Posted on

Summer Cruising: Pendrell Sound

I realize after preparing to flip another page on the calendar in not too many days, that I am behind in updating my cruising blog for this summer’s adventures.  As usual, summer passed like a flash, leaving behind great memories and experiences.

I am thrilled to have been able to enjoy several weeks cruising this summer in Desolation Sound, the Discovery Islands, and the Canadian Gulf Islands.  I’ve decided rather than bore you with my daily cruising log, I’ll share some of the highlights and use video to help tell the story.

If you’ve read my blog in the past months, you may recall I launched a YouTube Channel in the spring.  I’ve really enjoyed the process of shooting and editing the videos, and learn more and more with each and every one.

The first video in this summer’s cruising series is one I created from an August visit to Pendrell Sound in Desolation Sound.  It’s truly an amazing place, and probably my favorite anchorage in Desolation Sound.  There’s just something magical about swimming in warm water below towering snow-capped peaks.  Rather than go on and on, I’ll let the video take it from here:

Thanks for watching.  If you enjoy my videos, feel free to subscribe to my channel.  “Stay tuned” for the next installments in my summer cruising series!

 

Posted on

Operation: Orca-Dungie. Anacortes Gives Back.

Mary LaFleur of Anacortes has enjoyed boating in the Northwest since she was young and looks back at some great memories of time spent on the water with her friends and family.  But she understood that, it was because of the sacrifices of others she was able to enjoy her favorite pastime.

“It occurred to me,” she said, “while I was out there having a good time, someone somewhere on the other side of the world was standing guard.”  LaFleur was referring to the men and women serving in the armed forces, and she was looking for an opportunity to express her appreciation.

Beginning in April of this year, she began contacting friends and associates, and in the span of four months organized the inaugural “Operation: Orca-Dungie” on July 20-21 in Anacortes.

Over the two days, a group of military veterans from the Northwest traveled to Anacortes where they were treated to a whale watching tour aboard the Mystic Sea on the first day, where they saw Orcas, Humpbacks, and a very rare sighting of a fin whale – a whale not seen in Puget sound for over five decades.  Day two was spent crabbing and sightseeing aboard boats hosted by local boaters, and finished off with a huge crab feed.

“The Anacortes crab feed was one of the best experiences I’ve had as a vet!” one veteran said.  “The Anacortes community really went all out for us.”

LaFleur thanks the many supporters who donated their time and resources in to making the event happen.

To help out, or for more information, contact operationorcadungie@gmail.com .

Check out a short video of “Operation: Orca-Dungie”

 

Posted on

2016 Tollycraft Rendezvous

I just returned from the annual Tollycraft Boating Club Rendezvous at Roche Harbor, a long weekend packed with a lot of fun and fun people.

This was my twelfth rendezvous, and while each event is a little different, they’re all about getting together with boating friends, making new ones, and enjoying some time on the water.

Rather than try to describe it all, I’ll let a short video I put together tell the story!

Posted on

Airship Jolly Mon

If you’ve followed my YouTube Channel at all, you have seen that I have upgraded Jolly Mon to an aircraft carrier of sorts – I bought a drone/quadcopter/chopper, or whatever you might call it.  Actually – to be completely honest – I bought two, but that is its own story for another time.

I purchased at DJI Phantom 3 Standard, an inexpensive, easy to fly quadcopter that takes pretty incredible video an photos.  It’s a lot of fun…

Here is a short video of my boat under way on the way to the Annual Tollycraft Boating Club rendezvous in Roche Harbor.

Posted on

What’s Up Lopez? (VIDEO)

I was faced with a dilemma:  I had a few days off.  The weather forecast for those days off was outstanding.  I didn’t really have anything I had to do over those days off.

For a fleeting moment, I tried to be rational, and said to myself, “self… you just got back from a nice little trip on the boat.  Shouldn’t you stay home and work in the yard, or do spring cleaning around the house left over from springs past?”  It was at that point, I ignored that little voice in my head – I certainly don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.  Knowing that life was going to get busy in the next few weeks, and I most likely wouldn’t have an opportunity to get out for a bit, I did what any self-respecting boater would do.  I threw some clothes in a bag, grabbed a few groceries, and headed for the boat.

Without too much adieu, I was motoring out of the marina, and after a visit to the fuel dock, I was on my way out the Guemes Channel, and across Rosario Strait for a most pleasant cruise to Watmough Bay on the South End of Lopez Island.  As I arrived, I stole the solitude of the bay from a lone sailboat.  Later, I visited with one of the owners of that sailboat, SV Mom – an  interesting woman who I enjoyed sharing stories of travel, cruising, and comparing favorite anchorages.  I took the dinghy to shore, for an evening walk before dinner and calling it a night.IMG_2359

IMG_2350

 

Continue reading “What’s Up Lopez? (VIDEO)”