San Juan Islands Part II this Summer


July 16, 2020

After swim practice kids, Kimo and I headed up to the boat. Just as we stowed everything Andy pulled up with another round of stuff to unpack. Off the dock by 3:30 and spent the night at Spencer Spit.  It is beautiful out and it is opening weekend of crab season.  Immediately dropped the pots and requested lots of crab from the seafood gods.  Kimo's first trip here and we went exploring just long enough to let the crabs climb in.  We pulled the pots and did well, almost our limit.  Another round and a few more nice ones.  We had a great crab dinner and sat around picking the crab for the rest of the night...much easier to store that way. 


July 17, 2020
Skull Island, WA
Boys did an early round of crabbing.  We got our limit of 15 and headed to Skull Island. We are down to one motor and hope to get what is needed to repair in West Sound.   The day pretty much was chill.  Set anchor, Saylor and Hudson took Kimo on the tube played on the beach while teaching him to swim.  I stayed back and cooked crab...lots of crab. Andy got the goop to fix the boat and we hope it works.  Will know more after it dries in 24 hours.  We picked sooooo much crab my hands hurt, but we got it all done.  We must have at least 12 pounds of picked crab meat.  They said 7:00.  With dessert on the line the family knows how to move it.  Hudson jumped on the tube and we pulled him the entire way there.  We pulled up to the dock and had Saylor run ahead.  The guy closed and locked the doors in her face.  I showed up just after and gave him a pitiful look and explained our cold boat ride there just for ice cream.  He was not thrilled but did invite us to grab our ice cream.  We had barbecue for dinner, ate our ice cream and we were all tired so off to bed.
6:40 and I called the store at ferry dock to see how late they will be staying open.
 

July 18, 2020
Stuart Island, San Juans

Up and it is another beautiful day.  Hudson took Kimo for a hike and then we had breakfast.  Crab with our eggs of course.   Water was calm and the kids had a great time tubing. Kimo had his first adventure of tubing too. 
He sat in the middle of them.  He whined a few times.  We are not sure if it was a happy or a get me off of this thing kind of whine.
Time to check the engine repair.   Unfortunately, it did not hold.  Trying again and will know more in another 24 hours.  That means no hot water and dishes piling up. 
Off to Deer Harbor for our traditional ice cream and french fries.  Everyone is wearing masks (due to Covid) and no more than 3 people in the store at a time.  I am glad they are taking it seriously.  Number are going up in Seattle.  After our treat we went to the beach for Kimo and Hudson to play.  We had a nice time and he loved running around like a crazy puppy.  Unfortunately, it was too much fun and too much time and I got a good burn on my back. 
Pulled in Stewart Island around 6:00 and set anchor in Prevost Harbor.  We inflated to floaties, pulled out chips and salsa and made sangria.  It was a perfect happy hour! 





  Kimo is starting to settle into the boating thing. He jumped on the tube by himself.  Kids joined him and took him for a paddle around the cove.  The three crazy Lemkes (I won't name names) jumped in the water and we all got a solar shower. 
Crab rolls for dinner and finished off the evening with a couple rounds of Uno.  The mosquitoes came for a party, so we quickly shut the windows and hatches and called it a day. 

July 19, 2020
Reid Harbor, Stuart Island, WA
After a night of bugs, we thought it might be nice to move locations this morning.  We went around the corner, a quick 30 minutes to Reid Harbor.  Incredibly beautiful and busy.  Seems like everywhere we go this season there are many boats.  We think everyone wanting to get away from Seattle and Covid.  Inflated the floaties and had a nice breakfast with crab and mimosas. 
Kids, Andy and Kimo went for a hike to the light house.  They were gone for two hours and had a nice walk, just over four miles. 
Time for a crab roll for lunch! We had a nice float and fell asleep out there.  Out for a round of tubbing near Spiden Island.  I guess lots of animals were cross bread here by a rich dude that loved to hunt once upon a time.  We don’t normally have any luck spotting animals, but today we did! There were two critters that looked like a half deer and half cow.  Must research more when we get home. 
It is happy hour and pina coladas today! Another sun shower and we all sat on the bow and took in the last bit of sun before it sat. 

July 20, 2020
Garrison Bay, San Juan Island WA

A gorgeous morning that included mimosas, eggs, and more crab! Pulled up anchor and headed over to Garrison Bay on San Juan Island.  Dropped the hook and headed into Roche Harbor so the kids could hit the tennis ball around a bit.  It was hot, but they hit for a while.  Kimo found some other dogs and played a lot.  Nice to tire him out for the moment. 
Headed over to the grocery store for a few things and had to get the traditional items at the cafe (fries, clam chowder and ice cream). Everyone was wearing masks and 6 feet apart.  Took everything to go and ate on the dingy on the way back to Another Whim. 
Ended up with a late lunch of another crab roll on the back deck.  It was so hot! Made a sangria, dipped in the water and time to float.  These are peaceful moments during a stressful time for the world.  I'm so grateful for them and our time together. Kids took Kimo jumped on a float and paddled over to the shore for some adventure. 




July 21, 2020
Garrison Bay, San Juan Island

Staying in the same place for two nights makes for a much easier day. This morning we went to Roche Harbor to eat a little benni and play a little tenni as we like to say. :-) It was nice to have the morning off from cooking and from crab!  After some time on the court we went to the store and bought some pints of ice cream for the cruise back to the boat.  So fun to look at the houses along the way.  The one with the helicopter in the front yard, the other one sitting on it's own golf course are good incentives for the kids to work hard in school and life. 
Lunch time and it was the finish line for the crab.  We polished it off and we are done!! Never, ever thought I would be tired of crab.  Boys went for a hike and made it to the top of a hill that gave them a beautiful view of the area. 
Andy's goal is to use up all the bottles of alcohol on the boat that have a little bit in them so every day it is another crazy drink at happy hour.  A nice float with a mama and baby seal hanging out with us.  It is hot so Kimo loves to get on the float and get a breeze on the water.  He is definitely settling into the boat life. 
Taco Tuesday! We had a great dinner of carnitas tacos, a beautiful sunset and wonderful family time. 
The stars are amazing! We got to see the comet again.  I think it is even better tonight than before.

July 22, 2020
Spencer Spit, Lopez Island
Pulled anchor and back to Spencer Spit.  We are going to leave Another Whim here and head back to Anacortes early.   Kids have Ladder Cross on Thursday and Friday, so they want to be back for that.  After, we will take the dingy back up to the boat and continue the vacation.  Hoping the solar panels keep the fridge running and everything stays cold. 

July 24, 2020
Anacortes to Spencer Spit, Lopez Island
We got lucky.  It was a medium chop.  I got a good spray several times, but with the sun out it is fine.  45 minutes later we were able to see the boat.  She is still there! Next question, is our fridge still cold?  Success! We have safe food!
It is a beautiful night and it is Andy's birthday.  We had a tasty dinner of salmon, steak, potatoes, carrots, and marinated garlic mushrooms.  A nice sun set too. 

July 25, 2020
Judd Bay, Orcas Island
Boys took Kimo to shore and then checked the crab pots.  At least eight big 7+ inch crabs.  Cannot believe we are having more crab, but also can't pass up fresh crab. 
We set up on the back deck for lunch.  Another thing we cannot pass up, an amazing view.  As we were picking crab and chillin' three planes in formation flew overhead.  We gave them big thank you waves, and they came back again for another round.  So fun!
Set anchor at Buck Bay for an afternoon float and the night.  First, off to East Sound by dingy to Brown Bear Bakery. We called ahead and had them reserve our favorite dessert, Gianduja tart.  One of the best desserts ever!
Back to the boat and it is too breeze and lumpy, so we move to a cove up by East Sound, Judd Bay.  We have always wanted to stay here but it is out of the way, so we haven't.  We set anchor and it is calm water, warm and beautiful.  We had chips, salsa and beer on the float.  Always a nice time out on our float and peaceful.
Ate dinner and enjoying the evening when we noticed the water was like glass and the sun hasn't set just yet.  Kids put on their wetsuits and we went for an end of the evening tube. Must have been about 8:00, but it was perfect. 

July 26, 2020
Enjoyed a quiet morning and then a two-hour cruise to Eagle Harbor, Cypress Island.  It is a pretty moorage.  There is a beautiful view of Mt. Baker in the distance.  More adventures and floating time before headed back home. 

4th of July - San Juan Islands


July 1, 2020

Anacortes, WA

First Covid-19 vacation!

Kids finished up tennis at Klahaya and off we headed to Anacortes to board the boat.  It rained on the drive up.  I hope this is the end of the rain, but so thankful to be out of Seattle and Corona all around us. It will be nice to be on the boat and just take a break from reality.  

Boat packed up and everything stowed away.  Dinner is to go from the local Thai place.  Guy that I paid wasn't wearing his mask over his nose.  These kinds of thing bug me with everything going on...wish they didn't.  Food was good and will go back - post Corona or when he figures out how to wear a mask properly. 



July 2, 2020

Jones Island, WA

Andy and Hudson did an early morning run to the doughnut shop.  Looks like dessert for breakfast.

 Stopped at Toni's (Buck Bay Shellfish Farm) and had amazing lunch at her cute, new restaurant.   









Of course she still has the farm so we got some halibut cevich and oysters for dinner and always great to see her. 
On the way back to the boat we wanted to drive by another boat to look at for our future and hit a rock.  Ouch! What a silly mistake. Hit the engine but fortunately not serious damage.  Will know more when we get back to Seattle. 


Set anchor at Jones Island.  Love the beauty of the place.  Best trail and you just really feel like you are away from it all.  Put the shrimp pots down and relaxed for a minute.  No real sun and it is sprinkling a bit.  Pulling the pots to me is like someone giving you a ring box, but you don't exactly know what size of diamond is going to be in there until you open it.   Today, when we opened the box it was a beautiful diamond.  We just about got our limit! 😊 

We had some amazing Spot prawns for dinner and  a nice bottle of white wine.  I had a bit too much of the wonderful wine and got a little bit tipsy.  Saylor was giving me a hard time about it.  I called her a buzz kill and she was not so happy about it...but left me alone so all was good. 


July 3, 2020

Sucia, WA

Woke up to typical early July weather (any days before the 5th of July always seem to be cloudy and a little rain).  Typically, summer always seems to really hit July 5th here in the PNW.    Weather forecast is for sun in the afternoon.  Boys dropped pots, got a good pull and more shrimp.

 We had a nice breakfast of an english muffin topped with shrimp and an egg. Must bring avocado, white cheddar and chives next time to go with.

The rain has really picked up.  Off we go to Sucia.  Weather forecast definitely got it wrong.  No clearing and lots of rain.

Set anchor at Sucia in Shallow Bay. 

Lots more rain, but still so beautiful and the water is calm.  It was a mellow day and it rained and rained.  Andy and Hudson went ashore for a little hike and it never let up. Finished the evening with Jiffy Pop and a movie. Most rain ever! 




July 4, 2020

Jones Island, WA

Could hear the rain all throughout the night.  Woke up to sun and blue sky! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY and thank you Mother Nature! Cooking breakfast and setting everything out to dry and here come the Pichlers on their charter.  What a surprise for everyone.  Of all the islands and all the coves they end up picking the mooring right next to our boat.  Crazy!

Wore our 4th of July masks, thanks Grandma! 


Hudson was thrilled to hang on the water with Lukie.  Nice to see others and have a social distance visit.  Lots of water fights, paddle boards and tubing! Still lots of sun! :-)

Lunch on the back deck, chips and salsa, beer and a nice float.  This is the first time since we have known each other (with 24 - 4th of July celebrations) that we haven't been to Lopez.  Sad to miss our traditions there and spending the day with the Wilcox family, but grateful to be together and have our health during this time (and did I mention the sun?)!

Kids all playing on inflatables, jumping of the boats, climbing rocks, tubing and paddle boards. We picked up Raimund and Jen and went on a double date around the bay on our dingy.  Fun to catch up a bit and just be out relaxing.






Finished up the night with a barbecue and a gorgeous sunset.  The colors are changing and intensifying as we sit here and watch.

July 5, 2020

Sucia to James Island to Home

A beautiful day.  We left Sucia and headed to James Island.  The last stop where you feel like you are in the islands before returning to reality.  Current was so strong, but we had a couple people on the dock grab lines.  Hudson fished and Andy and I got another float in with a nice cold cocktail.  It was a good trip and nice to always have good family time and forget about Corona for a minute. 

Pits, Peaks, Points - Tahiti


January 5th, 2020

Cindy's

Pits: Capsizing in the kayak and thinking we were going to be washed away at sea. Macaroon bakery closed on New Year's Day - I know, life is pretty good if that is my pit.  :-) 

Peaks:  Amazing snorkeling, sitting on the deck at our beach shack, everything about the over the water bungalow and lovin' on  the sting rays. Crepe machine at the grocery store.

Points: Mauruuru roa is thank you. Roads are in great shape and easy to drive on.  Learn a little French or at least enough to know what is what on a menu. The shrimp farm is only open on Wednesdays - unless that falls on a holiday and then they are open on a Tuesday. Once you find a store with baguette bags, keep it for your future baguette purchases.  Some places don't have them and people just lay them on the conveyor belt...gross! Travel is all about chance encounters.  Keep your heart and mind open to the opportunities!

Hudson's

Pits: plane flight is long. Leaving Kimo. Sun burn

Peaks: Food is good on the islands.  Loved the snorkeling.

Points: Eat two baguettes a day.  Bring a rash guard and be sure to eat macaroons.

Saylor's

Pits: Bugs and sunburns

Peaks: the nature in the water and out. Shashimi was great

Points:

Andy's

Pits: losing Hudson's mask, the bee guy not delivering us honey as promised, not buying Thai spring rolls from the super nice local

Peaks: Our beach side bungalow with meals on the porch, amazing roadside food discoveries (bbq pork, endless fruit, macaroons and fresh fish), stingrays climbing all over us, unreal colors, conversations with rusty French and a lot of hand motions, the Hinano girl, family prevailed during the kayak capsize, crashing our friends high end OW bungalow!

Points: One small backpack per person is enough, splurge on lots of good sun screen, heading out for the day with no plan usually works out great, start all conversations with a smile.

Headed Home


January 5, 2020

Tahiti to LAX to Seattle

A total of 18 baguettes

Up at 5:45, out of the room at 5:55 and out of the hotel at 6:10.  Feeling like this family know how to move it in the morning - at least when it comes to travel.  Breakfast at the hotel really doesn't count as breakfast.  More bread and some cereal. 

Did our little walk across the street and at the airport counter.  There was a group off in the corner singing.  They sounded beautiful.  I commented to the family and the ticket person explained that when there is a serious or more specialized surgery that needs to be done the person in need flies to France for it.  The family gathers at the airport and sings to them before they leave.  So sweet and very sad to me.  I can't decide if it is very sweet to show their support or almost like their last goodbye to the person if they don't make it. 

Finishing out the trip with baguettes on the plane easily puts us at 18! Really could never have another piece of bread and be just fine. Air France food is not very good.  The cheese was very stinky, but I did like that you are offered champagne at your meal.  Still hungry and grateful that we carry beef jerky with us when we travel. 

8 hours to LAX, 3 hour layover (not enough time to go get In and Out Burgers unfortunately) and 3 home to Seattle. 

It has been a great trip and this is one of those rare places we would all come back to.  The people were kind and the place is Instagram beautiful!

Au Revoir Moorea


January 4, 2020

Moorea to Tahiti

80 degrees, 75% humidity - per my weather app, it feels like it is 84 degrees

Stats: 17 baguettes devoured and counting.

Final day in paradise.  Breakfast and back to enjoy the bungalow before we had to move out. 

The kids and Andy went paddle boarding. 
Sitting here on the deck feels surreal.  We have been here for 9 days and still hard to believe. 





Checked out at 11:00 and chilling on the beach. Soaking up every last second of warmth and sun.









There were some Tahitians also vacationing.  They were listening to some really fun island music. 
We asked them and this is what is was.  
and in the pool until our 6:00 taxi to take us 15 minutes down the road for our 6:45 ferry.
We sat outside on the top where the air was warm and the sky was beautiful.  A great way to wrap up our stay on Moorea.


Slow ferry this time, so it took us 45-60 minutes to cross.






Once on the other side we had a 10 minute walk to a nearby park.  In the evenings a number of food trucks, tonight was about 7, pull up and completely set up the area with tables, chairs, lights and of course good food. 

Lots to choose from and was blown away by the selection.  Pages and pages in the menus.  You pick a table, they come over and take your order.  The place is packed an the thing that is amazing to me is you can sit at one table and eat at that truck, but if you order from another truck and sit at a random table they somehow find you and get the right food to you.  We had lots of stuff, spring rolls, tuna sashimi, Vietnamese pancakes, fried rice, steak and frites and the most amazing crepes ever!     
                                                         
Was kind of nervous about our hotel, but it was so convenient that we booked it.  The bonus is that it is across from the airport so you just walk over and when it is an early flight that's pretty sweet.  Flight isn't too terrible,  8:10 departure, but when we checked in the hotel reception told us we needed to be there three hours early! Andy did a little internet research and found if we don't have to check luggage, two hours is fine.  Still early for me, but the rude French chickens will have us up early anyways.  :-)

Rainbows and Unicorns


January 3, 2020

Moorea, French Polynesia

82 degrees, 80% humidity - per my weather app, it feels like it is 92 degrees

Stats: 15 baguettes devoured by the family and counting.

Up to enjoy another beautiful day.  Feeling so appreciative every time we have blue sky since the original forecast for our trip was all rain and storms.  We had breakfast at the hotel and it was the first one on the trip that we didn't have to cook so it was good no matter what, but it really was.  It was a buffet, lots of great choices and everything was fresh. 

Another grocery store run so we could have snacks in our room.  We bought the usual stuff including the amazing egg rolls the grocery stores make and also trying some steamed buns.  It is only 9:00 a.m. and they are already sold out of baguettes.  We must fix this dilemma so we drive 5 minutes down the road to the only other real store and crisis solved.  We have our two baguettes! 

Walking to the car we see a truck with bee keeper stickers on it.  We started talking with the French gentleman about his stickers.  He said his son who lives in New Zealand has 400 hives, he only has 20 here on the island.  He thought is was amazing that we have mason bees and that they don't produce honey.  He was so intrigued that he asked for our email so we could chat further about it.  He also promised to drop some very special honey of his off at our hotel.  

We have met some really unique, generous people on this trip.  Such a fun encounter. I am reminded that travel is all about chance encounters.  Keeping our hearts and minds open to the opportunities and our travels will be much richer.

Andy dropped us off at the hotel and returned the rental car a day early.  No reason to keep it and we leave tomorrow anyway. 

The unicorn and rainbow floaties have been inflated and we are ready for a family float. 




It was great until the current had it's own plans and took us out a bit.  Getting back...not so relaxing, but we made it.  Boys were messing around, in their usual boy fashion, and jumped in together. Maybe more like fell in.  Andy landed on his stomach and Hudson, a full on back flop, ouch!  That boys back was pretty red. 

Hudson, Andy and I decided to check out the pool.  It is a beautiful infinity pool.  Hudson wanted a makeover and Andy was happy to help. My boy got a crazy mo-hawk! 
 
Tonight was the last dinner on the island.  Everyone raves about Rudy's so we decided to check it out.  They picked us up from the lobby at 7:00. We had the best French onion soup and the parrot fish stuffed with crab was incredible!
This has truly been the most relaxed vacation we have ever taken.  Everyone is very chill and enjoying the down time.


✔ the Bucket List


January 2, 2020

Moorea, French Polynesia

Up and ready for our final morning at our favorite beach shack. 

Time to face my fear and visit the shark infested waters.  OK, so it is only one area and they are black tipped sharks, but they are still scary to me.  Andy and I took the kayaks out.  He brought some of the tuna we bought.  Pretty much as soon as we pulled up and he jumped in the water they were lovin' all over him.  Climbing up his stomach and back.  Once he gave them a little tuna they were not leaving him alone.  I was pretty freaked out at this point watching sharks swim by and manta rays climbing on him so there was no way I was going to get in.  The show from the kayak was plenty for me.  I did get to pet them and they were so soft and happy with being touched.  Such a unique experience.
 
Out of our place and drove down the road about 5 minutes.  Coco Beach is a little island just out and west of our beach shack.  They pick you up and take you to the island.  They are supposed to have great snorkeling and a fun restaurant.  They greeted us as we arrived and showed us to our table for the day. 

It is right on the beach.  The place is super cute.  We couldn't wait to check out the great snorkeling and they pointed to the way.  There was a lot of current and we walked up the beach (against the current) thinking we would get in and do a drift snorkel.  made it out to the center of the channel and it was rippin and there was nothing to see!  A big disappointment.  Time for lunch at that point.   They served us olives in a clam shell which was a fun touch.  We had amazing poke (according to my three raw fish eating loves) and some great fish k-bobs. 
Most people spend the day here I guess, but we were ready to go after about 90 minutes.  I think we are spoiled after our last place.















Drove back to the area we spent our first night in, Maharepa, and checked into the Manava hotel.  We have a beautiful over the water bungalow.  I can officially "✔ "staying in an over the water hut" off my bucket list! I don't think we were here more than 3 minutes and the kids were doing flips and jumps off the deck.  It was a hot, relaxing afternoon. 




Dinner at Le Mahogany restaurant.  We had a wonderful dinner and back to our bungalow. 

We turned on the light under the coffee table and there were at least 7 big sea urchins.  Super fun to watch things come and go all night long.