Eureka, CA and the Redwoods

September 2008
Ligia and Marpa have a beautiful Victoria mansion here in Eureka. (Photo coming soon.) The city is known for it’s many Victoria houses and buildings. With a population of 25,000, it’s a very navigable city and easy to get around in. Our marina is located a very short dinghy ride across from Eureka's Victorian downtown or we can take our bicycles across the bridge for an easy 20 minute bike ride.

We decided to rent a car and spend a week in the redwoods going from Crescent City near the border of Oregon down to Richardson Grove in the south which is a 150 mile drive one way. Each redwood area seems to different…some dry and hot, others clouded in cool moist fog. We enjoyed all of it. Especially the motel with the outdoor very large Jacuzzi!

After spending 2 weeks with Ligia and Marpa, we finally left our comfortable slip in the marina. We had a great time watching movies together, watching an outdoor concert from our dinghy in the water, drinking wine, and just hanging out. It was a little hard to leave.

Now almost 2 weeks after our initial arrival, we’re heading down the coast for an overnight motor/sail to San Francisco.

Our ‘Overnight’ Stop That Lasted a Week - Neah Bay, WA

August 2008
It's just a short jaunt across the waters from Victoria BC to the US check-in at Port Angeles. Then another short Western hop to the Makah Indian Reservation in Neah Bay to get fuel and wait for a good weather window before heading around the NW tip of the state. When we arrived I was anxious to go because it seemed to me that there was not much to do in Neah Bay. We stayed for more than the overnight we planned.

Neah Bay is a very small village with one grocery story, 2 pizza places, one restaurant and one Makah Indian museum. ‘Oh well, we can go to the museum while we’re waiting for better weather.’ So the following day when the rain let up a little, we walked over to the Coast Guard station and the museum. There we learned more about the Makah culture. We found the Makah to be a very warm and welcoming people with a history of trading all along the coast from California to Alaska and inland. So when we heard that the biggest celebration, Makah Days, would be the coming weekend, we There was all night drumming and a throwing of the bones game called Slalah, traditional salmon bake, dancing, a decided to stay and watch the festivities. talent show, and a parade. We laughed so hard during the talent show with 3 year olds performing and a young standup comic that had nothing to say but was hilarious just being himself. And then there was the crowning several princess and warriors. Interestingly enough, to compete for the title, true to the traditional tribal customs of sharing food and wealth, the person that raised the most money was the person to receive the crown. The money was used to give out money to different charities. Just as the festivities were winding down, a weather window broke and we headed off around the tip of Washington and down the coast for more adventures. It was a wonderful stay and a great way to say ‘goodbye’ to the Northwest. But not before making some hot soup to eat during the 4 day passage to Eureka.

First Things First

Late July 2008
Gotta get all that green stuff off the bottom first. Here I am cleaning off the bottom. Actually Biagio finished most of it. It will give us an extra knot when we motor/sail. A 7mm wet suit helps insulate in the cold, cold water in Victoria, BC. Then it was off to Vancouver for 4 days with a visit from Matt and Annie, also cruising friends Terry and Lynn, then on to pick up Jess and Tracy on Orcas Island for a few days, and finally, one more stop in Victoria before heading out.

Where oh where...

July 2008

I love small spaces and organization so I thought I was prepared to add my things to the boat and stay organized. Yes, it was a challenge to find places for everything. But I wasn't prepared for the challenge it is to find those same things again. Biagio has things that he hasn't found for seven years. Well, I'll just concentrate on being grateful for space to loose things in. Now where was that brush, and that dress, and that box of cereal, and...

The Initial Steps...

A map to orient you if you are not familiar with the Pacific North West.

1st Leg - Right map - Seattle to Victoria

2nd Leg - Left map - Victoria Going out the Straight of Juan de Fuca and 'Turning Left'. Then first stop, down to visit my long time friend Ligia and marpa in Eureka, California.

Note: We will be going via the blue watery area.

Mixing Two Countries on One Boat

June 2008
Gem is currently docked in Victoria which is just a 2 hour+ boat ride from Seattle on the Victoria Clipper. Now to get my things on the boat shouldn't be hard, right? Just drive them there by car. That sounds good but customs doesn't agree. Even though the boat will be leaving Canada and going to the US, it's not possible to put my things on the boat by going through customs unless we want to pay duty on everything. Biagio left Seattle with a car load of clothes, kitchen things, etc. and had to turn back because of this slight problem. They would have let him in if I had taken out a visa for Canada but because since I hadn't done that, he would have to turn back to the US. Problem was that the US customs wanted to know where he was going with all of those things and didn't want to let him back across the border. They reluctantly gave him 24 hrs. in the US and then he would have to cross the border again. Biagio truly felt like a man with no country.

Dave and Gay wonderfully let him store everything in their garage near Everett until we could come up with another plan. On to Plan B. Anacortes in a city/marina/jumping off point to the San Juan Islands. For me it is a 1 1/2 hr. drive north from Seattle. For Biagio on the boat, it was an almost direct west sail/motor due east. So in Anacortes we happily loaded 2 car loads of things including clothes, a 15 horse motor, fabric for curtains and upholstery, and 'stuff'. So all was worked out.

Now it is 2 weeks later, and the accumulation pile is growing again. Running lights for the salon, locks for the cabinets, soy sauce and green tea from the Asian store, my folding bicycle, the new chart table chair... So let's see, how are we going to get this all on the boat this time?

Preparing on Land for Sea

April 2008
It is now mid April. Leaving in August for off shore and who knows where on SV (sailing vessel) Gem. Gem is a Hans Christian - Christina version sail boat that is 43' long. The boat originally sailed from Victoria 7 years ago and spent time anywhere from Victoria BC Canada to New Zealand and Australia. It has been back for 1 year, refitted with many new systems (many of which were not available 7 years ago..including blogs!), new crew (that would be me), and new spirits and dreams of adventure.

Down the coast of the U.S. to start, then continuing on down the coast of Mexico, turning the corner at the Baja Peninsula and on up into LaPaz, the Sea of Cortez and diving and exploring along the western shores.

From there, .... well we'll decide that later. But surely on the 'list' is the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, and we'll make it up from there.

In the meantime, I'll have to get my banking in order, do some fixing on my house, figure out how to get my mail, many little details. But I'm sure they will also work themselves out along the way.

Victoria/Vancouver Group Top photo: Matthew, Adrian, Tia, Anne, Jesse and Biagio (Be Ah' Sjho) 3 Sons and 2 Never Boring Daughter-In-Laws

Seattle Group Lower: Biagio, Jill, Jesse's Long time partner Theresa, son Jesse and the mighty dog Teegan who will gladly stay land bound.