2018 Emerald Star Cruise

We were also having trouble with the GoFree app that allows us to see the chart plotter from our iPhone or iPad.   Our Simrad system was installed by Brent from Wave Point Marine .   Brent was available to make a quick trip over to us.   He was able to get the system running the way we want it in less then 30 min.  

USA Fred called US Customs from near the border and because of our Nexxus we were cleared via phone to enter the US.  We went into Cap Sante Marina and Fred called Craig.  He came over this afternoon and after a few minutes found a disconnected wire.  We were expecting to pay multiple “boat units” but the solution was so simple.  Fred changed the fuel filter just to be safe

Since the only way to visit Poet’s Cove Hotel was by dinghy, Fred vowed to fix the dinghy or sink it.   Good news, he fixed it. This was the first time that Guinevere had a small boat ride.   It was a little scary getting her life jacket on but we managed.   It is clear that she loves the water.     This morning the generator was not running right. This evening when Fred tried to start the generator it was dead.   We didn’t think the batteries would stay up all night without charging.   Since it was about 8 PM the sun was down our only choice was to get on the dock.   We looked over there and picked an empty slip and moved over there.

Only two other boats at anchor so we found a nice spot to anchor in the middle

We anchored in a lovely spot behind Brown Island.

We rented a car today.  National Car Rental makes it easy and convenient.  We need to do the other half of our Costco shopping.   Of course the only reason Fred goes is to get a hot dog and strawberry sundae.   We pick up meat and perishables here.   As we are checking out I see a  huge chocolate cake. I cannot let Fred out of my sight!  After everything was totaled Fred handed them a VISA  card  and they only use MasterCard, which we do not have (of course in the US it is the other way around}. And then Fred remembered that he had a check ion his wallet.  We thought the price was what was on the register.  Good news for us, they calculated the cost in US dollars and we saved over $200.   When we got home from Costco I spend the rest of the afternoon dividing the meat into portions for 2 people and then vacuum freezing them.   We have a nice sized freezer aboard.       

We had a short and uneventful trip.   The Port Sidney Marina is huge and it is quite a hike just to get to the marina office.   We headed up to “Fish on Fifth” for our first meal of really good fish & chips.   Well, it was a huge disappointment.   Partly it was my fault for ordering the halibut grilled instead of fried.   I was thinking health instead of the reason we came here.   The fish was about 2” x 2” and ½ “ thick.   Just pitiful.   Sidney has a street fair every Thursday night during the summer.   Fred is not much for shopping, so he went through ahead of me and discovered a vender selling truffles.   He went a little further and had some ice cream.   He always goes for the sweets.   I went through at a slow pace and had a look at everything.   One of the things I purchased was an aloe plant.   Since we started out with problems I thought that it couldn’t hurt to have it aboard

We haven’t been here for many years.   It is a huge harbor with lots of good anchoring spots with excellent holding in mud.    We put the dinghy down so we could go exploring and get the dogs off the boat.  We were really forward to this.  It would be the first time the dinghy was down this season. The engine wouldn't start.  Fred figured out the engine wasn't getting fuel.  He tried everything he could think of but it was no joy..     There were 15 boats here by 10 pm with plenty of room for all of us and more.

We knew we could not stay rafted to this sailboat any longer so we prepared to let go of the lines.   Fred went aboard the sailboat and loosened the bow line.   Of course, the bow of the sailboat moved out and away from us.    Fred then let loose of the stern line, planning to jump back aboard Emerald Star.   Fate had other plans.   While Fred’s hands were on the gunnel of our boat the sailboat drifted quickly away with Fred’s feet still aboard.   The inevitable happened.   Fred saw that he was suspended between both boats and said “going into the water”.   Fred was convinced he was going to die, really..  He was wearing sweats and they tried to pull him under.   The water is very cold up here this time of year.   He moved to the swim platform and I rigged up a line for him to hang onto so he wouldn’t be pulled away by the current.   Our swim platform is too high off of the water for anyone to get back aboard.  ...

While Fred was in the cockpit having his evening cigar he saw that we had drifted very close to a sailboat on a mooring buoy.   The is no one on the sailboat.   It is dark and we do not have good lighting to attempt to re-set the anchor and the wind was blowing pretty good.   We decided that the safest thing to do was to raft to this boat for the night.   We were securely attached but Fred slept very poorly worrying about the situation.

Sea trial to assess the major mechanical work that was done last month due to our "grounding" last summer outside of Ketchikan.

Emerald Star went into the water and we headed over to   Anacortes Marina , slip A 20.  The owner of this slip in this private  marina has his boat out of the water and we are free to use it for  a week.  

The dreaded Costco run.  The trip is traumatic because of the expense and then having to stow the stuff on the boat.

We checked out of the motel and moved aboard Emerald Star.   She is on the hard in Yard 2.   We have never lived aboard while the boat is on the hard before, but it is quite pleasant.   We were given a gate key so we could come and go as we please.   The yard is gravel over dirt so we can use the shower and the sink.   The boat is mass confusion inside.  We cleared the bed, the salon chaise and the galley so we could at least function

We headed over to Calico Cupboard for. breakfast.  Our favorite waitress, Alice was on duty. She and Fred go round and round. She looks very much like Liza Minnelli’s so Fred calls her Liza. This is a bakery cafe and the food is awesome. Our next stop was North Harbor Diesel. Emerald Star is on the hard and was scheduled to go into the water this afternoon. Since we have a car full of stuff to unload we opted to delay the launch until Monday. We will stay in the motel tonight and move aboard tomorrow.

This is not the fun part. Another day in the car with Merlin on my lap & Guinevere in her travel kennel sitting between Fred & I. The weather is overcast which is great for travel. We stopped at our favorite burger place in Castle Rock, WA. C & L Burgers is great. The traffic through Seattle was horrible when we passed through at 3:30 pm.  We are sure glad we are retired. I don’t think we could have handled another day on the road. We are beat. The Anacortes Inn is very nice. I also like that they have hardwood floors since our puppy can still be a bit unpredictable... We ordered Chinese food to be delivered and watched the Warriors playoff game. What a joke.   They played the worst game we have ever seen.  Not the best ending to the day.