Saturday, September 02, 2006

Railway marina3

Railway marina3
Railway marina3,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
This was our old side-tied slip before we moved. Look at the lines on that lady!!

Ericson galley

Ericson galley
Ericson galley,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Our little galley...complete with ice box and two burner alcohol stove. Small but adequate for the two of us.

happy 23rd

happy 23rd
happy 23rd,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
We celebrated our 23rd anniverasary at anchor in Deer Harbor. What a cradle robber I was!

deer habor anchorage

deer habor anchorage
deer habor anchorage,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Looking out from Deer Harbor

Cleaning the lamp

Cleaning the lamp
Cleaning the lamp,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Daily task cleaning the anchor lamp

mast climber 2

mast climber 2
mast climber 2,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Peter and Octavia aboard their brand new Hunter 44. We were at anchor on Sucia Island. I don't know what he said to her but she wouldn't come down for about thirty minutes!!!

Mauseleum

Mauseleum
Mauseleum,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Pretty cool family memorial in the forest above Roche harbor. The broken pillar was intentional and signified that death seperates but does not destroy.

Plane landing at Sucia Echo Bay

Plane landing at Sucia Echo Bay
Plane landing at Sucia Echo Bay,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
This pilot was pretty busy while we were here. It looks like he is landing on the back of Peter and Octavia's Hunter.

Sea cave sucia

Sea cave sucia
Sea cave sucia,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
One of many sandstone sea caves

Stairway to heaven

Stairway to heaven
Stairway to heaven,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Ughh! Steep climb back up the cliffs at Reid Harbor

Mariahhh's Wake

Well the trip across the dreaded Straight of juan de Fuca was uneventful and we made landfall dead on Cattle Pass despite fog and limited visibility. We spent the first night in Friday Harbor packed in like sardines in the anchorage (we reset the anchor four times including one time after dark).

After refueling and showering the next day at Deer Harbor we sailed over to Stuart island and spent three days and nights in Reid Harbor. We hiked around the island over a couple of days and were fortunate to get up[ to the lighthouse just in time to watch one or two of the orca whale pods breaching and cavorting through the pass.

Our next stop was at Roche Harbor on San Juan island where we spent a couple days looking around. We restocked with groceries, showered and headed back over to Deer Harbor to gas up and anchor out for the night.

Our most exciting sailing experience was from Deer Harbor over the top of Orcas Island to Sucia Island. We had to reef the sails and our little rubber dinghy started doing cartwheels behind Mariahhh when the wind kicked up. We made it to Sucia and took one of the last mooring balls available. The first night we pitched and rolled all night long and some of our neighbors got seasick. We met a really cool couple (Peter and Octavia) who were out in their brand new Hunter 44. What an unbelievably beautiful boat!!!

After two days at Sucia we sailed/motored down to Spencer Spit state park for the night and back to the mainland the next day.

Overall it was two great weeks in paradise even though we had to endure two to three days between showers. We are still uploading photos from the trip so check back again. The second week of September we are going up north again to the Canadian Gulf Islands for a couple weeks.

taxi rower

taxi rower
taxi rower,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Mario just over from Venice wondering why the American women made the boat sit so low in the water.

taxi service

taxi service
taxi service,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Taxi service to the Island from Mariahhh was wonderful! It was easy and relaxing with a nice view!

china men caves 2

china men caves 2
china men caves 2,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
These caves on Sucia Island were used for temporary shelter by Chinese immigrants being smuggled into the US in the 1800's. Opium also was brought in through this island.

Sucia cliff path

Sucia cliff path
Sucia cliff path,
originally uploaded by mariahhh_29.
Careful!!! The fall over the rocks is 100 feet down!