Where does the time go?

Hello!  Okay, I'm embarrassed.  It's been three months since we've visited and I've failed to "blog" a couple of significant trips on Cosmo Place.  Just goes to show...this retired stuff is a busy life!  (wink, wink!)

Our final cruisers for the summer were Charlie and Suzanne (my brother and sister-in-law) and Chuck Schleich, back for his second cruise.  Charlie and Suzanne came from land-locked central Illlinois, so I'm pretty sure they had no idea what they were in for!  Chuck was our first cruiser, way back in June, and, amazingly, he was back for another trip!

Chuck, Charlie, Suzanne, and Jerry. 

You might be interested to know about all the connections among the five of us.  Of course, Charlie and I are siblings, growing up on a farm in central Illinois.  charlie and I are five years apart and often as kids it was Charlie and I versus the "middle brother" Roger.  We had lots of memories to share!  Charlie and Chuck have been buddies since high school and some of their stories would curl your hair.  Stories about riding down the railroad in an old pick up...hoping not to meet a train as they crossed a trestle!  Chuck and Suzanne have known each other since they were five or so.  They went to the same schools since kindergarten!  Still friends 50 years later...pretty amazing.  Jerry and Suzanne were neighbors and rode the same school bus together...the one Jerry's dad drove!  Jerry and I went to high school with Chuck's older brother Jack so I figure I've known Chuck since he was about 10.  Chuck moved to the Bay Area in the 70's and we quickly reconnected when we arrived in California in 1978.  So...lots of history among the five of us and lots of stories to share.  

Chuck, Charlie, and Suzanne arrived on Sunday, September 26, and we took then to dinner at our favorite La Conner restaurant...the Pub!  It overlooks Swinomish Channel and is an easy hike from the marina.  The next morning we cruised out at 10 AM heading for Anacortes.  Cap Sante marina will let us pull in for a couple of hours to make a grocery run (the grocery store is 3 blocks from the marina), so we supplied for our trip.  We cruised all the way to Friday Harbor, tied up, spun the boat for satellite reception, and watched the Bears play football.  The seafood shop at the marina had fresh crab dip.  Yum!


We made a phenomenal breakfast discovery...make your own omelets, cooked in a baggie in boiling water.  Great!!  We even used up the rest of the crab.  Our next destination was Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island.  We'd been there before with lots of other company and knew it to be a great place.  On our approach to Prevost, we saw about 40 orcas frolicking ahead of us.  We idled the engine and watched them jump and dive for about 45 minutes.  It was magical!  You'll notice I've not posted one single photo...nope didn't get one!

We pulled in to Prevost Harbor, grabbed a buoy, and prepared to get the dinghy down so we could go hiking on the island.  (Stuart Island has a park and some great hikes.)  Of course, the davit rope was jammed and we could not put the dinghy in the water.  You might think that would be a problem...in the back of the beyond, just basic tools, and no one to call for assistance.  Well, let me tell you, put Jerry, Chuck and Charlie together on a challenge and just get out of their way.  And they'll have fun doing it!


You can see from the picture what a pretty day it was and how quiet and calm the water is in this little harbor.  

In the process of working on the dinghy, we park the boat at the state dock to make working on it easier.  Our friends Jim and Christie Caldwell on NT 42 "Noeta" were parked on the other side of this little state dock and so we got together several times for cocktails, lunch, and general lie-swapping.  One of the things we've learned through our San Juan travels this summer is that boaters are friendly, always ready to help, and are ready to have some fun. Jim and Christie are from Ventura, CA, and we'd become acquainted with them at the Nordic Tug rendezvous in June.  It was great to see them again and catch up with their traveling news.  They winter Noeta in Sidney, BC, and were on their way to park their tug for the winter.

Wednesday, 9/29, dawned bright and beautiful so Jerry, Chuck, Charlie, and the Caldwells decided to hike to the lighthouse, a trip of about 4 miles.  Suzanne and I chose to stay on the boat and watch a movie...we're no dummies!  The hikers got a great photo of a container ship going through Boundary Passage, headed for Vancouver, BC.  The land that you see beyond the ship is Canada...maybe 5 miles away.  We've seen lots and lots of commercial boat traffic in these waters and have yet to meet one in the fog, but I'm sure our time is coming.  Gotta love radar!

After another great evening and a restful, quiet night, we left Prevost Harbor on Thursday morning and headed south, along the west side of San Juan Island.  We were hopeful we'd see more orcas, but only saw one, which we thought might have been sick.  We went Deception Pass...almost a requirement with family and friends who visit.  Charlie and Suzanne obediently posed for me!

Mount Shuksan

We made it back to LaConner that night so that we could take a driving tour of Mount Baker the next day.  This is the volcanic peak that we can see from all over the San Juans and is basically east of Bellingham. We'd been here with Donald and Dorothy Peterson the first of September, but this time we saw lots of beautiful fall colors...


Along with lots of great conversations and beautiful scenery, we had some great games of pitch and Mexican Train with Chuck, Charlie, and Suzanne.  You'd be amazed how silly a game of cards can get.


Wonderful company!  Can't wait until they all come again.

At Nooksack Falls