Thanksgiving – Riveted

San Juan and Sucia Islands

Laura Domela — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 21:58:46 +0000

Sunrise at Friday Harbor this morning:

We left Indian Cove at Shaw Island yesterday morning and did a little sightseeing and whale watching searching. Sights were beautiful, but no whales. We arrived at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island right around 1pm. We had a Thanksgiving dinner reservation for 3pm at the Coho Restaurant. Last week when we figured out we'd be up here in the islands, I called to see if they had any availability for Thanksgiving. They said they had a waiting list, but that they did have one last table available and it was a table for two at 3pm. We took it, and our 3pm Thanksgiving dinner was delicious! I started out taking photos, but only got as far as the amuse bouche (meaning, I took one photo of the very first thing and then spaced on all the rest…oh well). That first thing was really good though: a deviled egg with smoked salmon on top. Delicious!

The next courses were a sweet potato ravioli with brown butter and sage sauce, and a crab cake with a pomegranate and citrus chutney (they were both great), then a soup and salad (the soup was the winner: a truffled celeriac soup with bacon…delicious), and the entrees were turkey (white and dark meat, perfectly tender and juicy) and pan-seared trout, with sides of cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, and brussels sprouts. (There were two options for each course, so we ordered one of each and tried everything.) Desserts were many, and we chose apple pie and bourbon chocolate pecan pie (the winner). The wine pairings were great and it was a very nice meal.

We got back to the boat and after a while noticed an email from some folks who follow our blog, Chuck and Connie (in Friday Harbor from Bellingham with their Grand Banks). Turns out they were up at the Coho Restaurant for dinner also (with friends Bob and Jill, also from Bellingham and also with a Grand Banks), and were wondering if we were still there at the restaurant. We told them we had done the early shift and were already back at Airship, and invited them to come by the boat after they finished dinner if they wanted. They did, and it was super fun! New boating friends!

The docks were frosty as we headed up to the market this morning for some groceries before heading out:

Bob and Jill and Chuck and Connie had invited us to stay for a second Thanksgiving today (Friday) consisting of Bob's deep fried turkey on the dock, and as seriously tempting as that was, we opted to head over to Sucia today. We were really itching to be out on the water (because it's just so gorgeous out still) and also wanted to get in some hiking. We all exchanged info though so we'll plan another meet up, for sure!

We moored in Fox Cove on Sucia this time, between Sucia Island and Little Sucia Island. We've never moored here before, and figured we could get the sunset and the view through to Fossil Bay from here. It's gorgeous. We put out some crab traps (cuz, you never know) and then dinghied around to Shallow Bay, where we beached the dinghy and then hiked out around Echo Bay.

I know, I've posted many photos of this place in the past, but man it's gorgeous!

There were no boats at all moored in Echo Bay when we started our hike (around 2:30pm).

As we were finishing our hike (around 4) there were two boats. That's it. On a holiday weekend. Where are all the boats, people??

As we came around a bend, I noticed a large blue heron sitting in a tree. I took a quick shot, and then moved quietly along the path to see how close I could get to him before he took off (and made that loud cranky sound they make):

Dinghy ride back to Airship as the sun sets:

Sunset from Fox Cove:

We hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, wherever you are!

24° — feels like 13°

Laura Domela — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 16:53:29 +0000

Yep, it's cold cold cold here on Orcas Island now that those winds have shifted from South winds to North winds. Early this morning as predicted (known gale warning), we awoke to the sounds of being on a pirate ship in a storm.

We both got up and went out to (1) remove the dang burgee (little flag on the bow that says "Nordic Tug" with a little tug icon, very cute) because it was blowing and clanking around like crazy (which ended up to matter NONE in the big scheme of things that made noise for the rest of the night), and (2) make sure all our lines were really REALLY secure, and that all the fenders were in the right spots between the boat and the dock.

I've been using this great app called iWindsurf for getting the winds. These panels showing wind speed are 4am, 7am, 10am, and 1pm this afternoon (forecast) and that little blue dot is where we are. Fun stuff! (Click to enlarge)

And here's what it sounded like at about 4am from bed, as the wind tossed us around a bit:

Listen: Sounds like a pirate ship, doesn't it?

Once when it was quiet for several moments Kevin said "It's much quieter now that we've broken loose." (fucker)

This morning it was clear and beautiful and the winds were still howling. Looking out into Cascade Bay it was choppy and there was spindrift on ALL of the water…hard to get a photo of it, but I tried:

We bundled up and headed to the Mansion Restaurant for breakfast (because, they have the Perfect Eggs Benedict!). Everyone was talking about the wind and the cold and the restaurant was warm and busy.

Back at the boat now doing some work (and learning about how to tie the lines so they don't creak as much).

Non-black Friday on Orcas Island

Laura Domela — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 02:17:08 +0000

Thanksgiving dinner up at the Mansion Restaurant last night was really good (a fairly typical, traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet). We hit the spa before dinner (hot tub for a bit and then swam in the indoor saltwater pool after that to cool down). Remember how I said that for our $34/night moorage fee we also got access to the spa facilities, and how great a deal that was (and it is!)? Well, it's a bit different in the summer. I looked, and moorage is $75/night for our size slip at the marina. You can grab a mooring buoy offshore for $25, and then you pay an additional $20 for spa access if on a buoy (but that is access per boat, for up to 4 people). Anyway, turns out the off season here is a SUPER deal.

We slept in this morning quite late. Last night was windy and therefore the boat rocked a bit, and therefore the lines creaked a bit as they rubbed at the cleat that's on deck right above my head, so I didn't sleep all that well (and when I was sleeping I was having dreams about the boat coming untied and drifting into someone's kitchen).

We headed up around noon for our first meal of the day (lunch) up at the Moran Lounge. After lunch, we headed up the hill for a nice ~6 mile hike up to and around Cascade Lake in Moran State Park.

Gorgeous trails around the lake:

Cascade Lake:

I wish this fern/moss was growing all around our house in Portland. We love it! (Macro shot…it's tiny in real life):

We were going to take the 1.1 mile detour out to Cascade Falls, but realized we didn't leave on our hike until almost 2, and sunset was at 4:20pm or something, so we kept on track to get back to the marina before dark. (Also, we didn't want to be late for the 6:15pm massages we'd scheduled (Happy Birthday Week to Kevin!)

On the way back down the hill, the sun was setting and peeking from beneath the clouds, shining an amazing pink orange light on tiny parts of the hills nearby. Like this:

And this (above the marina):

The massages were great (and welcomed after that hike!) and we're snacking on a little light dinner and a glass of wine (and water, lots of water).

Here's our hike today (with elevation gain beneath):

The marine forecast for the next few days for the Northern Inland Waters including the San Juan Islands is this:

TONIGHT
N WIND 15 TO 25 KT BECOMING NE 25 TO 35 KT. WIND WAVES 2 
TO 4 FT BUILDING TO 4 TO 6 FT. CHANCE OF RAIN TURNING TO A CHANCE OF 
SNOW.

SAT
NE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. WIND WAVES 4 TO 6 FT.  

SAT NIGHT
NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT.  

SUN THROUGH MON
NE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT.

MON NIGHT THROUGH WED
N WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT.

Those 4-6 ft wind waves don't sound that fun, really. Walking back to Airship tonight from the spa there was ice on the dock and a little on the top deck of the boat…it'd be fun to see some snow here!

Our plan is to stay put at Rosario until Sunday and then maybe head over to Roche Harbor or somewhere for a few days…and maybe try to revisit some of our good whale spots. Also, tomorrow at 4pm I think we're going to go to this:

Rosario Music Concert and Historical Narrative
Christopher Peacock, accomplished musician, author and Rosario historian, offers a presentation of music and photography that walks guests through the history of the Moran family and the Rosario estate. Highlights of the presentation include the historic Moran Photograph Collection, Phantom of the Opera music performed on the Mansion’s 1,972 pipe Aeolian organ with the silent film, stories of the Mansion’s most colorful residents, and Christopher’s original piano compositions played on the 1900 Steinway Grand Piano. Saturdays only at 4 p.m. Complimentary and open to the public.

Sounds quirky and fun, huh?

This place overall is kind of fun and quirky. There was a guy here in the marina the other day on a really cool wooden two-masted sailboat who looked like he'd been lost at sea for 40 years…gigantic beard, little captain's cap, big coat…the whole deal. We met a friendly marina resident this afternoon out decorating his boat with green and red Christmas lights…all the way up to the mast and back and around the rails…super festive! He said we really need to come back for the Christmas holidays…that the mansion is all decorated and festive. Sounds great! Maybe we'll make it for New Year's Eve (weather permitting!)