Well, I've just finished "knitting" the dinghy to the foredeck.. Who knew you could cross over so many times and the d__n thing could still move?? Oh well, I'll tidy 'er up tomorra... Tomorra in Neah Bay that is.
Aah.. just cracked a beer... so I can tell you this tale in a good sailoree fashion. We left the fine RVYC early on Monday (having waited out the winds as Kathy mentioned).. and motor-sailed in confused seas, mist, fog, a wee bit o'wind, and rain... to Port Angeles. Not bad for a first leg... (I know, a bit short... but for us... the first leg, none-the-less). We've been in waters as yet untravelled by us (Shannon of course would have been here before on her way to Maui in 1978) since we left Van Isle Marina and headed to the RVYC. We got to practice with our Radar (Kathy's much better than CJ at deciphering real things from "a bunch of black stuff") and our new rain suits and the confused seas were even helpful at pointing out that CJ has yet to conquer that dratted leak in one of the inspection ports on the port-side water tank. Did I mention short legs to get started? Now you know why; think of them as stops to repair things and put yet more things away.
There's a photo that shows what one of our couches looked like when we left. It's hard to believe we actually have found room for most of the stuff.
Port Angeles: A bit of detail here.. for those sailors following soon. We saw very few ships as we crossed Juan de Fuca but there were quite a few small fishing dinghies (I think the pinks were running). The Coho ferry, out of Victoria, made regular runs to Port Angeles and, in the mist, she looked very much like a grey ghost ship from the Bermuda Triangle. The spit running out from Port Angeles runs a very long way out and, in the fog, it can be confusing. We had called Customs before we left and, as instructed, called again when we were approx. 1 hour out. They took all of our information over the phone (and it did help that we both had NEXUS... seemed to lighten things up a little) and said they'd meet us at the customs dock when we arrived. I told the officer I had purchased a CBP Decal and I knew I needed a Cruising Permit and he said he'd waive the $19 fee as I'd already paid $27.50 (for the decal)... so that was nice. Anyway, the Customs dock is really the guest dock for the marina, immediately to the left as you enter the Port Angeles Boat Haven. We tied up, the officer came down and was very nice. Took our information, issued the Cruising Permit and didn't inspect us or the boat (I think the NEXUS really helped). So now, we know we are to report in to every port we stop in, but there shouldn't be any more paper work or inspection required. We did some research (asked the Customs officer :-) about restaurants and, on her recommendation, had dinner at the CornerHouse ... a few blocks walk from the marina on the main drag. The meal was great (shrimp salad, clam chowder, garlic bread) but we were so tired we couldn't even finish it .. and so we crawled home to bed. Oh yes, we also purchased a 'pay as you go' cell phone, from Radio Shack at The Plaza, so we can keep in touch with family.
Yet more chores: We spent today (our planned day in Port Angeles) shopping and doing chores. We walked to the local Safeway..a very large one.. and filled up our shopping cart with a ton of food. We don't really know whether we're going to actually harbour hop (stop every night and take a very long time to get to SF as well as having to cross river bars and navigate tricky channels, etc.) or... if the weather is suitable, just keep on going as long as we're comfortable and having a good time (we'll come in if/when the weather starts to turn or we need a better rest). So, we provisioned the boat as if we're heading out a bit and then heading down without stopping unless we choose to. That way, we always have options.
Yet more chores: We spent today (our planned day in Port Angeles) shopping and doing chores. We walked to the local Safeway..a very large one.. and filled up our shopping cart with a ton of food. We don't really know whether we're going to actually harbour hop (stop every night and take a very long time to get to SF as well as having to cross river bars and navigate tricky channels, etc.) or... if the weather is suitable, just keep on going as long as we're comfortable and having a good time (we'll come in if/when the weather starts to turn or we need a better rest). So, we provisioned the boat as if we're heading out a bit and then heading down without stopping unless we choose to. That way, we always have options.
When we got back Kathy started the onerous task of finding places for everything.. at this point she's the only one who knows were stuff is.. a very valuable position on ship's crew!
CJ got back into the other stuff that still needed doing. We now have our anchor locker security bar in place (nothin's going to pop that locker open), the dinghy lifting harness designed and created and the dinghy (as mentioned) knitted into place on the foredeck, some leaky bits on our cockpit locker lids have been sealed properly now, the leaky water tank inspection port will wait until we can actually pinpoint which part of the port is leaking (and hopefully by then CJ will have found the dap gun so as to use the wonderful tubes of silicone she purchased...), new motorcycle cargo nets are now secured to the cabin roof and providing a home for the ditch bag, grab & go (first aid) bag, and one of the flare guns (the other flare gun is now secured below one of the cockpit locker lids)... and the EPIRB now rests, mounted correctly, on a bulkhead just inside the companionway.
That's probably enough for now. We've had our dinner and are off to bed a bit early. Our plan is to slip at 0400 hrs. tomorrow morning and head to Neah Bay. The tides are negligible and the wind is predicted to be light, becoming westerly in the afternoon. We hope to be in Neah Bay by mid-afternoon... we shall see. We'll wait there until we're satisfied there's a suitable weather window for us to head out and around Cape Flattery. So, good friends, adieu... talk to you later.
