Morning fog and drizzle...

No, that's not a weather forecast.  Joan has to go in early this morning, so it gave me a reason to be up and about.  There is a light drizzle and pretty fog... well, it's pretty when I'm in my snug boat or even out to take photos.  I'll be out whale watching later, and the fog/drizzle means one more level of work.

But for this morning, here's a look around our marina home...

Can you find Wild Blue in the image above?  Look for the red kayak on top.   The marina is pretty full for the weekend; there was a lot of activity when we walked over for ice cream last night... not much moving around this morning.

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On edit: My timing was good; shortly after shooting the above images, the rain started coming down heavier... just in time for Joan's walk to work.  When it let up again, the fog rolled in thicker.  I guess it's going to be that kind of day: don't like view - wait 5 minutes.

I took another walk and shot these...

While I was out shooting, I saw two people go back to their boats to get their cameras.  It really is pretty.

Five minutes later... yep, the fog was lifting... or maybe moving?

I know I've posted an image of this "woodie," but the water was like a mirror.

Looking down into the water, I saw this critter...

You don't have to go far to get photo-ops here.

Considering a change of career...

Is it a change of career when you are actually retired?  I think I want to be a weather reporter... oh, I know I talk about the weather a lot on this blog, but when you're out on a boat, weather is always on your mind.

That rainy forecast for this afternoon?  Yeah, it didn't happen.  In fact, it was so nice that I actually took my jacket off while running the boat.  The sky wasn't a clear blue, but it was partly sunny.  And humid... Texas kinda humid.  Not much wind, but the sea state got a little sloppy south of Cattle Pass (not unusual).

And there were whales!  J-Pod, and they were active.  The guests on my boat got a great show... I would like to say it is because of my great whale intuition, but I was fortunate -  every way I turned, the whales turned.  At one point, I had several other whale watch boats following us. :-D 

Even the naturalist was impressed... I told her it was my new secret weapon: I painted the bottom of the boat black and white! ;-)  Yes, I'm kidding.  Sometimes you just get lucky.

No, I don't really want to be a weather guy.  I just want the right to be wrong more often than not, and not lose my job.

Speaking of my job, we are now 1/3 of the way through the season.  The time is going really fast.  I'm getting comfortable with the boats, the water, the erratic whale movements, and the less than accurate weather forecasts.  Listening to the guests gasp when they see these magnificent creatures never gets old!  I still find the occasional whoops and hollers coming out of me.  And the best part: it is never the same thing twice... oh, I have gotten to the same spots now and then, but usually by different routes and always with different wildlife; and it goes without saying that the weather makes it a different game every single day.

What an interesting way to spend a summer season in the Pacific Northwest.

I guess we are into "the season"...

It's been a while since a day where I was on-call didn't turn into a trip.  With the 4th of July falling mid-week, it seems we are having a "holiday weekend" on either side of that.  Good for business.  Mother Nature is up to her usual shenanigans (and how often do you get to use that term?) of wet weekends: looks like rain for our trip times today and tomorrow, but some sun on Sunday (that's appropriate) afternoon.  There are even mentions of (gasp) "sunny" for a few days in the 10 day forecast.

We'll see.

Day off, sorta...

Mother Nature decided to give us some liquid sunshine on our day off.  So, we decided to put off kayaking for a better day.  What to do, what to do?  I've been working on proofreading a book for RV friends, but didn't feel like sitting around the boat to do it.  Well, not our boat.

The ferry has a cafeteria, a decent tables to sit at... eat... do some editing.  We got there in time for breakfast...

With a view of the San Juan Islands, someone else doing the driving, and breakfast in our bellies, I worked on proofreading the last few chapters of the book...

Joan wanted to find a place to get a haircut, so we sought out a salon for her.  While I waited, I finished the editing and got the manuscript sent off.  The book is by the folks who do the "Living the RV Dream" podcast, and is a how-to for getting into the full-time RVing lifestyle.  John and Kathy have been living in their motorhome for the past 7 years and used to do a radio talk show about RVing.  The podcasts are a better fit for their mobile lifestyle, and the book will be a good companion to go with their show.

With my work and Joan's hair done, I was anxious to find a good place for lunch... Texas Roadhouse sounded good.  I pulled out the phone to find the nearest one, and (of course) traffic got heavier.  I handed the phone to Joan (don't drive distracted) and pulled off to be able to finish the search.  And there - right in front of us - like a devine message: 5 Guys.  OK, scrap the steak and let's go for a big ol' bacon cheeseburger and a bunch of fresh fries!  Tasty!

We shopped for some supplies, and headed back to the ferry landing.  Unlike last time, we didn't make the first afternoon trip... good thing we didn't have anything else planned, since we sat in line for the next ferry.  This time, we were one of the first ones on.

Back to the "scenic dining area" for the return trip...

These overcast, drizzly days are still pretty (as the scene above shows).  I was concerned the truck would get salt spray on it, since we were at the very front of the ferry.  No need to worry, we were getting a "fresh water rinse" since we were just out of the covered area...

 The ferry is sometimes a thorn in my side when I'm driving the whale watch boat - if they are coming or going, the water in our slip is too churned up to get in or out.  They were very kind to me the other day, holding their departure for a short time while I slid out of the slip with the group for the ash spreading ceremony (yes, I did ask for that).  But I have to admit, I enjoy riding on the ferry... you are a somewhat captive audience while aboard, but there is comfortable seating with a view (and Joan really likes their coffee).

The permit parking area for the marina was nearly full when we got back - looks like there are a lot of people coming to Friday Harbor to get an early start on the 4th of July holiday.  We're supposed to have this rainy weather for the next couple days, and then... sunshine.  For a week or so.  We'll see how that plays out.

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On edit: I forgot to mention one really pleasant surprise yesterday: we bought fuel on the way back to Anacortes for 75¢ per gallon less than last month!  Being on an island, we don't use the truck much; we walk to work, the grocery store, restaurants, and the laundromat... oh, and the ice cream shop.

The boys are back in town... well, the Ts

The rest of the day was as beautiful as the morning.  We had to go to Canada to see whales, but we saw a good group of transient killer whales just outside of Bedwell Harbour.  We were one of the few when we first got there, but soon became one of the many - that was more whale watch boats and private boats than I've seen previously.

At one point, a group of about 6 transients turned abruptly and came towards our boat.  I swung us out of their path (staying legal), but the guests onboard would have preferred that we just stay and let 'em come at us.  I think they understood when the naturalist explained why we did what we did... the rules aren't the same in Canada, but there are still rules.

Other than wake from the bevy of boats, the water was beautifully calm.  I got by with only two layers of clothing today... pretty darn nice.

Joan had the day off from work, but worked around the boat... there is always something to do on a boat.

Tomorrow is a day off for both of us.  I think a "veg day" may be in order. ;-)

Oh, what a beautiful morning...

Everybody sing! ;-)

Yes, I see the national weather.  A lot of the country is getting hammered by extreme heat or the after-effects of Tropical Storm Debby.  Here in the San Juan Islands, the sun is out, the wind is down, and the temperatures are lovely!  The high today is going to be approaching 70º.  Yeah, I know that seems like a low temp for the end of July, but did I mention: the sun is shining!?  Not a "sun break", but actual blue sky, you can see for miles and miles, big yellow orb in the sky, sunshine!  A few puffy white clouds, just to add to the ambiance.

I'll be driving a boat today.  I may be able to be out there with only two layers of clothes.  The low wind means the water should be reasonably calm.  And sunshine!  The boat I'm on most of the time has a helm that is more exposed than our C-Dory.  Today should a glorious day on the water!

I'm touched...

I have been amazed at the number of e-mails and private messages I've received since posting about the ashes scattering.  Seems that it has given folks some alternatives to consider.  I'm touched by the personal responses.

Scattering ashes...

Today, I took a family out on the water to spread the ashes of a loved one (wife, mother, grandmother, and sister of those in attendance).  The last time they did this, they were taken to a specific place, put the ashes in, and that was it.  I suggested we make it a traditional ceremony: go to the place they requested, do a circle to the left to represent a turn back of time, so as to never forget.  Release the ashes.  Do a circle to the right, to represent time and life goes on... and the two loops come together to make an infinity symbol.  At that point, a ringing of the ship's bell 8 times to signify end of watch.  Then some time in silence with the stern of the boat facing the placement, followed by starting the boat and a slow departure.

They were very grateful for this suggestion on how to do this in a traditional manner.

After the ceremony, I told them their family member "now has a front row seat to the wonders of all the places touched by the sea.  She will begin her new journey, carried by the tides and currents, forever."

At their request, the first mate and I then took them out to Haro Straight, where they saw whales, and we gave them a scenic tour by some of the islands.

It truly was very touching.

I'm not ready to go right now, but this is a fitting way when the time comes.

It's a glamorous job...

Yes, I do walk with a certain "swagger."  With this job, I don't wear the white shirt and epaulettes  - we get to wear blue logo shirts and vests.  I don't have a lot of contact with the guests, since the helm is separated from the passenger areas.  Truth be told, I like the interaction with the guests.

And just before heading out today, I went down to the head compartment and noticed an... aroma.  I opened the toilet and... yuk, it hadn't been flushed.  I asked the first mate if she had checked this.  Her response, "Yeah, I think there's something wrong with it.  Pump it down and stuff comes back up."

"Um, you coulda told me about this SOONER!"

I told her to let our guests know that the potty would be "emergency only" use, and that we would be departing a bit late so anyone who wanted could use the on-shore facility.

Fortunately, we had an understanding group.  With decent bladder capacity.  It probably didn't hurt that we got them to whales and it was a pretty nice day, weather-wise.  We had a ring-side seat for a lot of whale activity.  Oh, and a few bald eagles just for fun.

When we came back, the guests were all happy, but anxious to visit um... land facilities again.  Which left me to deal with the head.  One look in the waste basket by the head told me what to expect... there was a feminine hygiene product wrapper.  I'm saying that as delicate as I can.  Let's just say that it wasn't a guy who plugged up the head.

I went inside and put on my cover-alls.  And rubber gloves.  I lucked out and found the ... um... culprit... at the first junction I tried.  Putting it back together, everything pumped.  And went away when you pumped.

We don't have a head like that in our boat.  For this reason.   I went back into the office and let the owner know that we now have a new rule on this boat: "If it didn't go through your system, it doesn't go in this boat toilet!"  Not a pretty conversation, but WAY better than telling folks, "Sorry, we don't have a toilet for you to use on this trip."

I guess I'll have to practice being... delicate.  Yeah, that's a word I frequently use to describe myself.

But, we DID see plenty of whales, AND it didn't start sprinkling until after I got home to our boat... and washed my hands six more times... and used a bunch of hand sanitizer.  Plus, rum is supposedly a good internal antiseptic.

Yes, mine is a very glamorous job. ;-)

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On edit: tomorrow morning I am taking out a group to spread ashes... I figured they shouldn't have to deal with a stopped up head on the boat.

Willie's Tug and kitty bonding...

Joan had to work today; I was on-call, but got the day off.  It was a treat to have lunch with Herb and Wilma, the crew of Willie's Tug, before they left for Anacortes.  Should be a lovely trip back for them today - not much wind, mostly clear sky, and... sunshine!

Izzy and I had some bonding time... well, I considered gluing her to the wall when she went crazy chasing a fly all around the boat... while I was trying to take a nap. ;-)  Izzy drank extra water, I'm presuming to get rid of "fly breath."  On the bright side, Wild Blue is now fly-free.

Interesting day...

It rained this morning (big surprise), but let up before we went to work around noon.  Merv and Kathy came by the boat while we were prepping it before our trip...

I had a boat full on our 1:30 trip, and we saw whales... including a fairly new calf - it was still peachy colored on it's "white parts."  The guests were loving it.

While viewing the whales, I looked to the south and saw a squall blowing in.  The wind built fast and the temperature dropped... it was pretty apparent that it was going to get ugly.  Most of the other boats that were out there headed south, since it was the shortest route back.  I went north, mostly to avoid wave action on the beam.  It wasn't pleasant, but I could hear the guys on the radio that went south and they were getting 4 to 5' waves... we were seeing 2.5 to 3', and they weren't on the beam (a very big plus when you're sitting at that tall flybridge.

About half way back, the squall reached us, but by then we were in the northern lee of San Juan Island in Spieden Channel.  The visibility dropped, I turned on the radar.  Even in the lee, I was getting spray all across the flybridge.  Nothing I could do about the wind, but I had to slow down for the visibility.  The guests seemed to be enjoying the "white water ride."

With the boat back in the slip, I didn't have another trip, so I headed for the boat... after all, it was time for Izzy's supper.  Along the way, I ran into David and Maureen (friends of Herb and Wilma) on the dock.  They invited me to their boat for happy hour and snacks (apparently the 3 couples who are traveling together go to David and Maureen's boat each evening because they have plenty of room).

I went back to our boat to change out of my uniform and feed little Izzy.  David and Maureen's boat is beautiful - lots of pretty teak and holly, and a great layout.  They offered my an adult beverage, but I wasn't feeling like it... I did accept a Diet Coke.  Good thing, because right after that I got a call asking if I could do a charter this evening.  Apparently, a couple was supposed to fly out of Roche Harbor on a sea plane, but the plane couldn't get out of Seattle... they had to get to Deer Harbor this evening to get on the ferry to get to Seattle to fly out of there.

They took a cab from Roche and arrive shortly after I got back into uniform and got the boat prepped.  I had a lovely new first mate: the Blonde.  She hasn't ridden on this boat, yet, so I gave her the "short course."  We put the nice couple onboard, stowed their luggage, and shoved off.  The crappy weather from earlier had moved on, and we had a beautiful sunset cruise, dropped our passengers off at Deer Harbor (Joan handled lines like she's been doing it forever), and had an absolutely beautiful ride back to Friday Harbor.  The best part for me was getting to have my pretty first mate with me up on the flybridge.

Coming back into Friday Harbor, there was a cute little blue-hulled SunCat sailboat (we used to have one of those) out sailing and enjoying the day's last rays.  Joan tied me off at the dock, then went up to the office to close it down for the evening, while I put the boat to bed... again.

I have said, "It's never the same thing twice with this job."  Yep.

A mini gathering...

Fred & Robbin (Anita Marie) and Barry & Patti (C-Cakes) are in Friday Harbor.  In the rain.  Robbin was working (nice that she can do that from the boat), but the other 3 came by our boat for a visit.  We sat in the cockpit, talked, and laughed.  It's always interesting how the conversation moves around when you're with friends.

The plan is for supper out somewhere tonight.  Two meals out in a row for us - that's kind of a big deal for us "marina folks."  ;-)

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On edit:

Fred took us on a "walking tour of Friday Harbor in the rain" while searching for a Thai restaurant. They were full, but the Mexican restaurant next door served up unique Mexican food. Back to Fred and Robbin's boat with the 6 of us for dessert! A great evening and fun get-together.


Robbin was telling a story... I think this one involved hunters, a handgun, and hearing (or lack thereof). Or maybe it was Fred telling about panties and Tom Jones? Or maybe... 

Yep, it's raining...

Glad we are back at the marina after being out on Wild Blue.  There has been a steady rain since late this morning.  Oh, I see the locals out there in flannel shirts and no jacket.  We walked up town for a burger out and some grocery shopping... dressed in our winter Gor-Tex® jackets, carrying an umbrella.

Back at the boat, we have the heat on, and Joan just made hot chocolate.  Even with the jackets, I was chilled to the bone.  Just when I think we're acclimating, Mother Nature does this so she can have a chuckle at my expense.

More of the same is predicted for the next couple days; weekends are our busiest days on the boats... unless the weather is uncooperative.  Looks like we'll have some sunny days mid-week, then back to rain again next weekend.  Sure glad I brought all my rain gear.

A look around the San Juans...

Again, as promised, for our daughter and anyone who wants to look, here is a look at some homes and some views of some of the other islands in the San Juan Islands.  Depending on who you ask, there are somewhere around 174 named islands in the San Juans.  Many are unpopulated (total population of San Juan County, which takes in all the islands is around 16,000); the four largest islands (San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island) have most of that population base.  It is the smallest county in Washington State in land size, at around 175 square miles of land and 446 square miles of water.

"Izzy, do you want to go out on the boat today?"  What do you think?

We had the day off today, and headed out on Wild Blue.  We considered heading to Victoria, but we have meat, vegetables, and fruit onboard... and no place to leave that, and no desire to toss it.  We first headed towards Shaw Island and one of our favorite anchorages in the San Juans, Blind Bay.  We were surprised to see only a few boats anchored there; when we have been here in the past (5 years ago was the last time), the anchorage was pretty well populated.  We noticed that there are fewer private boats out and about, but it may be that it is still early in the summer season.

We dodged the ferry between Orcas Island and Shaw Island, and made a turn into East Sound at Orcas Island.  We watched a Kenmore Air seaplane land and take off at Rosario Resort and Spa...

A look at Rosario Resort from the water...

You'd like this place... one guest review said it reminded them of the place in the movie Dirty Dancing. ;-)  A hot tub, heated pool, spa, and other amenities.  We again considered stopping for the night, but decided to move on.

We made our way through Wasp Passage, around a bunch of small islands, and a view of one of my favorite houses that I pass once in a while on the whale watch boat...

I'll have to hit the lottery to afford it, but what a spectacular view they have to the west.  Speaking of to the west, just a bit southwest of that place is another small island that is also a State Park: Jones Island.  We have stayed here a couple times.  Tent camping or staying on your boat, so it won't be as swanky as Rosario Resort...

As we cruised around the northwest side of Jones Island, we saw... some frickie-dickie porpoise...

The real name of these quick-moving, camera shy mammals is harbor porpoise; apparently the term "frickie-dickie" is a local colloquialism meaning: "The sun doesn't shine much here and I am pissed that you people from Texas get to see fun-loving dolphins every damn day, and you get to wear shorts even in the winter!"  The harbor porpoise are not as animated as the bottle nose dolphin back in the Tropical Tip... I've never seen one do a flip or dance on its tail.  Getting a photo of one is tough unless you have a DSLR, and we didn't bring ours.  Still, Joan got the shot above with a point and shoot.

We headed back towards San Juan Island.  A few more homes that you can see from the water...

On most of the populated islands, the terrain heads steeply down to the water - it makes for good views from homes that dot the hillsides.

We had no intention of whale watching today, but near San Juan Island, we came across this male foraging by hisself...

I made a call to our boats and we had a nice viewing to ourselves as this big fellow moved towards Speiden Channel.  It also gave me the opportunity to photograph our boats underway...

Reports came through of more animals to the south, so they departed.  We bobbed around and watched for a while, then decided to head towards Roche Harbor.  The marina there is nice, lots of BIG boats...

No real town associated with the place, but we do really like the restaurant there.  Joan had made lunch on the boat earlier, so we didn't feel the need for a stop.  As we left the area, we saw these folks driving their golf cart up their dock - walking is so gauche...

And a nice place with a lovely view of the harbor...

No, that's not the same dock as above.  Some folks have a fixed dock, with a platform that moves up and down with the tide.  Notice how steep the ramp is - pretty low tide today (the first full day of summer).

Heading out of Roche Harbor, we came across another Killer Whale (Orca)...

He obviously had someplace he needed to be - he was moving right along.  And, a few more homes along the shore.

And like the whale, time for me to go... hope you enjoyed today's photo essay.

So, where are the whales?

I've only had a couple people ask me that as I'm heading to the boat.  It's a unique perspective that we deal with.  We belong to a network of commercial whale watch operators, and real time information is important to the success of our business.  The company we work for has a better than 90% success rate on getting our guests to the whales.  Coming in as the new guy, I was surprised at what all it takes to get and disseminate the information (and, no, I'm not going into detail).

I was even more surprised at the number of people who come into our office and ask the question that is the title to this post.  No, the office staff does not have that information.  It reminds me of back when we were still in the studio, and people would call and ask, "How do you photograph __________?"  Fill in the blank; we were asked about all manner of things.  What it came down to was: they were wanting us to give away the knowledge that we paid to acquire and needed to make a living.

As we were getting off the boat yesterday, one of the guests asked me, "How far did we go today?"  I had to think about it before I gave her an estimate of "about 48 miles round trip."  If you are in a sailboat, you can't cover that amount of miles in that time.  If you are in a powerboat, you will likely use 20 to 30 gallons of fuel to get there and back (at $4-5/gallon)... it would be cheaper to buy a ticket on one of our boats. ;-)  And you can relax and take in everything while underway.

And all this doesn't take into account that the whales are constantly moving.  They can swim up to 30 mph when they are truckin'.  It is like an on-going chess game everyday.  We get a report that they are at a certain location, moving at an estimated speed... and there are a lot of islands around here, so there is never a direct route.  Not to mention that the whales don't get any of these reports - they go where they please, always in search of their food source.  And a pod may be scattered out over dozens of miles.

We do see private boats when we're in the vicinity of the whales.  We see the flagrant violations of federal and state law, as people run up too close, and sometimes right over, where the whales are foraging.  SoundWatch and StraitWatch (the Canadian equivalence) sees them, too.  And photographs them, taking down registration numbers.  Law Enforcement (federal and state) is often on the scene, as well.

I haven't seen any US commercial operators intentionally violate the mandated distances.  This is their livelihood, and no one wants to cause stress to the animals or potentially expose themselves for HUGE fines.  Oh, and those same fines apply to pleasure craft operators, too... even if you are out paddling a kayak.

Even so, the whales didn't get the memo.  If they are down for a few minutes and deviate from the path they were traveling (and they do that all the time), and come up inside the federal and state distance laws... you are in violation of the law.  Potential knock on your license and that fine I mentioned previously (when I said HUGE: up to $50,000).  In that chess game parlance above: checkmate, you lose.

While viewing, we log which whales were are seeing (yes, we are able to ID them by their dorsel fins and markings), specify locations (lat/lon), and forward that information to an Orca network that does research.  Our naturalists on the boats are trained; most have degrees in marine biology.  The captains plan intercept courses, based on location info we have and tide/current/weather.  We are trained in federal and state regs and have guidelines within our network that were the basis for the regulations.

At the helm, I am managing the boat, monitoring up to 4 different radios and comm devices, scanning for traffic, avoiding debris in the water, and looking for wildlife... whales (all different types), other porpoise, seals, sea lions, eagles and other birds, and any animals on land.  Unlike captain jobs I've had in the past, I am separated from the guests.  I communicate with the naturalist to point out what I see and position the boat for the best viewing.  Sometimes while running, I get the chance to look all around and take in the spectacular beauty of this area, too.  It is a new adventure each day.

When we are cruising on our own in the area and come across whales, it is a very special treat.

So, where are the whales?  About 1/4 of the way through our work commitment here, they haven't been in the same place twice.  That's part of the challenge.

Georgia, Georgia...

The only report we received for whales was at Point Roberts.  That is a point of land that is part of the US, but the only way to reach it by land is to pass into Canada first... you can get there by boat, but stopping anywhere isn't part of our whale watching.  Oh, and it is a long run from Friday Harbor, especially for a "3 hour trip."  Not to mention crossing the Strait of Georgia, which can potentially be some rough water.

It took us nearly an hour and a half to get there, and the Strait was downright pleasant.  The guests were treated to some nice whale views, but we knew we couldn't stay long.  I told them we'd make a pass to the west, where I heard there were a couple large male Orcas.  Turns out that was a good move, and we were treated to two males that did a spy hop, a few tail slaps, and one nice breach!

I let the guests know we were going to be late in getting back, and they were all delighted to have gotten extra time with the whales.  I put the coals to it on the way back, but the currents kept our time to about the same as the trip north.  We saw seals and harbor porpoise, but it was as we passed them.

Back at the dock, the naturalist got a big round of applause, and as I came down the ladder from the flybridge, a round for the captain, too.  Very nice folks.

Joan got off work just before I finished putting the boat away, so we got to walk home (well, back to the boat) together.

And now, we have two consecutive days off together... something that probably won't happen again this season.  Decisions, decisions.  Anchor out, head to another island in the San Juans, or bop over to Victoria.  It would be easy to become a "marina boat"... it takes some effort to unhook everything, put all our stuff down, and go burn our own fuel.  Even if it's a day trip, I am needing some helm time on Wild Blue.  ;-)

Hot fun in the summertime!

Today, shortly after 4:00 local time, summer officially begins.  We got up this morning and saw sunshine and blue sky.  Could it be... two in a row?  The high today is supposed to be mid to upper 60s, with a light NNE wind, and only partly cloudy.

A working day.  Joan is in the office all day, I go in just after noon and will probably be on the boat until the sun sets... which will be around 9:30 this evening.

I may be premature with this decision, but I'm heading out without the benefit of longjohns... hey, it is "officially" summer. ;-)

I can't believe I get paid for this...

OK, there are days where whatever I make isn't enough.  Today was not one of those days.  It was partly cloudy as I walked to work, breaking off to OMG beautiful by the time we were ready to shove off.  The whales, and there were plenty of whales, were only 40 minutes away.  And active.  South of Lopez Island, and the water was calm.  Beautiful views all around... and whales all around.  We were able to shut down and watch from both sides of the boat!

On the way to the whales, we saw some harbor porpoise and seals... and the guests were excited about that.  I was looking forward to seeing the reactions when we got to the whales... yep, lots of ooohhhs and aaahhhhs and cameras clicking!

And, did I mention: sunshine?  As in: I had to put on sunscreen.  And, it was good.

Mowing the lawn...

I know what you're thinking: Jim, you hate yardwork.  Mowing the lawn rates right up there with getting dental work done.  Selling the house up north (and giving the new owner the lawn mower) was a delight.  Living on the boat for the summer is a guarantee you won't have to mow anything.

Sorta.

Wild Blue is self-contained.  One of the reasons we chose this boat is the enclosed head, complete with a shower and an RV type toilet system (less complicated than most boat heads).  We visit the pump out station when the holding tank gets full.  This morning, Wild Blue let us know it was time for a pump out.  We make these little treks around the marina (the pump out is on the other side) once every 7 to 10 days.

Today, the tide is way out.  Looking down from the boat, the leafy green stuff on the bottom is way up.  I put the motor down, fired it up, and... we started mowing the greenery.  The BIG leafy stuff won't hurt the prop, but it can cling to the skeg and block the water intakes.  For you landlubbers, that is like having no water in the radiator of your car.

We got just outside the breakwater (we have to go out to go around) when the engine water alarm went off.  "Check the pee stream," I said to Joan.  No, that has nothing to do with her urinary tr... um, nevermind.

"It's peeing!"

I was about to do the same thing when the engine quit.  Joan was getting the paddle out when I got the motor restarted.  A few seconds later - the alarm again.  We went through the stalling/starting procedure a couple more times before we could tie off at the pump out.  First things first: the shitter needs to be emptied, but first we need to check the motor.

Yep, lots of leafy green crap all over the skeg, blocking both water intakes.  It must have been sucking enough water through the leaves to pee, but not enough to keep the motor cool.  A quick brushing and we were good to go back to the reason we were here (easy with an outboard... not so easy to diagnose with an inboard or diesel)... emptying the poop tank.

That chore went easy (they have good equipment here), and we were soon on our way back to our slip.  Yep, the slip that is sitting in the same shallow water.  We pulled in, tied off, and cleaned the intakes again, 'cause they were both covered.

Lesson learned: excrement occurs, but when you need to deal with it, an extreme low tide is not the time.  Take care of this stuff AFTER work, not before when you are up against a schedule.

The Alligator...

No, there are no alligators in the water here in the PNW.  Not talking about the dance from Animal House.  We have an alligator in our boat...

Well, more of an Izzy-gator.  She does this peeking thing when she's ready to pounce.  This morning, I was laying out pills (it's what old people do).  Now, I'm picking up vitamins.  Apparently, any small item placed on the table falls into the category of 'toy.'

She also does 'the alligator' when she's looking out the window and people walk by our boat.  I was not aware that you become invisible when you flatten out.

In the previous post, I mentioned that Izzy is doing fine in the boat.  Movement and sounds don't bother her.  A river otter that swam under the boat yesterday did get her attention.  People who walk by the boat are scary.  Plenty of dogs on the docks here, so we pick our 'outside the boat' time with care.

                                         (Watching the river otter swim under the boat.)


Izzy has taken to jumping out of the cockpit and standing on our finger dock.  Just looking around.  Each day, she ventures out a bit further (we're talking baby steps here).  Still, one has to be careful of all the scary people.

We don't do as much leash time here as when we're out in the RV, but it does happen...

When she's in the mood.  Fortunately, cat's don't need a regular walk like dogs.  They can get exercise between naps by leaping from the dinette to the v-berth; or making laps around the berth while Mom and Dad are sleeping.  After all, there's plenty of time for catnaps when they're at work.

The other day, I thought we had a mouse in the boat.  It skittered across the floor and Izzy pounced on it!  Nope, one of Izzy's toys that she was juggling.  She can run on her hind legs while juggling 'the mouse' with her front paws.  But never while anyone else is watching.

She likes to sit on the back of the forward dinette seat, watching the comings and goings in the marina, or at the opening center windshield...

Or out on the seats in the cockpit (er, the lanai).

Home isn't just where the heart is, it's also where the cat is.  Even the cat that thinks she's an alligator.

As promised, a look at our time in Friday Harbor...

I promised our daughter that I'd post some photos to show her what life in Friday Harbor is like on a day-to-day basis.  There will be a lot of images before this post is done.  All are welcome to check it out.

A bit about Friday Harbor: it is the only incorporated town in the San Juan Islands, so also the county seat.  There are about 2,200 year 'round residents.  Located on San Juan Island, the only way here is by boat, ferry, or airplane.  There is regular ferry service via Anacortes (on the mainland, Fidalgo Island specificially); you can drive on or walk on.  The ferries are large, and bring visitors, service people and goods; semi-trucks, RVs, cars, motorcycles, etc, etc.  Air service to the island is by Kenmore Air, a seaplane fleet based out of Seattle; most of their planes are 10 passenger.

There is no major industry on the island (used to be limestone mining and processing) other than tourism.  The inner part of the island has some agriculture, including lavender farms.

OK, let's get into a typical day for us.  Here's a look at our neighborhood...

No transient berths here, it is called W Dock (the docks are named by letter).  I have not been able to substantiate that the W stands for weird.  ;-)  We have met quite a few of our neighbors, as there is a friendly liveaboard neighborhood on this dock.

We walk to work; it is about 2 to 3 blocks... if we had "blocks."  So it is a walk on the docks from one side of the marina to the other.  Leaving our boat...

Out onto one of the main docks...

Take a left and head towards the largest pier...

You'll notice ramps as you head towards land.  There is a sizable tide swing here, and the ramps get steeper as the tide goes out, less sloped as the tide comes in.  Once on the main pier, another sloped walk uphill...

This pier is large enough for vehicle traffic that is authorized: port vehicles, garbage trucks, delivery and service vehicles.

At the head of that pier, it's another left through a park area...

The statue is of Popeye the one-eyed seal, who is frequently seen around the marina.  On the other side of the sidewalk is this totem pole...

You are walking right by the water here.  Another path leads around the back side of our office (there is a marine services place that we walk by)...

And that leads you to our office...

There is a pretty blonde in there that I'm trying to get friendly with...

And other friendly staff there...

This is the Blonde on the left, one of our naturalists, Jenny, in the middle, and our boss (and the owner) on the right.

After you get checked in with the friendly staff, you are escorted to the boats.  This is our bigger boat, the Sea Lion...

And the boat I drive most frequently, the Kittiwake...

Yes, that flybridge (the part on top) is where I drive.  The view is great; the ride... well, it depends on the sea conditions and weather.  I am pretty exposed up there.  This boat is much more maneuverable than the Sea Lion, even though it doesn't have thrusters (the device that pushes a boat sideways).  That white area you see in front of the boat is one of the Washington State Ferries.  Yes, it really is that close... it makes for some interesting arrivals or departures... actually, it is best to wait outside or at the dock until the MAJOR swirling from the thrusters on the ferry subsides.

And a look at both boats as the Sea Lion departs...

We were two people short of needing the Kittiwake today, so I got the afternoon off.  Thus, the reason I am able to get this photo essay for you.

And that brings us to a walk around town.  Uphill from our office (everything is uphill from the harbor, as you will see)...

Towards the round about...

And your first real view of the town of Friday Harbor...

The first several blocks of town is uphill.  You don't have to worry that we are wasting away, there are plenty of food options here.  Most important: the ice cream shop (just across from our office)...

Our favorite meal: pizza!  There are several options for pizza in town; this one is close and reasonably affordable...

Yes, Kung Fu Pizza - it is also the China Pearl (Chinese food) restaurant.  And man does not live by pizza alone...

The town is very dog friendly.  Izzy, of course, isn't.  She stays in the boat most of the time and seems quite happy with that.

Walking up the street, it is apparent that this is a small town.  Parking is a real issue here.  Even though our office is right next to the ferry landing, people who bring their cars on the ferry may have to park 7 or 8 blocks away to find an "8 hour" space (most downtown parking is 2 hours max)...

A decent breakfast place...

A movie theater (2 screens)...

Herb's, our go-to place for a hamburger (only $8.95)...

When the ferry comes in, the sidewalks look like this...

When the ferry leaves, it looks more like this...

One of the two grocery stores in town...

Interestingly, the other grocery store is owned by the same people and is further uptown.  You have to know it is there, because there is no sign.  I was told that's "the locals' store."  We usually go to the one pictured because we can walk to it.

And take a look back down the street...

Obviously, the ferry is the main way on/off the island.  It seems that many people bring a car over (plan to spend $60 +/- and an additional $12 for passengers), but if you are only going to spend the day in Friday Harbor, a car isn't really necessary.  We only use our truck to explore other parts of the island; or make the occasional run to the other grocery store if the close one doesn't have something.

So, back to the ferry.  The entrance to the ferry landing is a block off the main drag...

Moving along the side street...

The ferry parking attendents...

The parking lanes...

They put you in a specific lane, depending on your destination.  There is an inter-island ferry that goes to 3 other islands, as well as the ferry that takes you to the mainland.  It is important that you have your car in line at least an hour before the departure time.  Some people will put their car in line, then go get coffee, a snack, or check out the nearby shops...

If you see this view of the ferry, you have missed the boat...

And that takes us back to the marina/harbor.  There are boats of every size here.  Ours is on the smaller side, but there are boats half the size and boats 4 times the size...

One of the commercial whale watch operators uses a boat the same size as Wild Blue...

The recurring theme when you leave the boat: ramps and stairs - it is uphill any way you decide to go...

A panoramic view of the marina as we head for home...

And, the last ramp as we make our way back to the boat...

A couple maps...

Whew!  I think that qualifies as the longest post I've ever made.  One of these days, we'll get out and about and show you some of the homes, countryside, and views from the water.