Canada, Coziness, and La Conner

 Around this time of year, when the daylight starts to wane and the skies are dark and grey, my head starts feeling dark and grey as well.  It saps my energy and makes it difficult to do anything, regardless of any good going on in my life.  So, I will write about sunnier moments.

On the last day of summer, as a belated birthday present to Ben's mother, we took her to the UBC Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver.  I love North coast Native art, and local history, and there was much of both there.  Seeing Bill Reed's Raven and the First Men was as impressive as seeing the portrait of Genevra de' Benci by Da Vinci in DC, and even more wonderful.
The photographs taken by a student at the St. Michael's Bay Residential School were heartbreaking, yet mischievous and surprisingly hopeful.  There were sharpies set out, so that any visitor who might know faces could put a name to them.  The testimonials on the wall however, were rage-inducing.  I hadn't realized that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission regarding the residential schools was happening in Vancouver that very day.  They were called boarding schools down here.  I wonder that we have no such commission.
It was a short trip to Canada, and it made me wish for more, so I rode home with a smile in my heart planning future trips and thinking about the healing of old wounds.  It is a strange thing to need a passport to drive up the coast for a day.

The next day was the equinox and Ben and I spent it hanging out on the boat, still at anchor in Cornet Bay.  A storm was expected and we thought we'd keep her company.  But Cornet Bay was so sheltered we didn't get much more than rain, and wind gusts.  The day instead, was the very definition of cozy.

Randy lent us his ancient Stanley thermos so we could have blood orange and cranberry tea.  Check out the cork!

The radio we thought was dead wasn't.  Ben was able to tune in to a classic rock station in Victoria.

Spent some time working on steering and getting the rudder angle indicator to cooperate.

Farley Mowat, good chocolate, and knitting.  

The big compass in the wheelhouse doesn't have a cover so I am knitting one.

Now a week later, the Boat is in La Conner, finally moored to a permanent dock, and snug as a bug in a rug.  We moved her yesterday.  It was gorgeous little cruise, but I am tired so pictures will have to wait.

Finally there is sunshine in my head.

Up Saratoga

On August 28, the day after we put her back in the water, we moved the boat up Saratoga Passage and into Cornet Bay.  Here are pictures of that day.

Fueling up in Everett.  My dad was along for the ride.

There was a bunch of wild American Vetch growing near our dock, so I picked a couple and they sat on the galley table all the way north.

The wheel wasn't working that well, so we steered mostly by jogstick.  

Ben tested the controls on the wheelhouse roof and found out they work, so we can steer the boat up in the sun.

The pressure of the last couple of days was done.  It was quite a relief.

Cama Beach, Camano Island

The Center for Wooden Boats at Cama Beach.

Dusk was just upon us when the Deception Pass Bridge crept into view. 

She is now anchored in Cornet Bay while we wait for moorage in La Conner.  We've been checking on her every day and she is doing well.

This past Monday, I got my first lesson in electrical wiring, on top of the mast replacing the socket for the anchor light.  Ben doesn't like heights.  Nor does he particularly appreciate the large spiders that live up there.  I love heights, and have now discovered my favorite boat job.

Yes, the flag is a size bigger than it needs to be for a boat of our size.   I had to tie Old Glory in a knot in order to do any serious work up there.  Oh, and the halyard isn't a halyard.  It's an extension cord.  I love this boat.

A Small Adventure

A couple of Saturdays ago Ben and I felt the draw of Port Townsend, so we headed over to the peninsula for the day.

Baby seagulls.

 After hitting Edensaw for some yellow cedar (and a gorgeous piece of madrona which I regrettably don't have a picture of) for the boat, we drove over to Marrowstone and Indian Islands.  Marrowstone is a sweet little place.  Perhaps it remains so pleasant and quiet because you have to drive past the massive Naval Reserve on Indian Island to get there.

 Walking through the general store in Nordland on Marrowstone started me wondering what it would be like to live in the area.  For a long time, all I could think about was moving back to Seattle.  It's the city that birthed and raised me.  There was a community there that I've missed so greatly.  But the longer I'm away, the lesser the heartache, and I feel so much the braver.

Ben looking at M/V Pacific Pioneer.

Back in town, we walked around the Port Townsend shipyard looking for inspiration.  We came across our boat's big sister,  Pacific Pioneer, looking quite nice after a shave and a haircut.  It's always nice to meet new relatives.

This is the s/v Toadstool.  She looks like she popped out of a children's book, as are many of the boats Bill Garden designed, and this was his personal sailboat.  All I can think of is that door!  She looks like she's captained by a hobbit.  I would love something whimsical like this on ours.

We walked the PT waterfront together the rest of the afternoon, sharing dreams and perusing used bookstores.  It was nice to step outside the grind of everyday work and find such a happy place.