Has It Really Been 5 Years Since We Told The Kids?

Yes, it is hard to believe that 5 years ago today we sat down with the kids at the kitchen table ... took a deep breath ... and presented the idea of living aboard our boat instead of in a house. We weren't sure how they were going to take it.

We figured the girls were young enough to go either way, and probably would go the way our son set.

So, after presenting the idea, our son said, "Let's do it! Let's go for it!"

That July we did and we have been. First on our Balboa 26 and now on Merganser, our Dreadnought 32.

Sometimes it still seems unbelievable that it has really been almost 5 years. At times it feels like we've always done this, and at others like it was only yesterday we moved aboard. Unbelievable.

What a blessed way to live.

Blessed Be

Blessed Easter! 2012

The following is a poem from Ronald Rolheiser* about Mary Magdala meeting Jesus in the garden on Easter Morning (see John's account).

We wish you a happy Easter and Easter Season full of Resurrection!
 ~ The Merganser Crew

Mary Magdala's Easter Prayer

I never suspected
   Resurrection
       and to be so painful
to leave me weeping
With joy
       to have met you, alive and smiling, outside an empty
   tomb
With regret
not because I've lost you
but because I've lost you in how I had you -
   in understandable, touchable, kissable, clingable
       flesh
       not as fully Lord, but as graspably human.

I want to cling, despite your protest
   cling to your body
cling to your, and my, clingable humanity
cling to what we had, our past.

But I know that ... if I cling
you cannot ascend and
I will be left clinging to your former self
... unable to receive your present spirit.

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* Ronald Rolheiser, "Mary Magdala's Easter Prayer," in Forgotten Among the Lilies, p. 176 - appearing also in The Holy Longing, p. 166.

2010 Cruise - Part 7: Sucia & Home Again

Here are the photos from the summer cruise we took in 2010. We've broken the cruise up into separate parts to make the loading easier. Enjoy the pictures.

So, as the Google Map picture shows, we left Friday Harbor heading back up to Sucia on our way home. Unfortunately, vacation time was running short. We planned on leaving in the morning when the winds had been filling in all week. But we awoke to thick fog, and stayed put until it cleared in the afternoon. We then started sailing north, only to have the wind die down. Oh, well. another day ending in motoring.

We again enjoyed the beaches and trails of Sucia, and trying our a new baking experiment:

How about trying out sourdough bagels?

Then it was time to head for home (as the above Google map points out). We thought we'd try a day of only sailing - after all, we are a SAIL boat. This worked until we finally admitted defeat, still not getting past the neighboring Matia Island. Ah, well. ...

All the kids helped to raise and drop anchor this trip. Here's M's turn.

Wind died after leaving Echo Bay - Orcas Island in background

You can see how calm the water is - no wind either.

Ended up motoring home - arg. L. did mention that we had motored more during this cruise than she remembers J. ever motoring in our entire marriage. Oh, well. Try to do better (more sailing!) next year.
And thus ends our 2010 cruise.
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Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

2010 Cruise - Part 6: Friday Harbor

Here are the photos from the summer cruise we took in 2010. We've broken the cruise up into separate parts to make the loading easier. Enjoy the pictures.

So, as the Google Map picture shows, we left Deer Harbor, wound our way through another pass and down channel to Friday Harbor.

I. taking a turn at the tiller

Entrance to Friday Harbor

Totem Pole archway at the marina park.

Sunrise

Ahh

I. and seal

M & I on seal

M, E & I

E resting?

M's turn

the MERGANSER crew

We had a great time exploring the town, picking up groceries and running into some folks we'd met at Sucia (who took the above photo of all of us). And we even had a surprise encounter with someone we hadn't seen in 15-17 years! Wow. It really is a small world.

 We left after a couple of days. Unfortunately, summer vacation was coming to a close. One more stop at Sucia on the way home (Part 7).
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Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

2010 Cruise - Part 5: Deer Harbor

Here are the photos from the summer cruise we took in 2010. We've broken the cruise up into separate parts to make the loading easier. Enjoy the pictures.

So, as the Google Map picture shows, we left English Camp (Garrison Bay), wound our way back through the pass to Roche Harbor and then out to Deer Harbor, Orcas Island.

As we came past Jones Island, a whale watching boat passed us to port (our left) and we heard the load speaker exclaim "Over there on our right is a sailboat with three sails up!" We wondered two things: 1. Are we supposed to throw candy, like in a parade? 2. If they are talking about us, does this mean the guides are desperate to distract the paying customers from the fact they hadn't seen any whales? Hmmm

More float plans landing and taking off through our anchorage. This takes some getting used to, but they don't want to hit us, either! In fact, most of the pilots waved at the kids.

Deer Harbor dock dog

 We went for a hike up to a nature preserve - didn't turn out to be what we thought it was going to be - but had a good time non-the-less.

M, I & E showing off a sign.

I, M & E showing off the Bullock Brother's Permaculture Homestead. They are doing some interesting things in here - wild to see thriving palm trees, etc. at this climate!

View of Deer Harbor from the road as we head back down.

Here's an overview of the San Juan's. Deer Harbor is marked. You can see Sucia above Eastsound, Stuart on the edge of the map off to the right, below which is Roche Harbor and Garrison Bay/English Camp. Next stop for us is Friday Harbor, which is clearly marked.

 The above powerboat gave us lots of entertainment, as they anchored so close to this barge (at the turn of the tide) that the two started to swing into each other. The powerboat figured they would just put out fenders, until it was apparent they were too close. Then they tried to anchor on top of us (which is what they are doing, above). At which point, they then moved WAY into the harbor and out of everyone's way. Ahh, such is the weekend cruising during the summer!

Deer Harbor night scene.

 The next day, we were off for Friday Harbor (part 6).

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Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

2010 Cruise - Part 4: English Camp

Here are the photos from the summer cruise we took in 2010. We've broken the cruise up into separate parts to make the loading easier. Enjoy the pictures.

So, as the Google Map picture shows, we left Roche Harbor and wound are way through the pass to English Camp at Garrison Bay - one of the few national parks that flies a British flag (gifted by the Queen Elizabeth). On our way in, we waved at some friends who were coming back from Victoria. They anchored next to us that evening, after checking back in with customs at Roche Harbor.

You can just see the rock in the middle of the pass.

We anchored at this seal popped up to see what's going on.

E, I, M & L having landed at English Camp

English Camp and American Camp (on the other side of San Juan Island) were the two military camps from the infamous "Pig War." Other than the pig, I don't believe a shot was fired in anger, and in fact, as time went on, both camps invited the others to special events. Interesting piece of US/Canadian history, but we'll let you google it for more information.

L. and the crew under what used to be the largest maple tree - until a branch broke

We happened to arrive just in time to help fold the British flag

Friend with E, M & I

While they zoomed back, we took the more traditional Norwegian steam method - what some refer to as "potato power."

Notice the eagle over my shoulder? No? Here's a close up.

I starting another batch of sourdough bread

Kids on the beach doing what kids do best

M collecting specimens

M, E, friend, and I

"Bob" I's loaf of bread - just in time for dinner!

We headed out the next morning after a couple of wonderful days, headed toward Deer Harbor! (part 5)

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Part 1, Part 2, Part 3