I'm on board Shatoosh, the weather is warming up some, the river is running high and the rain is intermittent today. The nice thing about the high water is the ramp to the dock is not so steep, so making those trips up and down the ramp is much easier.
I'm taking inventory of clothes, food items, foul weather gear, spare engine parts, batteries, and fishing gear. I've have visions of catching some salmon when going up the coast and will have to check out all the regulations on the upcoming season. My net book is loaded with all the necessary charts, I have printed out the coast pilot for the northwest waters and have highlighted all the areas of concern. I've got 2 survival suits on board, one for me and one for Joyce, my first mate.
Joyce is a long time friend and able bodied crew. She has owned several sailboats in her life, but her last one was Sarah, a Cape Dory 27. We sailed her years ago, from Oahu to Kauai, and had a great time exploring the north shore, anchoring in the beautiful Hanalei Bay, motoring up the Hanalei River, cooking our fresh fish on the bbq on the beach and taking a zodiac trip up the Napali coast. Boy, those were the days, inter island cruising in the Hawaiian Islands. Rough, but beautiful. She is on the left and Ann, another crew on the right. Ann crewed for me on my Snake River Trip. This photo was taken while we were fishing for striper bass in the Delta region of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers in California.
I am so fortunate to have had many adventures on Shatoosh and Sabra, my Swan 36. I lived aboard Sabra at La Mariana Sailing Club which was in Keehi Lagoon on the leeward side of Oahu Island. In later years, Joyce kept Sarah there and my twin, Jean, lived aboard her Namaste, a Gulf 32, there, as well. We three sailors, have been impacted by the recent tsunami which hit the Hawaiian Islands and destroyed the majority of our beloved La Mariana Sailing Club. See, You Tube, and search for tsunami La Mariana Sailing Club and Keehi Lagoon to see first hand accounts of the destruction.
Too Tall Tom was going to follow us up the coast in his truck and be the land based logistical coordinator, but he is now moving to central Texas. I found him a new Albin buddy near Austin. They are having fun getting to know each other. Interesting this new fellow refers to himself as; if you can believe this, Too Wide Tom. There's a pair of them, don't tell. It will be fun to hear of their adventures and worthy, I'm certain, of a few posting on this blog site.
Speaking of Too Tall Tom, he has come up with Skol's hull number and year built...HN 2240; 1975. Anyone seeing a newly purchased Albin 25; transporting her from California to Washington State, please let me know.
I'm investigating a portable fuel tank and there are several options of new ways to syphon the fuel from one tank to another. I'd like to have that option of having extra fuel on board just in case we couldn't get into La Push, Washington and would have to stay out all night to make our next marina of Neah Bay in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. While I have adequate fuel to make the trip, it is wise to take extra. I always said Too Tall, your name should be Back Up Billy as you have back ups for the back ups. I'm not that obsessive, but on occasion I will back up a system. Like bilge pumps: manual and electric.
You might like to look into my archive section to view my sail on the Lady Washington in September 2009, when I crewed from Port Townsend to her home port of Aberdeen, near Westport, Wa. This trip represents a reversal of our current planned trip.
I am certainly getting excited about our upcoming Adventure. It has rained all afternoon and evening and I am warm and toasty in my bunk reading The Arabian Nights on my new Kindle. A book my father read to us as kids before we went to bed. It was free on Amazon. A great deal for a great day on Shatoosh, even if we are not riding a camel searching for adventure in Timbuktu.
