15 June 1018 – I’m wanting to get to the San Juan Islands. This means going north. I could cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca or go the ‘back way’ going up Saratoga Passage on the east side of Whidbey Island and then take Swinomish Channel passing through LaConner. I’ve never taken the latter … More To the islands!
8 June 2018 – Back in Edmonds I spend the day with my Dad. The forecast is for rain so I’ll avoid the raindrops. 9 June ’18 – The boat is damp from the last couple of cool days. Before departing Edmonds I put the bedding in the marina dyer. When I remake the bed … More A day in Edmonds and then to Port Ludlow
After securing SWEET PEA for sea I depart the Port of Edmonds berth at 9:30am. Before leaving the marina there is a quick stop at the gas dock for fuel. Leaving the port entrance I turn to starboard heading up Possession Sound. A very light-to-no-wind that is blowing on the nose, along with a slight adverse current; so the motor runs until 1pm when I’m near Langly and the winds picks up from the NW 5-10 knots. Two hours later I clear East Point and an hour later pass by Baby Island heading south into Holmes Harbor. … More Saratoga Passage
Through the night the wind was gusty at times humming in the rigging. Halfway through the night Momma Kitty wanted under the covers. The morning was sunny. Morning coffee warmed the body and cabin where I enjoyed listening to the news, collected the weather forecast and checked the tide and current tables. Today will go a … More Port Ludlow to Edmonds
It isn’t far from Mats Mats Bay to Port Ludlow – just leave Mats Mats and hang a right. I headed out to find a moderate wind from the NE and set sail. Hada gentle sail to the Port Ludlow Marina where I did motor to the fuel dock so I could dump the porta-potti … More Port Ludlow
Arrived in Port Townsend Boat Haven Marina at about noon after crossing Puget Sound on the Edmonds to Kingston ferry. The cost is a bit shocking when towing a boat, but the convenience of not having to drive through the hell that is Seattle & Tacoma traffic to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and then … More First days
After almost seven years Sweet Pea has once again returned to Puget Sound. She will be back on saltwater in a few more days! The drive from Denver was uneventful. I was in no real hurry so, in general, drove short distances and enjoyed being out of Colorado. Early this upcoming week I’ll take … More Sweet Pea has returned to the PNW!
While waiting for boat parts to arrive, so I can continue SWEET PEA’s recommissioning and improvements, I have been enjoying one of my favorite non-sailing activities – reading. Late last year an acquaintance, Dave Bacon, published his second book ‘Sailing From Behind the Curve’. Dave is an absolutely top-notch sailor. He knows his stuff. I’ve … More Sailing From Behind the Curve
For the past ten years I followed Roger Taylor’s adventures in his small and simple boats Mingming and Mingming II. A bit about Roger – Roger Taylor was born by the sea, of sea-faring stock, and has been sailing for well over fifty years. As a young seaman he was shipwrecked on a remote New Zealand shore aboard … More Roger Taylor & Mingming & Mingming II
With my new freedom and in preparation for my Spring/Summer/Fall 2018 extended cruise I’ve begun to read more closely some www-sites that were helpful when I last was actively cruising and living near the Salish Sea. One that has good local knowledge is Three Sheets Northwest. A bit about the site – As boaters and … More Three Sheets Northwest
M17 #375 - SWEET PEA 