crabbing. There is plenty of kayaking, hiking and even some reading.
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| The Three Crab Catch |
We wisely drive up to Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island instead of hike (2,409 ft elevation) where we marvel at the 360 degree view of the islands and US and Canadian mainland.
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| Emily getting some rays |
We wisely drive up to Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island instead of hike (2,409 ft elevation) where we marvel at the 360 degree view of the islands and US and Canadian mainland.
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| Mt Constitution, The Islands and us |
We end the week with no more risky activities than eating great food and slurping yummy ice cream cones ( OK- there is that cholesterol hazard).
For our last dinner on the island, we walk ten minutes from the boat, through a field and up to a bluff for a beautiful sunset dinner on a patio overlooking the harbor while rabbits frolic in the yard beside us.
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| Lady Gaga & her last island ice cream |
We regretably leave the San Juan Islands on Saturday July 30, 2011 and cruise to Anacortes on the mainland so we can rent a van and return the Moores to the airport. The crossing is unremarkable but the Moores all have their sea legs and can take a wave on the beam like the true sailors they now are. Although I think I did hear one of them say they would never cross the Straits of Juan de Fuca again.
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| The final boat ride |
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