Warrenton Boat Yard Advertisement

Shatoosh and Pashmina make the October Issue of The Freshwater News, a publication about boating on the Columbia River since 1984.

See www.freshwaternews.com

Shatoosh and Pashmina's Santa Letter

8 December 2009: Tuesday

Hira told us goodbye the other day, as she was leaving for her Christmas holidays with her twin sister Jean in El Paso, Texas. This is the beach/desert where they were born 66 years ago. We are going to miss her, so Pash and I decided that instead of being lonely down here in Scappoose that we'd write a letter to Santa with hopes that we can have our own Christmas party.

Dear Santa,

Pashmina and I have been such great companions this year to Hira and her gang of friends that we thought we'd like to tell you what we would like for Christmas.
1. Voltmeter
2. A book for our library: Bijaboji by Betty Loman Carey; used at Amazon
3. Donations for "cruising kitty" for diesel fuel/Alcohol fuel/spare parts for engine/LED aft cabin light and anchor light.
4. LED table lamp-Target











To make it easy for you, Santa, you could go online to http://www.westmarine.com/ and purchase a gift card in whatever amount you can afford. We will enjoy whatever you send.

With love,
Shatoosh and Pashmina
P.S.
Santa, don't tell Hira that we have done this!

Merry Christmas Newletter

4 December 2009: Saturday

These were my 2 favorite photos taken of me this cruising season. The tree hugging picture was taken on Martin Island, near Kalama, Wa. and the supine picture was taken on a wing dam structure near channel marker "72". Both were unusual "finds" along the river. I have never been hugged by a tree before and it was an unique experience. Also, as unique, was lying on old timbers that the river had attacked year after year. It was a great way to stretch my spine, as the angle of the timbers were quite extreme.

This cruising season has been a great one. I had lots of hours docked working on Shatoosh on many projects; redoing inside and outside wood, painting the cabins/head, installing LED lights in the cabins, going mobile with my Verizon packed mini netbook, and creating the chart plotter. I hauled out at the Warrenton Boatyard in Warrenton, OR and had the bottom painted and new zincs put on. This trip extended my cruising grounds toward the Graveyard of the Pacific(the Columbia River Bar) and gave me a taste of the ocean's pull at the mouth of the Columbia River. I met so many new, wonderful people and even had new folks join my fleet of crew. Speaking of the ocean's pull, the fall highlight cruise was on board the Lady Washington, Washington's State Official Tallship. Ann and I helped take the Lady from Port Townsend to Aberdeen to her home port. Getting to sail aboard a tallship was truly memorable and rounding Cape Flattery in the dark of night, heading down the coast with a galaxy of stars overhead was spectacular.

Blogging took on several new aspects:

1. With my mini HP I could slog and blog in real time which made each day joyous. Every evening I would curl up in my bunk or on the bench seat and blog to my heart's content.

2. More and more people were exposed to the blog through the Albineers and the Albin Yahoo Group websites. In addition to these linkages, the Lady Washington linked this site to their blog and gave me an incredible endorsement for my blog on the Lady Washington Sail from Port Townsend to Aberdeen, WA. People have run into me on the river, asking me if I was the person who writes the blog. People email me from all over the country now and to top it all off, I have readers in Sweden, and even India. Who would have thought? With so many encouraging comments by readers, I wouldn't think of not blogging now.

I am so grateful for being able to have such a wonderful Albin, lots of incredible friends, and lots of wonderful adventures. Thank you all for being in my life and making it such a joyous one. Even if we have only spent a few hours together on some remote dock, or shared an experience by email, or have crewed for me for years, please know that you all are very important people in my life. We are all brothers and sisters to each other, helping each other along the way, as we journey with our boats along the coastal river/ocean systems. The year 2009 has been a most joyous ride. I can't wait to see what adventures will take place in 2010.

The Hawaiian Island Cafe

3 December 2009: Friday

I awoke to icy windows and docks with the cockpit temp at 32. I got up, started the heater, but feel warm in my fleece pants and pullover and cap, which I slept in. The sun was coming up and the sturgeon fishermen had been making loud talk for 30 minutes.

The Hawaiian Island Cafe waitress greeted me with,"Aloha", the Christmas decorations were up and "Mele Kalikimaka" was painted on the windows. IZ was playing on the cd changer. Gosh, I already feel warm and cozy. I'm off to a great start with hot coffee and bacon and eggs. While I'm immersed in Hawaiiana, I can never find myself eating a local favorite of spam and eggs with 2 scoops of rice. Just like the dinner menu had multiple choices of dishes, the breakfast menu was filled with goodies. All the prices are very reasonable and the Aloha spirit is dripping off the walls. If you have never eaten at the Hawaiian Island Cafe, it is well worth the cruise or car ride. Help keep our family resturants alive.

I depart St. Helens at 1040 hrs and pass several tugs loading up with barges at the entrance to the multnomah channel. I am able to hold 6knots against the current and ebbing tide which suits me fine. I see only one eagle, but many flocks of geese and cranes.

I stop at Coon Island to make me some coffee and enjoy the sun starting to emerge from the clouds.

I make a very nice docking into my slip at 1330 hrs. Check all the fluids, and bildge, as this will be my last trip this year.

I went 20.6 nm

Total for 2009: 677.8 nm

Total nm on the Columbia/Willamette Rivers from 2003-2009: 2811nm.

Chart Plotter Up And Running

3 December 2009: Thursday



















I awoke this morning to a cold cabin. The temperature was 40, but outside it was 30. The docks were icy, but there was no rain, the skies clear, and the sun shinning. I've been waiting for this weather break for weeks. As I walked along the dock, I noticed a familiar friend, one that I thought lost, but my shadow was there, weaving in between those horrid remains of Fred, the resident Great Blue Heron. I always have to hopscotch down the docks.

Up on the top of the Dike, you could see clearly Mt. Hood to the east and north to St Helens and Mt. Adams. The skies were filled with migrating Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese.
Sauvie Island is a wildlife refuge which lies to the east of my moorage. I love hearing the cackling cranes and the honking geese. The trees are barren, and last years nests are beginning to fall by the wayside. The cormorants are busy fishing up and down the Multnomah Channel. I take my time with morning chores, drive into Scappoose for breakfast, read a few boating magazines and finally get off at noon. I have no food on board, except for some box soups, I have no plan except to run the boat and see how my newly configured chart plotter works.

This chart plotter thing has been months in the making, thanks to the prodding of Whiskyjack's owner, Dan. From the moment he met me he informed me that if I wasn't using SeaClear and NOAA charts for free that I would be really missing out on the latest free bees. At first, I didn't think I would like navigating with a computer, but then he told me about small computers or netbooks. I had seen Verizon's Netbooks and liked the idea of having broadband at your finger tips cruising the backwaters of the Columbia. So, why not take advantage of it all? I jumped in and as I cruised down river today, I watched with great anticipation of the red curser showing up on the chart noting my position. Hurray, it is working. I email Dan and let him know of my progress. He returns a note, sounding happy as a clam, that I'm out on the water and the chart plotter is working.

The day was so beautiful, that I made a quick decision to head all the way down the Multnomah Channel to the small town of St Helens about 9nm. It is on the Columbia river. They have a large free City Dock and then across the river is a small island with 2 large docks that are also free. I have to hand it to the Oregon Marine Board, as they have abundant numbers of free docks all over the state. It is so wonderful to pull in for free all the time. I've become quite spoiled.

The sun went down over the City Courthouse early and the chill started infiltrating the cockpit, so I turned on the diesel heater and got things warmed up. After looking through the barren pantry, I decided to walk up into town to see if any eating places were open. Lately, it has been slim pickings as the economy isn' t ithat great in these neck of the woods. The newly established Hawaiian Island Cafe was open and the food was onolicious. The owners are from the north shore of Oahu. They are open for breakfast. What a lucky break for me! I'll be first in line when the doors open.

What a joyful, spontaneous day. I just finished a wonderful guided meditation by Sally Kempton from my recent teleconference class with her. Time to wrap myself up in my down bedroll, so good night from St Helens, OR onboard Shatoosh.

Vashon Pocket Cruiser: Shakti

27 November 2009: Friday

The other day an Albin Boater on the Yahoo Group asked about my Vashon Pocket Cruiser and how did it compare to our Albin 25?

Well, the answer is, "it doesn't compare....nothing can compare with an Albin 25, in my eyes. However, the Vashon Tug is a very sweet pocket cruiser.

The year was probably 1985-6, I had retired, was living on Orcas Island, Wa and knowing I would have a long ferry wait to return to Orcas, I drove over to the marina in Anacortes to check out boats. There she was, sitting on a trailer, an adorable little power cruiser. I went inside the brokerage office and asked about the details. She has 7 ft beam, 23 ft in length, a Yanmar, 2 cylinder diesel engine. The owner had finished out the layout of the boat. Vashon tugs as they are often called were made on Vashon Island, Wa( a small island near Tacoma). They made fishing versions and cruising versions. Recently on the internet, I saw one that was for sale with a hefty price tag of over $40,000. I believe that I paid about $15,000 for mine. I put an offer on her, had her surveyed, and cruised her to Orcas Island, while the broker brought the trailer to the island for me.

I had a wonderful time cruising all the San Juan Islands with her and gunk holing easily with her 2 ft draft. There was a porta potty, a small galley. There was a cockpit steering tiller but no controls. She was easy to handle and I loved having her in my fleet of vessels. I had my Swan 36 sloop, and 3 dinghies. I kept her berthed not far from my house on the north shore of Orcas in what is called,"the ditch". A small marina which was dug into the island many years ago. It is still there.

It was wonderful to run down to Shakti and go for a sunset cruise to Sucia Island, or Matia Island. Often I would run over to Sucia with some firewood, a big piece of salmon and veggies and cook on the beach, watch the sunset and then head back home after dark. Oh, I remember the joys of being retired at a very young age. I had lots of fun.

The Question of the Day: Where Have I Been?

15 November: Sunday

I've heard from numerous people; Albin Boaters, friends and family, all wanting to know why the blog has been empty for one month. There is lots going on, winter rains have set in, the snow levels are descending on the mountains, I had a sinus problem and many dreams are being manifested.

Remember last month I placed a note in the cockpit of Harmony, the Albin I had known in the Delta, which now is berthed in Deer Harbor. The owner responded and states," yes, he bought the trailer along with the boat and he would be happy to let me rent it for the summer 2010." Talk about a fast reply from putting out my dream.

This response began a domino effect in my planning:

I need a tow vehicle compatible with the triple axel trailer to haul me to Idaho. A columbia river boater responds. Its Larry, the captain of the Starship.

I need to get the empty trailer on and off the island of Orcas. A local friend responds. Its my crew member, Linda who I am Fortunate to have as a friend..

As of today, my dream is becoming a summer reality. Combined with a fortunate friend, a Captain of the Starship, Harmony is sweet music to my ears and the stars are the limit. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I met with Dan, the skipper of the Whiskyjack, who has been patiently guiding me through the process of converting my HP mini computer into a chart plotter, using the free program called, SeaClearII and free NOAA charts. With all the newly acquired cables to connect my computer to my GPS/Radar I temporally wire the connections. I had some problems, and with the rainy weather, I didn't want to head out of the slip to get a GPS signal. I have a covered slip and don't get a signal under the shed. Dan, meets me on board and asks if my ole handheld Garmin 48, had a simulator mode. I said,"yes". We shifted over to that mode and bingo, the cursor was cruising down the river. I spent less than $20 and saved several thousands. Thank you, several thousands times over, Dan. I'm so happy I took the extra time to meander down to his boat that one sunny afternoon and meet him. He is such an incredible resource.

Back home, after taking care of my health, I set out to fabricate the final version of my navigational tray for my HP mini. I decided on using Plexiglas with wood corners to stabilize the computer.

My make shift work bench.

The wood has been painted black to match my mini.

When the weather permits, I will head back down to Shatoosh, take her out and play with my new setup.

The Albin Yahoo Group funnels in all the emails, so I get a good look at pulse of the Albin happenings worldwide, especially on the east coast. I have conversed with John many times, who owns Ms.Bettencourt in Augusta GA. The other day he posted a noted stating he was planning on transforming a used swim platform that he had acquired and did anyone have any info on designs, styles, measurement. I responded immediately, telling him of my designed platform. I mailed him a paper template so he now has data to help him with his project.

This is a final version of the swim plaltform we put on Lit'l Bit, Jo's Albin.

He shared with me there is a company in Vancouver Wa who has templates for sliding side windows for the Albin 25. Good luck, John. It is so nice to share with you.

I've gotten to do some non-boating things; have lunches with many wonderful friends, see some movies, work on winterizing my front door and meditation room, send distant Reiki treatments to many ill friends and take a computer course, The Transformational Journey, The Upward Shift, by Sally Kempton. It has been a wonderful month, filled with inner and outer adventures. that I cherish, even in the rain.