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.
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.
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.