Alaska Bound

“Mother, Mother Ocean, I have heard your call……”

The 2010 adventure finally begins!

With one brand spanking new fuel tank (and one old, dented one) Nellie’s back in the briny (or will be, as soon as the tide changes). We’re leaving Oak Harbor about 20 days after our original departure date. Not too bad (cough, cough)….We’re spending tonight (Tuesday) in Coronet Bay, on the north end of Whidbey Island, and will catch the 0630am slack tide through Deception Pass in the morning, hoping to get through Canadian customs at Bedwell Harbour before noon. (With our Nexus passes, it only takes a phone call.) We’ll have a long day, maybe a 10-hour cruise, on Wednesday, getting to Clam Bay on Thetis Island for our anchorage. Then, on Thursday, we’ll head to Nanaimo, where Bob will get his Canadian fishing/crabbing license and Karen will eat ice cream on the dock.

We won’t need to reprovision for a few weeks, so we’ll be fine until we reach Port McNeill on the north end of Vancouver Island. We’ll hope to catch up to Steppe and Mary Williford there. (They are currently stuck in Desolation Sound with engine trouble - perhaps this is NOT the summer for anyone to cruise north.) We’d like a little company as we go around Cape Caution. (And why the HECK did someone name that point Cape CAUTION? It isn’t scary enough, entering Queen Charlotte Sound, without THAT name??? What’s wrong with Primrose Point or something?)

Hopefully, the winds will abate and the sun will shine and Neptune and Poseidon will decide to lie quietly for a few weeks….or at least until we get to Ketchikan. Bob’s hoping for lots of salmon, halibut, crab and shrimp in the Broughtons - last time we filled the freezer with crab, and friends were bringing in over 150 shrimp per pot. (I hope I remember EXACTLY where they put their shrimp pots!) I have plenty of jerk seasoning, skewers, coconut and pasta, so I’m prepared for lots of the little critters. I’m egged on by Ellen Harmon’s pictures of the crab enchiladas and huge spot prawns…..yo, Ellen! Leave a few for us, eh? (I’m practicing my BC accent.)

I already miss all the kids and grandkids - and my head is full of ideas for Becky’s wedding in October……Hmmmm, maybe a red and black wedding with white buttons, a la the Inuits? Or not - oooh, how about a NW orca theme? Okay, back to reality……….

And on to other news - THE US TIED ENGLAND 1-1 IN THE WORLD CUP! How cool is that? (All you Sounders fans, let’s hear some cheering! Oh, okay, that’d be you and me, Trina.)