51026 replies to this topic

[Jestgar]

Rough most of the way across, but the entrance to the San Juans is particularly bad. Convergence, high winds, outgoing tide. The Pirate's comment is that it's like a washing machine. Salt spray in my coffee. A wave washes over the Pirate's feet. I'm cold. How is this even possible with all these layers?

5 to 7 knots all the way across. The Pirate is yelling at me to do things I've never heard of. If we were snuggled into a warm bed, I'd be okay with this concept, but damp and freezing on a bucking boat with only coffee and rice cakes to power my sleep-deprived brain, I just gape at him blankly. Ah, sail flap. Make the sail smaller. I get that. I'll loosen the rope for you. As long as I can camp right next to the edge....just in case...

We make it through the rinse cycle and he sails into Friday Harbor. Despite a pouring rain, it's beautiful here, and calm. Take THAT cousin Ralph! ....more coffee...?

Coffee and breakfast. I put on another sweater. The Pirate mumbles something about needing to lock up his clothes. He's very cold and wet, having sailed the last hour and a half in a freezing hard rain. He strips down and crawls into bed to nap and get warm. I drape wet socks and jackets around and put on some try wool socks. I snuggle under a blanket on the table (which is folded down to make a sleeping area) and try to read. I would love to sleep, but I've never been able to sleep during the day, so I settle for a second breakfast.

Af

[elye]

Now THAT is great reading! Thanks for this continuing travelogue, Jyessss.....


Okay, so now you're in your snowsuit, huddled on deck trying to keep down your coffee. . . .... .. ... continue. . . ...

[elye]

Gah! ya beat me to it! Okay, back to read. . .. ..

[Jestgar]

Eventually the rain stops, I get warm, and the Pirate wakes up. He takes the dinghy off the boat ("splashes" it) and we cruise into the marina at Friday Harbor. We wander a bit, and find a grocery store. Ever mindful of my dietary needs, the Pirate asks where the gluten-free section is. The kind person says that they only have a few things, but if we go to the OTHER store, it's much bigger and they'll have more. We get some vague directions and set off up the hill. We figure we're getting close, and the Pirate asks an ambulance driver lounging outside the ambulance barn. The guy says "there's the market downtown (yes, we've just come from there) and the store WE use is up there, through those parking lots".

OK, I get this, living on a tourist island myself, the pricey store is close to the docks, the real store is up the hill. We find the store, and it's completely unmarked. If you didn't know it was a grocery store you'd walk right by it. They really don't want the tourists shopping here....

Ah yes, funny how the prices are so much cheaper here. We check out what's available, get some candy Easter eggs, and head back to the docks.

There's a Canadian military (?) ship pulling in so we wander down. Turns out there are actually three of them. Not sure what they're doing, but nobody's raising a fuss, so it must just be patrol boats that frequently come in to give the crew some R&R at Friday Harbor. We also meet Popeye the grey harbor seal that lives around the docks and apparently receives plenty of treats from the tourists and locals.

I've slept badly for three nights, been numb with cold, and I'm tired and grouchy and barely keeping it together. The Pirate found a $1 DVD at the store so after an early dinner of the rest of the steaks and some veggies we snuggle together on the table/couch to watch "Death on Demand". ....I wouldn't recommend it....

The Pirate falls asleep immediately (damn how does he do that? That is SO unfair!) and I watch teenagers ripped to shreds by a possessed ice climber. The movie ends and I crawl into bed. It's 8 o'clock.

[kareng]

Now THAT is great reading! Thanks for this continuing travelogue, Jyessss.....


Okay, so now you're in your snowsuit, huddled on deck trying to keep down your coffee. . . .... .. ... continue. . . ...

I, too am enjoying the travelogue. However, I fear she is leaving the juciy bits out. Its cold and she snuggles in bed with a pirate?

[Jestgar]

Day4.

Up at 6am. It is fricking freezing. The Pirate turns on the 'heater' which means turning on the propane stove and lighting the oil lamp. I stay in bed while he's heating water for coffee, but without a second body it's too cold to stay there. I get up and put on all the clothes and sit under a blanket. It's so cold that I'm snorting steam out of my nose. The Pirate hands me my coffee.

It's a beautiful day, or will be once the fog burns off. Today's plan is head back into town and find the internet cafe.


to be continued.

[elye]

to be continued.

:expectantface:

[tom]

:dittoface:

[curlyfries]

Travel log

Day1.


I was cold.
Very cold.
Very very very cold.




The Pirate motors up to a dock tosses out the bumpers (correct term?), leaps over the side and ties up.

#1) I won't say I told you so, but need I remind you of my facebook comment?

#2) See....I KNOW they should be called bumpers, but that always gets me the evil eye from hubby. Actually, they are fenders. Whatever

[mushroom]

#1) I won't say I told you so, but need I remind you of my facebook comment?

#2) See....I KNOW they should be called bumpers, but that always gets me the evil eye from hubby. Actually, they are fenders. Whatever

Heck, I just calll them tyres. That's the kind of boating I do. (Preferably houseboat!)

[curlyfries]

Gee Jyess......sounds like SO much fun


Pffffttt!


I don't care if there IS a snuggly pirate. I would've ababdoned ship (what day are you on?).....4 days ago!

[Loey]

Hello Dearest Psillies,

I just read my last post and boy did I sound out of it. It sorta made no sense. It's embarrassing . I've been getting off some bad meds so I'm still not 100%. I'm not napping as much and I'm starting to get out of the house. Yesterday I drove for the first time in months (I didn't hit any fences - just a curb). I'm just taking baby steps (and trying not to fall). Superman & I are going to see Joan Osbourne this Saturday and we're meeting a close friend of Rob's and his family for diner before the concert. Superman's having no luck with the job market but he's done an incredible job with our stock portfolio (God bless the Apple stock we had).

Well psilly ones it's time to eat some lunch. I miss you all and will need a few hours to catch up reading the posts. I'm looking forward to being psilly

Much Love,
Loey

[nikki-uk]

I, too am enjoying the travelogue. However, I fear she is leaving the juciy bits out. Its cold and she snuggles in bed with a pirate?

I know, I know!!!., back to reading.....

[kareng]

Hello Dearest Psillies,

I just read my last post and boy did I sound out of it. It sorta made no sense. It's embarrassing . I've been getting off some bad meds so I'm still not 100%. I'm not napping as much and I'm starting to get out of the house. Yesterday I drove for the first time in months (I didn't hit any fences - just a curb). I'm just taking baby steps (and trying not to fall). Superman & I are going to see Joan Osbourne this Saturday and we're meeting a close friend of Rob's and his family for diner before the concert. Superman's having no luck with the job market but he's done an incredible job with our stock portfolio (God bless the Apple stock we had).

Well psilly ones it's time to eat some lunch. I miss you all and will need a few hours to catch up reading the posts. I'm looking forward to being psilly

Much Love,
Loey

I thought you sounded a bit off......Ok more than a bit. Glad your back "on".

[Loey]

I thought you sounded a bit off......Ok more than a bit. Glad your back "on".

You're being polite, Kareng. I sounded like I needed to star in my own version of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest. I guess it's my travelogue of returning to sanity. I prefer Jess' travelogue (and I'm sure all of you do as well). One thing that's become a new, healthy outlet is my Kindle Fire. Right now I'm reading Game of Thrones. I loved the first season (and highly recommend it) but there are so many characters and subplots that the book helps me sort it out.

I'm also back to cooking and am looking forward to going to the beach before the tourists take over. I am still lonely here (even with Superman at home). Hopefully the summer will bring our friends up to visit. We'll be going to NJ in July for a few days. If any of you are near to RI remember that we have a nice spare bedroom. It's no longer got a TV (Tony took it to school and will also bring it to his summer apartment). The beginning of his Internship will be challenging. He's having surgery on his ankle and will be in a cast for 6 weeks. We'll have to have his suits made to allow for the cast but be able to be resewn after it comes off. He already began his other Internship at the Providence Hospital for his psychology classes. We realized that we're not going to see much of him anymore. It's bittersweet. He's really becoming a man and taking charge of his life.

Time to get ready for the movies. Sending lots of positive energy.

Love,
Loey