Full Moon...

If you've read here for any length of time, you know my feelings about the time around the full moon... oh, sure, it makes for some interesting tides and currents... apparently, it makes things flow in the bloodstream, too, making some people just a bit crazy.  ;-)

I can vouch for the tides, as our walk up and down the ramps leading to the docks in Friday Harbor can get pretty steep... and the water under our boat can get pretty shallow.

It's a day-to-day thing right now, figuring out how we're handling guests.  After a day on the phones at the boss's inland location, I think Joan is missing that face-to-face contact with the guests.  Since the shop was not set up for multiple phone/data lines, that is also in flux.  I know Joan enjoys putting the names with the faces when people check in.

Of course, we are getting lots of questions (and more than a few "You should do this...." suggestions) from people who have no knowledge of what is involved with the current situation.  Most people think the building was owned by the people who have the restaurant... not true.  The building/property is owned by the Port.  The Port commissioners have scheduled an emergency meeting this week - plenty to sort out, with insurance, building demolition, whether to try to salvage the lower part of the building or start over from scratch.  At this point, no one knows how, when, or if any reconstruction will take place.  Most folks are just kind and compassionate, offering good wishes and encouragement.

In the meantime, the businesses that were in the lower part of the building are all operating like we are: with a table, a sign, and some kind of overhead cover.  No power.  No land lines.  No bathrooms.  Definitely, no frills.  The phones and computer access is happening about 5 miles away.

Just under two weeks to go for us; the crowds will be winding down by then.  The boats in Friday Harbor are running one trip a day (evening trips are done for the season).  Joan has to commute to work.

Change.

Visitors from a far away land...

Joan's brother and sister-in-law are RVing their way around the country since they retired.  They are now in Washington State.  We tried to work things out with a whale watch cruise, but circumstances didn't work out.  This morning, they were in Friday Harbor.  I met them at the ferry landing and walked with them up to Susie's Mopeds... they saw the fun we had with a Scoot Coupe and wanted to try one.

Greg...

Val...

Pretty apparent that the Wittche's have good taste in spouse selection, huh?

Getting their instructions...

I added one more: don't rev it like you would a motorcycle - no clutch... that continuously variable transmission will catch at some point when you rev it, and you will be moving... whether you mean to or not.

And, they're off...

Val had studied up on the island, so when the guy have them tips on where to stop and what to see, she was up to speed.  When I talked to Greg later, they had a lot of fun with the Scoot Coupe.

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Joan went to work at the "inland office," located at the boss's place.  She lamented that she has a view of grass, not the waterfront that she is used to.  I lamented that I can't just walk in anytime and see my Honey.  Two weeks to go - we will deal with it.

I gave my guests "Good news and bad news... which do you want first?"

"Give us the bad news."

"The bad news is our resident Orcas are hiding out.  No reports.  The good news is: there is a solid report of transient Orcas.  The bad news is: they are a long ways away.  The good news is: we have a fast boat.  The bad news is: we'll be crossing Haro Strait and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  The good news is: the water is supposed to be pretty comfortable today - a very happy bit of good news.  The bad news is: we can't get there in back in 3 hours.  The good news is: unless anyone has a tight time constriction, we WILL get you to the Orcas."

One couple had to catch a seaplane by 5:45.  "Yeah, we can do that."

We caught up with the Ts (transients) south of Discovery Island (just off Vancouver Island).  On the way there, we saw a Minke whale, some Stellar Sea Lions, and harbor porpoise... just for a warm-up.  The transients were moving further southwest - I set us up to match their pace (they were doing about 4 knots)... no sitting and watching today... move with 'em or you won't get much of a viewing.

The full moon is tomorrow - the flood tide coming in Juan de Fuca knocked about 4 knots off our speed on the way there, especially around the junction with Haro.  I burned plenty of the boss's fuel today... but, we got the guests to the Orcas.

A fine day for whale watching.

Your fortune says...

Joan was at the table/office yesterday.  She was the only one there, so couldn't get away.  I brought her some lunch, she had requested Chinese.  When we were done with the meal, I look forward to the fortune cookie.  Hers read...

We have different ideas about that meaning.  ;-)

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Little Izzy is perceptive.  She knows when something is up.  The last two days, she has been by our side when we have been home.  She can tell things are settling down, and can take a break herself...

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IBOTD

It's been a while since I posted an Interesting Boat of the Day.  Oh, I see something everyday, just don't always have the camera accessible.  With some time off for me yesterday, Joan suggested I go rent a scooter and blow off some steam (maybe it was "stink"?)... just didn't have it in me.  Izzy and I did sit in the cockpit for a while, and the guitar brought a smile to my face.  While sitting in the cockpit, I was impressed by this boat that docked just behind us...

"Impressed" isn't strong enough... I was drooling.  Made by Armstrong Marine, this metal cat looked like it would be a go-anywhere adventure cruiser.  I looked up Armstrong - they seem to specialize in commercial boats.  Nice... very nice.

Remember this...

A couple RV friends reminded me that we are retired... "Sure does not sound like you and Joan are retired, Jim."

The man makes a good point.  After Joan left for work this morning, I started a response...

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I think I need to explain this whole "retired" thing to Joan once again.     This morning, as she was getting ready, with no idea where she was going to be for the day, I said to her, "Remember this moment.  We spent most of our adult life caring for our businesses.  I know you remember how free it felt when we sold all that?  And, for these 'fun summer jobs,' you are caring just as much.  Putting everything you have into it.  I know when October or November rolls around that you will start thinking about next summer.  Just remember what a 50 to 60 hour work week feels like.  Remember the emotional drain on you when Mother Nature messes with the schedule.  Remember what it's like trying to get a bunch of young employees to care as much as you do.  Then, think about a summer of wandering around.  Five summers working, three playing since we retired.  Just remember this when you think you might want to do this all again next year."

Right in the middle of writing this, I got a call from Joan... "Sorry to bother you.  I'm freezing out here at this table.  Could you bring me some socks and a jacket?"

"I'll be right there."

I delivered the socks and jacket, then relieved her at the table so she could go use the potty.  No other staff was there.  One of them did call to ask if Joan had rescued the paychecks (yes; and the payroll records; and this week's timesheets, etc, etc).  The bookkeeper was amazed: "You got it all."

Before I left, I took a photo of Joan (warmed up in her coat and socks), out on the sidewalk...



Being Joan, she brought a table cloth from the boat to make the table look more inviting.  She had nicely arranged things on the table.  It's what she does.

I said to her once again: "Remember this."

On my way back to the boat, the demolition of Downriggers was underway, 100 feet away from where Joan is sitting...



Definitely, the end of an era.  People are lining up their ducks... maybe not quite in a row, yet, but there is talk about the rebuilding.

The sun'll come out tomorrow...

What do you know - Little Orphan Annie was right: the sun did come out this morning.  First time we've seen in the sun in the morning in what seems like weeks...

The view from the front window of the boat...

I was told to take the day off today... Joan is going in... wherever "in" might be.  She is one tough lady, but I did hear her say, "I am getting to old to sit at a table outside all day."

I know what she is feeling... even my hair hurts this morning.  While she is off at "the office," I will be lounging... laundry to do (smokey smelling clothes from yesterday), I need disassemble our Wallas stove/heater to change out a glow plug.  Fun stuff like that.

You can bet your bottom dollar that Annie never said anything about laundry.

Fire!

It has been a very tough day.  My heart is aching for our business... well, not our business, but the business Joan and I work for.  The building, housing our office, a restaurant above, and several other businesses burned today... a total loss.

Here's the day...

We got up at 5:15 this morning.  Joan said, "I smell something burning."  She looked out the window of the boat and said, "It's coming from our building, I think."  She tossed on a coat and ran up the dock.  A minute or two later, she called and said, "It's Downriggers!  Our office is going to be gone!"

This was the view...

Another angle...

Looking out on the docks, our boats were gone!  Our office is at the right of this image, the square windows are offices in the back.  Then, the flames...

We had water taxi shuttles scheduled for starting at 7:00 am.  Two boats moving athletes and media people to a major event on Lopez Island.  Time for triage: Joan started out on the street, directing people around to a safe way to get to the docks.  Another business offered us their conference room to use as a temporary "nerve center"...

I "found" my boat...

We found the other boat out on the breakwater.  The other captain and I started coordinating the shuttles...

Within a couple hours, we had a "kiosk" set up in Memorial Circle, near what was left of our office...

I ran a couple shuttles, then came back to our docks.  I visited with the firemen about getting into the office, "Not yet, the fire really isn't under control.  We'll let you know."  He told me that they had moved our filing cabinets and computers up onto the counter and covered them with a tarp.  I can't say enough about what these fine people did to help save the records for our business.  The boss was able to get laptops and appointment books out earlier.

A short time later, the same fireman said, "You can go in briefly to get other stuff out, but they are still working above your office."  I called Joan and the boss, and went inside... my eyes teared up seeing what used to be our office.  I was ankle deep in water and the place had that horrible smoke smell.  The boss went for files in his office, Joan directed us on what to take out that was needed to keep the business running.  She truly is the hero for the continuation of this business.  I loaded a dock cart with all the boat parts and tools.  Brian (the boss) and I carried out what seemed like an endless row of file cabinets.  Other employees showed up and helped move the stuff we carried out to the boss's truck.  When the boss said, "That's it...", I pulled the doors shut and locked them for the last time.  Water was pouring through the lighting fixtures.  I couldn't bear to take a photo.

My back was aching, my legs were exhausted.  That awful smell of smoke was in my clothes and my hair.  I walked back to the boat to run the next shuttle.  I called Joan, "You OK?"  I could tell by her voice that she was holding it all together.  We had promised we wouldn't "take ownership", but this place means a lot to us... it's not just an office, it's where we started our work days.  It is where Joan greeted guests and scheduled people on boats and seaplanes.

The restaurant above and the businesses below are a total loss.  Here's Joan going over what we need with the boss...

The office, once the fire was out...

When I moved one of the boats out of the marina earlier, I was amazed that people thought they'd be able to buy fuel in the midst of the fire-fighting (nearby)...

When I got back from the last of the shuttles for my boat, this is what the restaurant looked like...

There are a lot of people in this area who have fond memories of Downriggers restaurant.  I recommended it to our guests when they asked about places to eat.  All the businesses below are goners, too... including our office.

No one was hurt.  The fire started in the middle of the night in the restaurant.  Fire crews from other islands came by ferry to help fight the fire.  The waterfront docks (Spring Street Docks) were closed during the morning.

Joan and I are exhausted.  I am writing this after a shower and an adult beverage.  We held each other and both teared up when we got home (back to our boat).  Our time here is getting short; we are ready to move on, but not this way.  We'll help in any way we can.

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The last shuttle of the day for me, I was waiting for one last guy to get on the boat.  I had directed the first mate to release the bow line.  Another captain was going to give us a push on our stern, since the wind was blowing us onto the dock.  Just as the first mate undid the bow line, I heard someone yell for help!

I looked behind our boat, and a guy on a large yacht had fallen in the water while lowering his dinghy from the davits.  I was down the ladder in a flash, and ran down the dock.  He was older, and unable to get himself to the dock.  I reached out and grabbed his arm, told the other captain to hold me.  We lifted the guy to where I could get a hand on his belt, and with the help of one of our passengers, we hauled him out.  He was shook, but otherwise unhurt... "I don't know what I would have done if you guys weren't there."

Just 5 minutes earlier, I was going over "Man Overboard" procedures with the first mate (I do that when we have any down time, while waiting).

I need an uneventful day.

Hurry up and wait...

I was scheduled for a water taxi all day... moving the athletes for big event that is happening this weekend on Lopez Island.  Just a bit more chaotic than herding cats.  The guy coordinating events for today changed times on us repeatedly... doesn't matter to me, but the clock is running.  Unfortunately, he didn't tell the other participants who were using our water taxi when he delayed departure times; some people waiting, most were just late.  FUBAR.  I just smiled and welcomed them aboard as they showed up.

We were full to our maximum capacity, plus a bunch of gear (BMX bikes, skateboards, a para-glider, and other stuff).  An 8 hour day for me, about 2 1/2 hours of boat time, the rest was waiting.  Tick, tick, tick.

One of the folks who was on the boat yesterday took this photo of the Orcas in the fog...

More of the same tomorrow, but we are supposed to be running constantly, shuttling people.  Two boats.  Starting at 7:00 in the morning.  I wonder if anyone besides the boat crew will be up that early?? ;-)