Summer Cruise: 2012 Kid's Photos

Our daughter, I., saved up her money to buy a camera a few years ago. Here are her photos of our cruise - warning, there are a lot of them: 213 plus 1 video. There are some fun artistic shots, and we, the parents, think it is quite interesting to see what she choose to take photos of. Enjoy.

Photos from Echo Bay, Sucia Island.

Walking the trails. This is great as we parents never thought to take any pictures of our hiking this year.

MERGANSER at anchor.

Some of the sandstone geography.

Another great picture of MERGANSER. We parents like the artistic nature of this photo.

And MERGANSER, once more. "I." did a wonderful artistic job.

Mom on the trail.

Sister M. walking ahead.

MERGANSER, once more.

Brother E. ahead on the trail.

Mom and E. - two sweet shots. Ahh...

Brother E. marches on.

Ha Ha! I catch Dad over my hat.

Glamorous pictures of Dad walking ahead.

Dad still walking ahead.

Is that Brother E. or a Hobbit?

All of us Kids at Fox Cove, Sucia.
Mom took these photos.

We are at Indian Cove, Shaw Island, now, just after sunset.
I like how you can see the Olympic Mountains off to the South.

Brother E. took this interesting shot.

Dad and Brother E. rowed ashore the next morning. The day before we made sand castles. This is all that is left. Brother E. took all these sand castle remains pictures.

Now we are at Lopez Island. We stayed in Fisherman Bay. This is a picture I took of the Library.

This is a tree outside the library.

We went walking around the Fisherman Village and saw these signs.

I really like Dad's awesome back-pack. He he.

Do you see the bunny hiding?
He/She looks like a stone next to the building.

Go Barbie! Ride that fish!
Pictures outside a cafe.

Ski/water plane - it did come in for a landing, but I didn't take a picture of that - too busy watching.

I took these pictures while Brother E. and Sister M. took turns rowing in the dingy.
[They say, "No fair! Just because you have a cammera doesn't mean you don't have to take a turn, too!"
But I did, I say.
"When ... ?"
"Kids," says Dad, "everyone got at least three turns at the oars. ..."]

Sister M. working in her journal / sketch book.

Yes, Dad always looks like this when he's eating. He he ha ha.

The ship's cat investigating.

"Would you go away, already," says the cat.

"You're still here?"

"I'm ignoring you. There are more important things to do with my time."

The lamp in the evening ...

This is the outside of the Museum.

Dad and Mom made us take this long walk up to church. This sign was in a tree by a house by the church. Actually the church was great and the walk wasn't that bad, but I like to tease Mom and Dad ... he he.

We sailed back to Sucia again, before sailing back home. These last pictures are from that part of our trip.

Brother E. crocheting his hat.

Sister M. stealing my hat and being a cat-human-girl-thing.

Bow Waves!

Oooh ... I think ....

... I think ... I see ... a ... a ...

... yes. It is a ... F O O T!

I like this bow wave.

And we all like this shot.




Hope you enjoyed my pictures.

Peace.

I.

Sailing: A School Creative Writing Project

[It is the time of year for school conferences with the kids' teachers. We brought home a folder of "I's" work from her teacher. Included in the folder was this creative writing assignment. We asked "I" if she wanted to post it as is, and she asked that any spelling mistakes be changed as it was done in class. So here it is. Enjoy. ~ the proud parents]

Sailing

A School Creative Writing Project

by "I"

     I amble onto the deck, almost slipping because of the salty sea spray. My family and I are sailing home from a three week vacation in the San Juans.
    I walk toward the bowsprit,* in my blue and black life jacket which is on top of my thick brown coat.
  

2011: Haul Out Over Spring Break

During the school term's Spring Break in 2011, we hauled out to see what we had. One of our friends had dived on MERGANSER the previous June/July and commented that other than some muscles/barnacles on the bottom, she looked really good - and so did the zincs. But now it was time!

Welsh Marine, in Blaine, WA did the haul out. We were quite happy with service we received, and grateful to our friends Richard and Nan for allowing us to stay with them for a few days while we finished things up.

First we needed to remove the back stays so we can get the travel lift near enough. We weren't sure if the back bar of the travel lift would clear the back stays while still allowing us to get the lifting straps where we wanted them. You can see the straps in the water.

Next we wrapped MERGANSER around and back, so she is just above the straps, and the straps are just where we want them. Mind you the tide is falling during all this.

See the tiller and rudder start to go over? We just made it, with a little help from soft mud!

And up she rises!

This is our first look at her underwater profile. Just what we expected, and she doesn't look too bad considering we aren't sure when her last haul out was.

Taking a closer look at how things are put together. Just near the strap you can see the "divers special" zinc plate. At first we thought there were tubs running from it to the prop and shaft. While MERGANSER was in the water we couldn't figure it out. Once out the water it became apparent these weren't tubes but straps, and was the bonding system, as there is really no way to put a zinc caller on the prop shaft.

The guys broke for lunch, and our crew did, too. The kids were there for everything, and the yard was very impressed with them. Way to go, kids! Impressing people once again!

When we came back from lunch, they had pressure washed MERGANSER, set her on stands and had even started painting her bottom. These guys move. Next to her is a Westsail 32 (blue bottom). The undersides are similar but each a different design.

Here are some close ups of the freshly painted and new zincs bottom.

Prop and bonding.

Forefoot

One of my projects was replacing a through hull valve. So I climbed aboard with the ladder here. By the way, our cat was excited to see me and she stayed aboard the entire haul out, no problem.

The painting is done as this point, and is just setting up.

Good views of the under-body of MEGANSER. The Westsail 32 is still next to her (to starboard).

To port is a fin-keeled sailboat. Teacha L is inspecting the work.

One of the things that impressed us was that Mr. Walsh was willing to return after dinner to launch us so that we would catch the right tide and avoid another day in the yard. He's a really nice guy!

Here is how the straps connect for those of you who may be wondering.

And down she goes.

Almost there.

MERGANSER back in her element.

We don't have any pictures of Mr. Walsh and Rev J balancing on the boomkin re-attaching the backstays. There is always some humor if one is looking for it, and if one is willing to be a little self-effacing. But no one got wet, nor did we drop a tool overboard (knock on wood).

Teacher L and Rev. J took MERGANSER across the entrance to her slip before returning to our hospitable hosts. It felt like she flew! A good clean bottom sure makes a difference!

Spreaders: Another Coat of Varnish

Taking care of projects while this beautiful weather lasts .... The rest of you maybe raking leaves, but we're ...

Notice the gantline (4 block purchase) so that J. can pull himself up the mast. Hard to see the other safety lines to keep him there. The box is holding the varnish, gloves, sandpaper etc.

And a bit of creativity worked to hold him out from the mast. J. attached a carabiner to the upper shroud. Tied a line to it, ran it outside the lower shroud, around him once in a loop, then over to the other upper shroud (staying outside the lower shroud) to another carabiner. This allowed him to pull himself out from the mast, while not having to hold onto the freshly varnished spreader.

Now if only J. can remember how he rigged this up for the next time ...