Marina del Rey, in Los Angeles County, California, contains the largest artificial pleasure boat harbor in North America. Construction began in the 1950s and today the basin has a capacity for 5,000 vessels, supports five different yacht clubs and is lined with restaurants, shops, condos, and hotels. The first hotel built was the historic Marina…
May 23, 2024
For a variety of reasons, we have missed the last several years of our Alaska journeys. This year were we able to organize a shorter trip, with friends and family helping us with running Spirit.
Our first team, Kent and Melody, arrived in Anacortes about noon and by 1230 we were underway for our first night at Echo Bay on Sucia Island. We were accompanied by friends on the Selene 55 “Rendezvous”. By 1525 we were anchored in Echo Bay, after a short 22 NM run, where we shared dinner. We were one of four Selene’s anchored in Echo Bay. This early in the season, with rain expected for the foreseeable future, there was lots of room and many empty mooring buoys.
May 24-26, 2024
We planned our departure for 0700 and managed to beat that by 10 minutes. The crossing was uneventful, with relatively calm seas. We entered False Creek and proceeded to the CBSA dock at Fisherman’s Wharf to clear customs at 1320 after a 50 NM run. Clearance was by cell phone and by 1350 we had our clearance and headed to Quayside Marina at the foot of Yaletown for a three night stay. Rain was our constant companion for the entire stay, but we were able to complete our provisioning of fresh foods we could not bring across the border.
A memorable event was the oyster feed, with 8 dozen oysters consumed by the crew.
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| Some of our oysters at Quayside Marina |
The derelict and unkempt live aboard boat situation has not improved and there were even two beached vessels and one sunken vessel near the entrance to False Creek.
May 27, 2024
Spirit departed Quayside Marina with Rendezvous close astern shortly after 0900 for the 50 NM run to Pender Harbor. The rain was intense at time, rendering the radar virtually useless even with rain clutter control maximized. The winds were 15-20 knots from the SE and with the seas on our port quarter the ride was uncomfortable at times, even with stabilizers engaged. The seas calmed once we were in Welcome Passage and continued calm as we entered Pender Harbor. We rafted Spirit to Rendezvous just outside the entrance to Garden Bay at 1500. The winds were light and the water was flat all evening.
May 28, 2024
Spirit departed Pender Harbor shortly before 0900 in torrential rain, poor visibility, but no wind. Seas were calm until we reached Grief Point and then the skies cleared somewhat and the wind shifted to the Southeast, increasing to 15-20 knots. We continued past Powell River, Lund and Bliss Landing, turning past Sarah Point and headed to Prideaux Haven, our destination for the evening. Spirit anchored first this time, after a 51.5 NM run, and Rendezvous rafted alongside. The rain had started again before we entered Prideaux Haven, with periods of thundershowers interspersed with sun, but no wind in the anchorage. The early evening views were complete with rainbows and dark clouds.
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| A rainbow over Prideaux Haven |
May 29, 2024
A quiet day anchored in Prideaux Haven, with kayaking and tender operations.
May 30, 2024
Spirit broke up the raft and departed Prideaux Haven at 0645, to make high slack water at 1100 at Dent Rapids. We were right on time and cruised through. Taking Greene Point Rapids on the ebb 90 minutes later and exiting into Johnstone Strait via Chancellor Channel. We took advantage of the ebb tide and entered Blackney Pass at 1800, anchoring in 50 feet of water at Hanson Island at 1838. Our day’s run was 101 NM.
May 31, 2024
There is a significant weather front approaching, so we made a dash today past Cape Caution to avoid the high winds predicted for Saturday Evening and Sunday. Seas were relatively calm around the Cape, with a westerly swell of 1-2 meters and a 2-3 foot chop from the 15 knot SE winds. We anchored in Green Island Anchorage in Fitz Hugh Sound at 1630 after an 84 NM run. The anchorage was calm, only one other vessel was present.
 |
| The Native American Village midden at Green Island |
May 23, 2024
For a variety of reasons, we have missed the last several years of our Alaska journeys. This year were we able to organize a shorter trip, with friends and family helping us with running Spirit.
Our first team, Kent and Melody, arrived in Anacortes about noon and by 1230 we were underway for our first night at Echo Bay on Sucia Island. We were accompanied by friends on the Selene 55 “Rendezvous”. By 1525 we were anchored in Echo Bay, after a short 22 NM run, where we shared dinner. We were one of four Selene’s anchored in Echo Bay. This early in the season, with rain expected for the foreseeable future, there was lots of room and many empty mooring buoys.
May 24-26, 2024
We planned our departure for 0700 and managed to beat that by 10 minutes. The crossing was uneventful, with relatively calm seas. We entered False Creek and proceeded to the CBSA dock at Fisherman’s Wharf to clear customs at 1320 after a 50 NM run. Clearance was by cell phone and by 1350 we had our clearance and headed to Quayside Marina at the foot of Yaletown for a three night stay. Rain was our constant companion for the entire stay, but we were able to complete our provisioning of fresh foods we could not bring across the border.
A memorable event was the oyster feed, with 8 dozen oysters consumed by the crew.
|
| Some of our oysters at Quayside Marina |
The derelict and unkempt live aboard boat situation has not improved and there were even two beached vessels and one sunken vessel near the entrance to False Creek.
May 27, 2024
Spirit departed Quayside Marina with Rendezvous close astern shortly after 0900 for the 50 NM run to Pender Harbor. The rain was intense at time, rendering the radar virtually useless even with rain clutter control maximized. The winds were 15-20 knots from the SE and with the seas on our port quarter the ride was uncomfortable at times, even with stabilizers engaged. The seas calmed once we were in Welcome Passage and continued calm as we entered Pender Harbor. We rafted Spirit to Rendezvous just outside the entrance to Garden Bay at 1500. The winds were light and the water was flat all evening.
May 28, 2024
Spirit departed Pender Harbor shortly before 0900 in torrential rain, poor visibility, but no wind. Seas were calm until we reached Grief Point and then the skies cleared somewhat and the wind shifted to the Southeast, increasing to 15-20 knots. We continued past Powell River, Lund and Bliss Landing, turning past Sarah Point and headed to Prideaux Haven, our destination for the evening. Spirit anchored first this time, after a 51.5 NM run, and Rendezvous rafted alongside. The rain had started again before we entered Prideaux Haven, with periods of thundershowers interspersed with sun, but no wind in the anchorage. The early evening views were complete with rainbows and dark clouds.
|
| A rainbow over Prideaux Haven |
May 29, 2024
A quiet day anchored in Prideaux Haven, with kayaking and tender operations.
May 30, 2024
Spirit broke up the raft and departed Prideaux Haven at 0645, to make high slack water at 1100 at Dent Rapids. We were right on time and cruised through. Taking Greene Point Rapids on the ebb 90 minutes later and exiting into Johnstone Strait via Chancellor Channel. We took advantage of the ebb tide and entered Blackney Pass at 1800, anchoring in 50 feet of water at Hanson Island at 1838. Our day’s run was 101 NM.
May 31, 2024
There is a significant weather front approaching, so we made a dash today past Cape Caution to avoid the high winds predicted for Saturday Evening and Sunday. Seas were relatively calm around the Cape, with a westerly swell of 1-2 meters and a 2-3 foot chop from the 15 knot SE winds. We anchored in Green Island Anchorage in Fitz Hugh Sound at 1630 after an 84 NM run. The anchorage was calm, only one other vessel was present.
|
| The Native American Village midden at Green Island |
We were welcomed back to the boat with a beautiful sunset.
Off to Allan Treman State Marina.
While Stan moves the boat to the south end of the lake I like to drive up to Lake Ontario to pick up rocks that I turn into art.
A few of the rocks I’ve painted on the rocks I picked up.
The sunsets aren’t quite as pretty here as they are in Texas, but every once in a while they are beautiful.
We spent Mother’s Day at Kyle’s. It was a fun day with good food and lots of laughs.
These kids always bring us smiles.
My beautiful Mother’s Day flowers.
The new addition to the house is a basketball goal for Graham. He was very good and we had a wonderful time playing with him.
The weekend after Mother’s Day the girls had their dance recital. They hold it at a winery not too far from Lewisburg. The girls did great and we loved seeing them dance. After the recital practice we had dinner…Graham loves hamburgers.
Another place we like to go to on a beautiful day is the Ithaca Beer Co. A great place too relax, have a beer and enjoy a good pizza.
We do enjoy sitting on the flybridge…in the mornings and evenings. The marina seems to be slow filling up this summer.
“Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.” – Lois Wyse
“Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.” – Lois Wyse
She had so much fun riding around the parking lot.
There are so many people and dogs to meet at the marina.
Hattie loves to climb…she’s a really mountain goat.
Lunch at the park on the lake.
More things to climb on.
A visit to Taughannoock Falls.
Playing school
Lunch at Jolly Trolley.
The annual Little Norway Festival in Petersburg honors the town’s and communities’ Norwegian heritage. It is Petersburg largest community event and held in the middle of May over a weekend close to the Norwegian Constitution Day, May 17. Like many small town celebrations, there are parades, contests, demonstrations and many opportunities to eat and drink.
We arrived on Friday, May 17 which was the day of the parade followed by the very popular herring toss and street fair (crafts, food vendors and beer gardens).
I’ve red circled the herrings in flight in the photograph.
We made the extra effort to get to Petersburg in time for the festival in part to meet up with friends also attending. John & Kathleen arrived a two days ahead of us to start bringing their boat out of its winter hibernation. Not exactly intended, we ended up moored next to them on the dock. Their boat was being built at the same time as ours at the Seahorse Marine boatyard.
Also arriving ahead of us were Natala and Don Goodman accompanied by Dave Adams. Dave owns two aircraft that he built but neither are on floats. Don, Dave and I were on the successful 1981 Denali South Buttress climb. They had flown up on Don & Natala’s Cessna 182 equipped with floats. The US Forest Service has many cabins in SE Alaska only accessible by float planes or boat available to rent. Don & Natala have done several previous trips visiting some cabins and where possible we’ve met up with them along the way.
On Saturday, the highlight of the day was the Kaffe Hus. This is a fund raiser for the Sons of Norway in which homemade traditional Norwegian treats are laid out buffet style and you can fill your plate to your heart’s content. Bringing a container or ziploc bag to bring something back to the boat is always a smart idea.
Later that day Marcia watched intently while a 90 pound halibut was swiftly carved up into four portions by a professional from the local processing plant.
Both Friday and Saturday evenings we gathered as a group on the boats to have beverages, snacks and conversation. Weather permitting it would be outside on the flybridge.
Don, Natala and Dave flew out on Sunday in a weather window ahead of an approaching weather front. Before leaving the area, Don flew east towards the coast range separating the SE Alaskan Panhandle from British Columbia. They had beautiful weather for a flyby of Devils Thumb, a prominent peak visible from Petersburg.
The last Little Norway Festival event we attended was the Rotary Club Seafood Bake & Barbecue. The seafood served were ample portions of king salmon and black cod. The setting is at the Sandy Beach park which looks east out over Fredrick Sound.
We haven’t quite figured out when and where we’ll go from here. Since we bypassed Ketchikan, we are “spending” those days we “saved” here in Petersburg. There are places for Drake to play and for me to walk, so no hurry.
The annual Little Norway Festival in Petersburg honors the town’s and communities’ Norwegian heritage. It is Petersburg largest community event and held in the middle of May over a weekend close to the Norwegian Constitution Day, May 17. Like many small town celebrations, there are parades, contests, demonstrations and many opportunities to eat and drink.
We arrived on Friday, May 17 which was the day of the parade followed by the very popular herring toss and street fair (crafts, food vendors and beer gardens).
I’ve red circled the herrings in flight in the photograph.
We made the extra effort to get to Petersburg in time for the festival in part to meet up with friends also attending. John & Kathleen arrived a two days ahead of us to start bringing their boat out of its winter hibernation. Not exactly intended, we ended up moored next to them on the dock. Their boat was built at the same time as ours at the Seahorse Marine boatyard.
Also arriving ahead of us were Natala and Don Goodman accompanied by Dave Adams. Dave owns two aircraft that he built but neither are on floats. Don, Dave and I were on the successful 1981 Denali South Buttress climb. They had flown up on Don & Natala’s Cessna 182 equipped with floats. The US Forest Service has many cabins in SE Alaska only accessible by float planes or boat available to rent. Don & Natala have done several previous trips visiting some cabins and where possible we’ve met up with them along the way.
On Saturday, the highlight of the day was the Kaffe Hus. This is a fund raiser for the Sons of Norway in which homemade traditional Norwegian treats are laid out buffet style and you can fill your plate to your heart’s content. Bringing a container or ziploc bag to carry something back to the boat is always a smart idea.
Later that day Marcia watched intently while a 90 pound halibut was swiftly carved up into four portions by a professional from the local processing plant.
Both Friday and Saturday evenings we gathered as a group on the boats to have beverages, snacks and conversation. Weather permitting it was outside on the flybridge.
Don, Natala and Dave flew out on Sunday in a weather window ahead of an approaching weather front. Before leaving the area, Don flew east towards the coast range separating the SE Alaskan Panhandle from British Columbia. They had beautiful weather for a flyby of Devils Thumb, a prominent peak visible from Petersburg.
The last Little Norway Festival event we attended was the Rotary Club Seafood Bake & Barbecue. The seafood served were ample portions of king salmon and black cod. The setting is at the Sandy Beach park which looks east out over Fredrick Sound.
We haven’t quite figured out when and where we’ll go from here. Since we bypassed Ketchikan, we are “spending” those days we “saved” here in Petersburg. There are places for Drake to play and for me to walk, so no hurry.
When Kosmos was new, we bought a six-person Winslow life raft that was vacuum-sealed for extended life. We got a Maxi model with food, water, EPIRB and lots of great features. All these years, we kept it under the settee … Continue reading →
