Our First Sunset Cruise

For more than two years we have talked about doing a sunset cruise and just never got around to it.  This time we decided to go for it - mainly because schedules didn't allow anything else. We've been wanting to take Bob and Lisa Watkins out for a ride on Stargazer for several months now. They own a beautiful bed and breakfast in Arlington called River Rock Inn and are always busy on the weekends. Our days seem to fly by but we were able to schedule it for this evening. We also invited Al and Sharon Grieci to join us. They've known the Watkins since they attended another church together.

We left Everett around 6:00pm and cruised over to Whidbey Island, traveled south, went across to Edmonds and then cruised back to Everett past scenic Mukilteo. It was so much fun and Lisa had never been out on the sound so it was a wonderful first experience for her. We had a simple potluck dinner of sub sandwiches, salad and desserts as we cruised along.

By the time we headed back to Everett, the sun was beginning to set and it was so pretty out. I'd do it again in a minute. We've always been a little unsure about cruising at night because of deadheads and other debris in the water but by going when we did, there was still plenty of light but the sun was setting just enough to enjoy the view.

I got pictures of everyone but we were scattered around the pilot house so we were a little mixed up! The first picture is Lisa Watkins and Al Grieci. Next we have the two Bob's - Bob with Bob Watkins, then Sharon Grieci and Lisa Watkins.




Lisa Watkins and Al Grieci

Bob and Bob Watkins



Sharon Grieci and Lisa Watkins

Journey to Princess Louisa - Day 15 Headed Home

We said our goodbyes and departed for our home ports. We had a good ride back and had plenty of time to reminisce about the wonderful trip that we had. We were all in agreement that nothing could have gone better. We all got along great, had plenty of time to ourselves with no pressure to stay together, and lots of time for visiting when we wanted. It was a fantastic two weeks and we are eagerly anticipating where our voyage may take us next year. Thanks to Al and Sue, Jack and Moon, and Larry and Cheryl for helping to make this one of our best vacations ever!  Until next summer . . . smooth sailing to us all.



Journey to Princess Louisa - Day 14 at Port Angeles

It's so hard to believe that our vacation is almost over! We cruised over to Port Angeles today to spend our last night. We left around 9:00am hoping to beat the increasing winds expected this afternoon. We had a great crossing and then we all went our own ways until time for dinner. We went to Lanza's Italian restaurant that we discovered last year. It has exceptional service, the food is fantastic and even the prices are great! I highly recommend that if you are having dinner in Port Townsend, you check them out. Be sure to call ahead for reservations, though. They are packed out every night.

On our way to the restaurant we passed three deer that were in a small ravine next to a park. As I was taking pictures a woman walked by and said "You are obviously visitors!". Apparently, the deer have become quite a problem for homeowners. They were still fun to see and to capture a picture of them.

 

 

After dinner I told the group about the geocache hidden on the end of the pier that Bob and I had tried to find. It was just put there four days ago but we were unable to find it. We went back to the pier and with everyone's help we continued to look for another half hour or so. We still had no luck. I'll have to keep an eye on future logs from those who find it. Maybe I can get a tip from someone. Then it was off to bed so we can start packing up our boats in the morning. We will all be heading back home and it looks like we should have pretty good weather.



Journey to Princess Louisa - Day 13 at Roche Harbor

Today was a very relaxed day with no agenda at all. We took our time getting up and about and then Bob and I walked down to visit with Sue and Al at their boat. We discovered Jack and Al sitting in chairs relaxing (Bob was quick to join them) and there was Sue busy polishing the boat rails! Something is really wrong with this picture!

Bob and I have come to Roche Harbor twice before and I've never been able to find the geocache that is hidden by the bocce court. It is always really busy and even though we tried both times, we've never been able to find it. Sue went with me today and we got a good reading on my gps. Sue quickly found it and I was able to add it to my count. I'm now at 57 caches found but I've got a long way to go to catch up with people who have tens of thousands!

 

Bob, Sue and I took our kayaks and paddled around the marina and to a nearby bay. The wind was so strong against us that we decided to turn around and come back. Wouldn't you know it - the wind changed and was against us all the way back. It was a lot like "When I was a kid, I walked to school uphill - both ways"! We used our own kayaks but the first time Bob and I came to Roche Harbor we took a kayaking tour through the resort. They have a great assortment of kayaks and when we took our class, we were the only ones in the class. Our guide took us on a longer trip than usual and we had a lot of time for conversation. If you are at Roche Harbor, I highly recommend you either use your kayaks or take a kayak trip.

Tonight was the night to use up the food on our boats. Al and Sue's slip was right next to the party barge which was not in use while we were here (fortunately!). We gathered there for our dinner and had another fun time.

Journey to Princess Louisa - Day 12 at Roche Harbor

Today was the day for the crossing of the Strait of Georgia back over to the Gulf Islands. Since there have been up to 30 knot winds this past week, we decided to leave at 6:00am when the waters would be the calmest. We ended up with 15-20 knot winds. It was not dangerous but we really had a ride! We secured everything carefully before leaving and we still found some things that managed to roll around the boats or come loose. Not only did we have the Strait to cross but we also had some riptides to go through. I managed to get a few pictures but most of the time was spent hanging on.

On the way across the straight, we found that one of our kayaks that was strapped on the deck overhead seemed to be slipping. Bob had to step outside in the turbulent waves and secure the strap. Once we were through the rough water, Bob also had to go back to the stern and tie our dinghy in place because one of the brackets that secures it to the boat and broken lose. All in all, we did very well coming across and were thankful that it was not any rougher than it was.

Once we arrived at Roche Harbor, we went through customs and then found our slips at the marina. We did a quick inventory of our boats and made sure everything was secure. It seems that there is always something on a boat that needs to be repaired and we discovered that the latch on our door was broken. It would not stay latched and we could only lock it with a deadbolt. Bob had to spend some time taking the door apart, make a new spring out of a clip used to attach flags, and reassemble the door.

 

 



Before dinner we took a walk up to the well-known mausoleum built by John McMillin for his family. It was begun in 1930 and was built to incorporate things important to him - Republican, the Bible, Masons and Sigma Chi fraternity. Each chair was for a family member and listed their own involvements. I found it interesting that his wife's chair simply lists her identity as "wife of John McMillin" and none of her individual activities. The last picture shows Bob and Al at the broken column. It was built this way to symbolize the broken column of life - his belief that death comes before one's work is finished.



The evening ended with the ceremonial lowering of the flags and the firing of a cannon. A short time later we were treated to an incredibly beautiful sunset.







Journey to Princess Louisa - Day 11 at Granville Island

Today was a relaxed day of sleeping in, discovering Vancouver and wishing farewell to Larry and Cheryl. We all explored Granville Island and Vancouver on our own and spent time visiting the sites that interested each of us. Bob and I spent our time at Granville Island and in the area around the marina. I wanted to do some geocaching and the one that was closest to us was at a totem pole at the corner of the marina. My GPS showed it was only 350 feet away from our boat but it was outside the fenced marina. Our walk took us to a bicycle and walking path that followed along both sides of False Creek. This creek got its name because it appears to be a creek running through the city but it comes to an end, causing problems for ships who must turn around to get back out.

After finding the cache, we followed the path on around the harbor to where we came in yesterday. We passed a sign that I found very interesting - how to protect yourself from coyotes! It says to "big as big and mean as possible - shout in a loud and deep voice, throw objects at the coyote, do not run, maintain eye contact, move toward areas of activity". So now you know!

 

We went on to the maritime museum and, although we did not go in, Bob was very intrigued with a display outside. It is the Grumman Aerospace Corporation's research submarine, Ben Franklin, that slipped beneath the surface of the Atlantic in Florida and traveled up the east coast in 1969. Its mission was to learn the effects on man of a long-duration, closed-environment stressful voyage; to demonstrate the engineering-operational concepts of long-term submersible operation; and to conduct other scientific oceanographic studies.

 

 

After lunch, we walked over to Granville Island to visit the famous Public Market. We were amazed at how many people visit this area every day. When we arrived yesterday, there were so many people you could barely get down the aisles and navigate the streets. We thought that maybe it was because we arrived on a Sunday. Today had nearly as many people. The community is very eclectic and colorful and there is so much to see. There were street performers, lots of shops, galleries and artisans and the farmer's market. The market had enticing stands of fresh fruits and vegetables, pastries, candies, and so much more.

 

 

 

 

We ended our day with dinner at Bridges and send our goodbyes to Larry and Cheryl who are continuing on for another week or so in the Gulf Islands.

Journey to Princess Louisa - Day 10 at Granville Island

The weather report looked good for traveling south in the Strait of Georgia as long as we left early. We departed Fisherman's Marina at 7:00 and fairly good seas. We were going with the current and there was some wind which made for some rolling waves that played with people's equilibrium. As we approached Vancouver, we discovered it is a very busy harbor and was full of everything that floats. We saw tankers, kayakers, stand-up paddle boards, large and small sailboats - even a Viking ship.

 

 

 

We found our slips and secured our boats before meeting with the customs folks and getting signed in. Sunshine was the lucky one to be singled out by the customs agents to have their boat searched. All in all, our arrival went smoothly so we set out to do some exploring. We decided today was a good day to see what Granville Island is like and to grab some lunch (or dinner). We quickly saw that we will have a great time tomorrow sightseeing and possibly taking a water taxi to other parts of the city.





Journey to Princess Louisa - Day 9 at Fisherman's Marina at Pender Harbour

Today we left Princess Louisa and headed back to Fisherman’s Resort at Pender Harbour. We took turns passing by the falls to get some pictures of our boats.


 

We used the afternoon to do a little grocery shopping and laundry. I also introduced Cheryl to geocaching. She, Sue and I found one in a planter next to the grocery store and it had a coupon inside for a free ice cream cone. I got the cone (I guess because it was my GPS) but they did the work! Sue pulled out what looked like a sprinkler head from the planter, I put it back in and kept looking, then Cheryl commented that the sprinkler head was not attached to anything.  So much for my “teaching” them how to do this! We had a lot of fun and some good laughs. Oh, and the ice cream was great!

We had to take a picture of this party boat we saw in the harbor. It was made up of several dinghies, an old dock, a couple of boats and lot of people! We’re not sure what it was all about but they were having a great time.

 



Today is Al and Sue’s 39^th wedding anniversary so we celebrated on the dock with appetizers, champagne and sparkling juice. What a great ending to another glorious day!








 

Journey to Princess Louisa - Day 8 at Chatterbox Falls & Princess Louisa

I'm so glad we are here for two days! There was so much to do today and we made the most of every minute. We woke to a beautiful morning and the sound of rushing water from Chatterbox Falls. My grandchildren have “oceans” they play at night to provide white noise to help them sleep. The sounds coming from the waterfalls created the same calming atmosphere.



 

The history of this area is interesting. Betty Wright tells in her book that in 1927 James Macdonald purchased the land (292 acres) around Chatterbox Falls from the Canadian government for $420. It was seen as valueless because it had been logged off, burned over, and the soil was not worth anything for farming. Mac Macdonald felt strongly that this land should never be commercialized so when Thomas F Hamilton, a boater and an inventor of the variable pitch propeller, wanted to purchase the land for $5,000 he turned it down. Years later he was offered $400,000 for the property but he still turned it down. In 1953 he deeded his land to the boating public of the northwest. Mac and boaters formed the Princess Louisa International Society and later turned it over to the government of British Columbia as a marine park with the guarantee that it will be preserved for future generations.



 

Bob and I took our dinghy and made a quick run around the Inlet to explore what was there. We went back to the boat and offloaded our kayaks and quickly discovered that they were the best purchase we could have made for our trip. Sue is an avid kayaker and we have done it a couple of times but to paddle around Princess Louisa, discover tinkling waterfalls, look up at towering cliffs from water level, and to hear nothing but the sounds of nature gave us a whole new appreciation for kayaking. It was so beautiful and we were able to get in behind rocks to see waterfalls we would have otherwise missed. I had hoped to see a lot of wildlife but we only found one little seal that curiously followed our kayaks. Each time I’d try to get a picture he would either dive or come up too far away. As we kayaked in this beautiful setting, I was reminded of Psalm 23:2b-3a, "he leads me beside quiet waters,he restores my soul."



 

 



 

In the afternoon, we ran our dinghies the four miles back to Malibu Club, a Young Life summer camp for teenagers. The staff and kids were very friendly and welcoming and greeted us with a yell to the ice cream store to stay open a little longer for the guests that had just arrived. After buying our ice cream cones (the many flavors are churned at the camp), we were given a tour by a couple who were volunteering a week of their time to assist at the camp. This is their fifth year helping out at the camp even though their children are now grown.

 

Malibu Camp has its own interesting history. The entrance to Princess Louisa was purchased in about  1900 by Herman Caspar, a German who obtained his Canadian citizenship.  Many years later, when Thomas  Hamilton was unable to purchase the land around Chatterbox Falls, he did purchase the inlet entrance for $500 from Caspar. He created a luxury resort for the rich and famous (guests included Bob Hope). The resort was not successful and Hamilton walked away from the property leaving behind all assets – including a 120 foot yacht that eventually sank and currently sits at the bottom of the inlet.

 

In 1954, Young Life purchased the entire resort from Hamilton to use as one of its 26 non-denominational Christian camps.  Jen Reynolds of Young Life Malibu states, “Each summer thousands of high school students from across the U.S. and Canada journey into the wilderness with their Malibu leaders for the best week of their lives. The goal of Young Life at all their camps for kids is to give teenagers the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ and follow Him. Kids develop relationships with their leaders, discuss with their peers and have nightly messages from a camp speaker. It’s a safe place to ask questions and explore topics of faith and life.”


 



 



 



 

After dinner, Al and Sue joined Bob and I as we went to look for some geocaches. One was simply to find Chatterbox Falls and take a picture in front of it. The second one was hidden under the roots of a large, gnarly tree. When we got ready to find the other three that I knew were in the area we discovered that they all have to be accessed by dinghy at low tide. I wish I had checked earlier but it was getting late and we had already loaded the dinghies and kayaks so we can leave in the morning.

 

 

 

 In closing, I must show the following picture of what we were greeted with this morning. The condensation on the windows gave us a beautiful image of our grandkids hands! So fun to have them with us!