July 2010 San Juan Cruise Part I with Melinda, Cash and Catie

We’ve been rushing around for days trying to get Hobbit ready for a 4-day cruise with Melinda, Cash, and Catie as prelude to a longer trip north.  It seems that a motor in their camper broke and they are unable to go camping over the long 4^th of July week-end.  My big project was to replace the broken sliding window over the galley stove.  This entailed removing the frame on the outside of the boat then removing the good fixed pane of glass.  I had been advised that I would destroy the wooden frame and break the glass.  However, by taking a lot of time over 2-days I managed to get the old window out without breaking anything.  Given the rush, I decided to hire a person experienced in window repair to help me put everything back together – definitely worth the $150 he charged.

We really need another day or two to get Hobbit cleaned up and fully ready, but the opportunity to go out with Melinda and our grandchildren doesn’t come around often.

Friday, July 2

We finally got away just after noon and headed to Anacortes to meet MC&C. They arrived about 8:30 in the evening as Melinda had to work today.  Tomorrow is Linda’s birthday so Melinda picked up an “Atomic Bomb” chocolate cake which has many kinds of chocolate.  Since it needs refrigeration, we decided to go ahead and celebrate Linda’s birthday today.

Note that the inscription reads “Happy Birthday Crabma”, not “Grandma”.  Linda got crab ear rings and a crab pin from my mother.  She got Inukshuk ear rings, a crab magnet, and a bottle of Grey Goose vodka from MTC&C.

Saturday, July 3

Right after breakfast we headed off to Friday Harbor which is a must for C&C.  Given that this is a holiday week-end we were fortunate to get a slip.  While I stayed on the boat catching up with some odds and ends that needed to be done, the rest of the crew headed into Friday Harbor town.

Linda writing: MeLinda, Cash, and I had grilled oysters at the Crab Shack over looking the harbor and then we went next door for lunch—Catie had PB&J. Then we went shirt shopping and to King’s Market. Next, we split up with Cash and I going to his favorite place, the Arctic Raven Gallery. He loves this place and spends literally hours just looking at all the Northwest Indian Art and dreaming of the day he will be able to afford something from there. He is becoming quite knowledgeable about what goes into making an item of quality. He is such a joy to be with. After several hours at the gallery with Cash, I went shopping with Catie who badly wanted to find some rocks. She really loves to collect rocks and then determine what kind they are. I bought her a bag of rocks and a book on rocks and minerals. She was a very happy camper!

In the evening C&C enjoyed one of their favorite pastimes – catching dock shrimp with a small net.

Sunday, July 4

In the morning Cash helped me raise “Eulas” the large American flag which was Linda’s uncle’s burial flag.  We fly this flag on the 4^th of July and Memorial Day.  Afterwards, I took C&C on a tour of Friday Harbor Labs so they could see where I went to school.  Or maybe it was Cash taking Catie and me.  This was the first time I allowed Cash to run the outboard motor.  C&C were particularly fascinated with the laboratories where all kinds of marine animals were in tanks for study and research.  After exploring FHL, Cash took us on a sight seeing trip along the rocky shoreline before taking us back to the marina.  Catie was not too pleased with the ride and kept blaming Cash even though the problem was wakes from other vessels.

Linda: Last night Cash and I were talking about various items in the Arctic Raven Gallery and he mentioned the price of an ivory whale tail necklace. I told him that I did not remember it being that price. So, we made a bet that if it was indeed that price I would buy it for him. (I must have been drinking my birthday vodka!) So, today off we went to the gallery and I lost the bet. Cash now sports a genuine ivory whale tail necklace, and he is a happy camper!! The people at the gallery have become interested in him since he is so young to have such a strong interest the items there. They now unlock the cabinets and let him examine everything for as long as he wants. They even offered to give him a job there when he is a bit older. Catie bought more rocks and is happily amusing herself identifying them.

In the evening C&C once again went after dock shrimp.  Catie got a big kick out of getting in the dinghy, pushing it away from Hobbit, then pulling herself back in with the attached line.  After it got dark we watched fireworks launched from a barge just outside the marina.  In the distance we could also see fireworks from, we believe, Oak Harbor and Anacortes.

 Cash and Catie Catching Shrimp on the Friday Harbor Dock

Catie Having Fun in Hobbit’s Dinghy

Cash & Catie with “Eulas” Flying Overhead.  Melinda on Bridge

Monday July 5

Mid morning we headed to Spencer Spit.  This is probably C&C’s second favorite spot in the San Juans.  We anchored then split up – I took Linda, Melinda, and Catie to one section of the beach then went back for Cash.  As I approached Hobbit the outboard quit.  I couldn’t get it restarted and ended up rowing back to get Cash.  With Cash on board I did get the motor going but it died again on the way to the rocky shoreline we were going to.  We ended up rowing to the beach.

At the beach everyone had their usual great time on a sunny day.  Cash and Catie got totally wet.  When it was time to go back to Hobbit the motor wouldn’t start so we ended up having to row back.  Rowing became particularly difficult after one of the oarlocks broke.

Pensive Cash Enjoying the Trip to Spencer Spit

Cash Driving Hobbit

Linda and Catie on the Beach at Spencer Spit – note Catie’s rocks

Cash Retrieving the Dinghy

Melinda and Catie Walking on Spencer Spit with Linda in Background

Tuesday, July 6

We left about 9:00 in the morning so Melinda could drive me around Anacortes looking for a new oar lock to replace the one that was broken.  A suitable one was not found so I ordered a pair to be UPS overnighted to me from the dealer in Seattle.  After saying a sad goodbye to MC&C we moved to a reciprocal dock in the Cap Santé Marina.