Les and John’s 2019 EXTREME Winter Cruise
- Thread starter jssailem
- Start date
Michael, tell Bob and Christine thank you for there warm thoughts.
We have had three great days on the water since leaving Saturna. Tell them they may have given us the warmest reception on the coldest day/night of our cruise in our Cruise Log.
We are still a couple of days from home port.
Tonight is Poulsbo. Then Seattle on Saturday, with a float be Bremerton to show Ward the US Navy ships. Big celebration dinner in Seattle on Saturday night. Kick Ward off the boat early Sunday (I think somewhere around 03:00) so he can catch an Uber to the airport and his flight home. Then Mahalo will head back north 5 hours to Everett and home port.
May the weather gods give us fair passage. They certainly tried to test us.
We have had three great days on the water since leaving Saturna. Tell them they may have given us the warmest reception on the coldest day/night of our cruise in our Cruise Log.
We are still a couple of days from home port.
Tonight is Poulsbo. Then Seattle on Saturday, with a float be Bremerton to show Ward the US Navy ships. Big celebration dinner in Seattle on Saturday night. Kick Ward off the boat early Sunday (I think somewhere around 03:00) so he can catch an Uber to the airport and his flight home. Then Mahalo will head back north 5 hours to Everett and home port.
May the weather gods give us fair passage. They certainly tried to test us.
We have used everything in our bags to stay warm.
I’d have grown fur like a caveman if I could.
Oh... Port Townsend was a very nice stop.. I had a bit of early morning coffe while the baby’s slept...
Once the sleeping beauties were up we gathered at the local Cafe for a wonderful breakfast. Ward and I treated the Captain to a kitchen free meal.
Then we were off again, this time to Kingston. We slipped into a Reciprocal moorage and went up town to have beer and dinner.
The Fresh Handmade Beer Batter onion rings went quickly. I tried to get a picture. You can just see Les’s fingers grabbing one of the last in the basket.
They were mouth watering good.
It feels like we have entered the banana belt. The winds die down at night. No snow to shovel in the morning. Ward is saying “Man this is nice. I thought you said the whole trip would be like this.”
Wind blowing making for good sailing, and sun sharing the sky with the clouds. You can go outside without a fur lined parka.
Today we are in Poulsbo. It is like stepping into a Norwegian town.
Quaint walking streets
Bakeries
An Viking Longboats
Red headed or blonde friendly folk smiling with a welcoming greeting. This is a fun town.
Once the sleeping beauties were up we gathered at the local Cafe for a wonderful breakfast. Ward and I treated the Captain to a kitchen free meal.
Then we were off again, this time to Kingston. We slipped into a Reciprocal moorage and went up town to have beer and dinner.
The Fresh Handmade Beer Batter onion rings went quickly. I tried to get a picture. You can just see Les’s fingers grabbing one of the last in the basket.
They were mouth watering good.
It feels like we have entered the banana belt. The winds die down at night. No snow to shovel in the morning. Ward is saying “Man this is nice. I thought you said the whole trip would be like this.”
Wind blowing making for good sailing, and sun sharing the sky with the clouds. You can go outside without a fur lined parka.
Today we are in Poulsbo. It is like stepping into a Norwegian town.
Quaint walking streets
Bakeries
An Viking Longboats
Red headed or blonde friendly folk smiling with a welcoming greeting. This is a fun town.
Spent a quite night in Liberty Bay at Port of Poulsbo.
Well this is the last day with 1st mate @Ward H on board Mahalo and the 2019 EXTREME Winter Cruise.
Had a meet and greet with @Phil Herring last evening over beer and pizza. Closed the place down. Drank the last of their Scotch Ale. Talked sailing and cruise events, with Phil grinning and shaking his head in disbelief.
Today takes us down the sheltered waterways by Bainbridge Island and last summers WWII unexploded mine event. The Bremerton Naval Ship Yard and then Seattle. A nice dinner then early to bed for Ward, as he is heading off to NJ on the early flight.
Getting called to the dock to help untie the lines as Ward takes the helm and backs out of the tight fairway.
What could possibly go wrong.
Well this is the last day with 1st mate @Ward H on board Mahalo and the 2019 EXTREME Winter Cruise.
Had a meet and greet with @Phil Herring last evening over beer and pizza. Closed the place down. Drank the last of their Scotch Ale. Talked sailing and cruise events, with Phil grinning and shaking his head in disbelief.
Today takes us down the sheltered waterways by Bainbridge Island and last summers WWII unexploded mine event. The Bremerton Naval Ship Yard and then Seattle. A nice dinner then early to bed for Ward, as he is heading off to NJ on the early flight.
Getting called to the dock to help untie the lines as Ward takes the helm and backs out of the tight fairway.
What could possibly go wrong.
It was beyond fun to meet @jssailem, @LeslieTroyer, @Ward H... guys I only knew from their avatars. I got to see Les' tricked out C36 and learned the details behind a few of their harrowing moments (that would have had me in an all-out panic). Thanks for a great evening... and one of the best threads I've seen here in years!
As our adventure nears it’s end..
The Seattle skyline gave us a grey welcome..
Dinosaurs
Civilization
The Big Wheel
A safe place for Mahalo
And a Celebration with Family, Friends and good food
In life that is a pretty full glass.
The Seattle skyline gave us a grey welcome..
Dinosaurs
Civilization
The Big Wheel
A safe place for Mahalo
And a Celebration with Family, Friends and good food
In life that is a pretty full glass.
Thank you @nightowle
Would live to but need to see if we can get into Everett before the ice closes the port.
Can we get a raincheck?
Would live to but need to see if we can get into Everett before the ice closes the port.
Can we get a raincheck?
Thanks for the invite @nightowle but I’m ready to sleep in a comfy warm bed. Ward has left for the airport for an early flight.
John and I are really hoping that our slip is not iced up. Last discussions with the marina was they were. They said to use transient dock till it in freezes.
John and I are really hoping that our slip is not iced up. Last discussions with the marina was they were. They said to use transient dock till it in freezes.
I agree with you, Phil. Living in Annapolis I get to meet the folks who come all this way for the October Boat Show( Princess of the lake stays on my mind). I didn't get to join them until they had their check, but the offer of a drink on me got them to stay.
I think you guys filled a few barrels with this trip! Congrats on the journey and thanks for including us all! I'm looking forward to hearing more of the details!
And a quick meritorious offer it was.
We would have stayed since “you had me at hello sailor “
My only disappointment was we did not get to go sailing with you. I am holding your promised rain check in a safe place. Only hope I can remember where my safe place is.
Looking forward to a debrief once you get settled and rested. Most curious about how many miles under sail verse motor. I get frustrated with the number of flat calm days in summer and like the shoulder seasons for that reason.
This was an extreme adventure and I hated to see it come to an end. Les and John are great guys to cruise with, very capable and willing to share their knowledge. I learned so much about cruising, sailing in seas and weather conditions that I never expected, visited great ports and met great people.
Listening to @Phil Herring talk about the history of SBO and @Michael Davis talking about his cruising experiences were special treats.
I was disappointed I didn't get to meet @Stu Jackson in person but did enjoy talking to him on the phone. I also missed @Meriachee but appreciated and took his advice about the Sylvia Hotel lounge.
John, Les and I had great discussions on various boat systems, especially the electronics and electrical upgrades I'm working on. I got some great ideas from what I saw on Les's C36.
So now it's back to the Barnegat Bay but with experiences that will make me a better sailor, some great stories to tell and plans to extend my sailing area beyond the BB.
Here are some photos from the last couple of days sailing:
John
Les
Ward, John, Les
Listening to @Phil Herring talk about the history of SBO and @Michael Davis talking about his cruising experiences were special treats.
I was disappointed I didn't get to meet @Stu Jackson in person but did enjoy talking to him on the phone. I also missed @Meriachee but appreciated and took his advice about the Sylvia Hotel lounge.
John, Les and I had great discussions on various boat systems, especially the electronics and electrical upgrades I'm working on. I got some great ideas from what I saw on Les's C36.
So now it's back to the Barnegat Bay but with experiences that will make me a better sailor, some great stories to tell and plans to extend my sailing area beyond the BB.
Here are some photos from the last couple of days sailing:
John
Les
Ward, John, Les
