A relaxing day in La Push

The Lady Washington is riding at anchor here in La Push. It was a good long day, following the flotilla of canoes and support boats on the 50+ mile transit from Neah Bay. On my afternoon watch, we received word of a canoe needing assistance, and were there, ready to assist as their support boat sent them a towing line.

Our last sunset in Neah bay.

Weighing Anchor by hand

Tops'ls were set then replaced with fore & main topmast stays'ls during the forenoon watch as an attempt to stabilize us from the 7-10 foot swells which frequently sent our deck heaving and a rolling. However, with a strong headwind we had to take those down as well and simply rely on the 350 horsepower Scania to motor us along.

Enjoying the Landscape

Canoes paying us a visit.

One of the support boats motoring out to greet us  and shuttle groups aboard for tours.

 

We got a tour of the US Coast guard tender, Jeffery Foss. This was one of TWO 15' long diesel engines supplied by a combined supply of 85,000 gallons of fuel.

Arriving at our destination we dropped anchor and furled the sails as the Lady continued to pitch and roll around us. La Push is a small unprotected crecent of sand with beautiful rocky bluffs and tall island on either side. With no breakwater between us and the ocean, we had a rough night of it. Anchor watches kept a close eye on our position with crew dressed in our racks, ready to leap to action in the event we started to drag.

Everyone is glad that the weather had mellowed. Little breeze, warm weather, and infrequent waves is a pleasant accompaniment to a slow day of  letter writing, shore leave, and chit chatting. Our ships steward, Liam lazily played his accordion as a reef bouy's fog whistle hooted, and crewmate Patty and I took brief, refreshing dips in the 52 degree Pacific surf.

Liam takes anchor watch bearings while our our crew stands easy for the evening.

Jet playfully hauls in Hawaiian Cheiftain's small boat, Payley, to shuttle our crew ashore for festivities.

My favorite thing is climbing aloft

Laura on the shrouds.

Crew aloft...not skylarking. doo do-doo

Down the straight, Paddling time.

Lady Washington at anchor.

Well, we've finished up our latest adventure and returned the scouts to Bellingham.


Some trouble with our RADAR and heavy fog delayed Lady Washington's departure, but Hawaiian Chieftain carried on. Just this morning, we have joined up with them and anchored in Neah Bay.

Keeping an eye ahead while in transit.

We are here for the Quinault Paddle, a large gathering of canoes from surrounding tribes. This year it is being hosted by the Quinault nation, we have been invited as guests of the event in hopes of strengthening relations between Gray's Harbor's historical mission, and that of the indigenous people.

Lady and Chieftain in Neah Bay.

Crew craft night!

Fog over the San Juans.

As signs of good will, we have dressed our head-rig with cedar boughs and peace tied our guns.

It is an exciting event, and we are being treated with greetings and songs from many canoes as they passed us here in the bay. Various groups are coming aboard for tours and a elder from the Suquamish tribe will be staying aboard.

Canoes on display for the Quinault Paddle.

Weather is going to be rough tomorrow, so they've decided to delay the departure of canoes and other vessels by a day. This will give us time for some much needed rest and maintenance.

 I should get some rest before my anchor watch at 01:00.
Cheers!

Island hopping, and back to the internet

Woo, Back to civilization.

The view from bow watch. Not too bad, eh?

Anchor watch under the full moon.

We've been island hopping in the San Juans for the last few days. Exploring with a group of teenaged "Adventure Scouts". It's been great so far. They're a really fun group, and are picking up on the rough points of tall ship sailing. I'm on the long boat crew, ferrying camping groups ashore on Gray's Harbor's 2-ton Long boat the Capt. Matt Peasley.




The best part?
The kids are totally into sea shanties!
I've been getting requests to sing this one, or that one. We've been keeping rowing rythms with everything from South Australia to Bring 'em Down. AND they treated me to their own version of Diamond with the refrain sung in a round! Heck yeah!

I was able to spend last night, camping on Sucia Island. It's was nice to stretch  my legs while we hiked out to the sand stone caves. The kids did a lot of climbing, and I was able to follow them up a series of tunnels back to the trail at the top of the cliffs. All of it, a blast!


Winds have been fair and weather is wonderful. We were able to enjoy some swimming, swinging from splat lines off the catshead into one of the warmer bays (as well as practice some MOB drills).

Taking a swing at it!

The Lady holds station off of Cyprus Island.

 Lady Washington seems to have welcomed me back into her loving embrace. I've been enjoying being back aloft, and have the new experience of weighing anchor with a tradition rig. Hoisting the 250lb fish anchor each morning, by hand, with the windlass.

Our long boat underway.

 Inside the sea caves.

I am relaxing aboard tonight and the boat has dipped over to Anacortes for fuel and little crew respite ashore. The local beer is good, and cell phone and internet service has been restored.

I'm sorry to see one of our volunteers, Steven and two crew members, Emily and Charlotte taking off in Bellingham, tomorrow. But I suppose, eventually, we must all return to that other life ashore.

  Until then, good sailing and keep the shanties coming!

Hawaiian Chieftain, in the mist.

Another Day, Another Sail

Look at that gorgeous furl!

Hey all,
It's been a great day.
Some much needed maintanance, (sanding and varnishing hatch covers, wooo?)
Tours and an evening sail.

I got recertified for going aloft and I think I'm getting back into the grove of things.
Furled the main t'gallant sail this evening, all by myself!

A few more pictures.
We take on Boyscouts tomorrow early early in the AM, then set off for a week in the San Juans.
I'm not sure about internet/phone accesibility for a few days. So I'll post if I can.

Cheers!

Our dear Lady Washington.

On the dock.

Both boats, end of the day.

Back aboard!

This is what window seats are for.

Sight for sore eyes.

Long time coming, and I'm back aboard!
Flights went on without incident, and I got to see a few gorgeous views coming into Seattle.
After a train and three buses, I met up with the Lady and Chieftain at the harbor in Bellingham.

A few quick introductions and I'm donned in my funnies ready for the sunset sail that very evening! It was a whirlwind. I've got a lot of catching up to do, certainly a lot of information that I'll need to remember/relearn. But my new crew mates seem really great, and one familiar face, Liam, from my last time aboard.

My bunk is now squared away, and I'm enjoying a bit of Muppet Treasure Island with the Chieftains in their great cabin before turning in. Night all. It's been a long day, more to follow.

Moon rise on the boats.

My bunk is all cozy. I get the entire main hold to myself...for one night.

Blog altered! Plane Ticket Purchased! Summerfest's Closing day! Departure...delayed.

Well I've resurected and retooled this old travel blog.
Thanks for checking it out.

I'll be returning as a deckhand aboard the Lady Washington for a chunk of July and August. 
Yay!
I'm terribly excited, but not quite ready yet.

I've had to push back departure date in order to take much needed (and well paid) calls with IATSE Stage Hands union, working calls for Milwaukee's annual music festival, Summerfest, and loading out for the tour of Wicked.

It's been such a whirl wind fortnight, that I have barely had anytime to prepare for departure. I've been waiting over a year to get back on board the Lady Washington. It's hard to believe that it's actually happening...and that I'm not at all ready.