We did it!

Today we left the dock.  For REAL.  We had perfect conditions for a first trip out.  The wind and water were calm, and what wind there was was blowing into our slip so when we docked, we were pointed into it. We worked out our plan before leaving.  Yes Kristy, I did ask Dave "What's the plan?"

Dave pulled out of the dock like he'd been doing it all his life.  Perfect!

We were just going to go to the Dump Island to practice stopping and docking, but there was a boat tied up there and we didn't want to embarrass ourselves.  So we just headed out of the marina instead!

Captain Dave intent on his piloting.

We had short sleeve weather, just a gentle breeze.  So we motored north around Huckleberry Island

North side of Huckleberry Island.

Houses on Guemes Island. 

This is a close up of one of the houses that has a VERY long staircase down to the beach.

We had plenty of water under us.

Casual Capt. Dave

Happy Capt. Pam

Then we decided to head back while conditions were so perfect for the big test - docking.  Once again, Dave performed like a pro.  We had prepped a line amidships and as Dave brought us into the slip, I dropped it over the end cleat of the dock and back to a rear cleat on the boat.  TaDA!  We snugged right up in place.  Slick as can be.  All together we were out a little under two hours.  

YaHOO!

We're really glad to have that out of the way.  Now we can stop stewing about stuff.  She handled so nice.  And we saw several bald eagles, dolphins and some seals.  

And seaplanes.

There's a joke about seaplanes.  When we were here in 2005 sailing our Catalina 25 "My Prozac", every time a seaplane went overhead, Dave would get all excited.  At times he would urgently call me up from down in the cabin to come look at something - which would be a seaplane.  Yes, seaplanes are cool.  But after the first five, I've seen it.  After the next five, I didn't want to see it.  From then on words were exchanged about the *&%&^(*!! seaplane sitings.  So then friends started pointing them out to me.  Heidi even included one in the video of our trip with the caption "Look Pam!  It's a seaplane!"  Well since we've been here we haven't seen one seaplane around Anacortes.  We've even speculated on why that would be.  Today we had two fly over us while we were out and one later in the day.  I guess they are back.

great...

In other news we've met neighbors who just arrived from Corvallis.  Peter and Kaye are really nice folks and cruising buddies of Don and Pat who are on the other side of us.  They are all headed out tomorrow morning for several weeks of cruising in the San Juan Islands, first stop Sucia Island.  After today I'm anxious to get out there too!

Tonight I wish you all smooth departures and arrivals.