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On April 22, 2013 I found myself 20 floors up on the roof of a condominium overlooking Elliott Bay. From left to right the view starts at Safeco field with its retractable roof, to Harbor Island, to West Seattle and Duwamish Head. In the distance is Bainbridge Island with Flagpole Point and Eagle Harbor watched over by the magnificent snow capped Olympics. On the far right is Elliott Bay Marina at the foot of Magnolia Bluff. The Great Northwest really shines on a sunny day. This little panorama is a Photoshop compilation of 10 iPhone pics.

Absolutely incredible documentary.  Drop everything for the next 50 minutes and watch.  Compliments to Capt. R. Rodriguez at the Bitter End Blog for the link. This is Part 1 of 5. Be sure to check out the others.

Part 2 …….. Part 3 ………. Part 4 ………… Part 5

Do Freak Waves occur in the Great NorthWet? You bet! Check out page 211 of Extreme Waves by Craig B. Smith.

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The day before Superbowl Sunday was fabulous. Calm, sunny, warm….a taste of Spring. Of course, Velkommen went for an island cruise the following day. I’m pleased to say that all systems worked perfectly.  But he list of projects is still longer than my allowance. I’ve come to accept that, however. The day all projects are complete, is the day we do the really BIG upgrade.

There are several sites that provide a short synopsis of 26 Feet to the Charlottes.  Sophomoric book reports, so what?  Why should you read it? What are its strengths and weaknesses? What currents run beneath the surface of the pages?

June Cameron’s memoir, 1979 to 1983, built around a  relationship with Paul, aboard, or exploring from, his 26 foot wooden sloop, Wood Duck.  The time frame is 1979 to 1983; a good story, predominantly a summer ’83 chronicle of their  journey to the Queen Charlottes.  The descriptions of people, places and events provide good mental imagery and establish a nice flow, but the dynamic between June and Paul is missing.  It is the glue that holds the pages together and June has mysteriously hidden it away.  Obviously, they are quite close; extended periods aboard a small boat, of course.  Perhaps she is more smitten than he is.  There is some glitter to the tone of the early years, but the tone is surprisingly flat throughout the Queen Charlotte section, which is most of the book, as though the relationship is nearing exaustion.  “They both knew it was over”,  only mentioned once during the trip back from the Charlottes. Then there is the curious beachcombing note:  June spots all the little treasures that Paul manages to pass by, as though his mind is somewhere else.  The tone becomes more formal and stiff in the last few pages.  Goodbyes can be so difficult; June took it pretty hard.  June is the better sailor; Paul is the quintessential sailor.  So the book provides a small glimpse into June Cameron’s psyche.  She conceals herself well.  Why has she stonewalled her feelings?  Big hurt, maybe?  Has it taken 26 years (1983 to 2009) for her to begin to touch them with this book?  Interesting.  That’s the current beneath the pages.

Descriptions of unnamed sheltered anchorages, little coves shared by two lovers aboard a little wooden sailboat.  Who wouldn’t build mental castles?  And if you have a charting program on your computer you can follow along with June and Paul, marking the various nooks amoung the islands for future visits.

Extended periods aboard a 26 foot sloop………Is planet Earth a 26 foot sloop?  Then, how sure is the Captain; how steadfast the crew?  Read it.  See the Charlottes.

Friday, July 6 was the first day of summer at Anacortes Marina. I did a double take as I looked toward “A” dock. Was Wee Lodge II adding a crow’s nest?  It looked precarious.  Acrophobiacs need not apply.   Marine Servicecenter sent Quinn Olson to the top of the mast. He made his job look easy, but I think it’s just one more reason to own a powerboat.

Cap Sante and Guemes Island are in the background of pic #1.  Mount Baker rises above Hat Island in pic #2.

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