Day 4; Neah Bay
Woke up unwell this morning, but tried to get up and shake it off by going to the grocery.  That didn't work out well at all.  Immediately turned around and headed back to the boat for more sleep.  It helped.  Ed suggested that I take off the sea sickness patch, as he thought was what was making me sick.  Took it off and feel much better this evening.  Laid around watching Law and Order today and made brocolli beef for dinner...yumm.
We're going to head out first light tomorrow, weather permitting.  I won't deny I'm really nervous/scared to round the corner to go south.  Washington waters are unforgiving.  If we have to tuck in someplace, Westport will be where we head.  Forecasts look good, so we'll see.
There are three eagles who hang out here along with all the seagulls.  They land on the masts of the boats just like the gulls, and eat the scraps the fisherman bring in.  Mao and I went out on deck for a minute last night and an eagle flew right over our heads.  Mao headed down immediately; doesn't like the raptors too much.  At about 3a.m. last night I heard a soft meow and found Mao out on deck!  Ed had left the cabin top open just slightly - remarkably she got out, but could't get back in!  That darn cat.

Port Angeles to Neah Bay 8-12-2012

A nice morning in Port Angeles. Sunny and warm. We took on some fuel and headed out, planning on either Seiku or Neah Bay for the next stop and jump off to round the corner. The Strait had only ripples and a small swell. Very light wind from the west. After an hour or so the swell increased a bit with some maybe 4 feet. The boat rise and pass through them with a wonderful motion. Unfortunately the motion didn't agree with Tracey, who began to feel a bit queasy.
On went the patch and that helped after a bit. She began an audio book to take her mind off the motion and we practiced some wave yoga...let yourself float with the motion....be one with the boat.
Later after a short nap and some crackers she began feeling ok, but a little tired. Seiku didn't have fuel so we moved on toward Neah Bay.
About a half hour after leaving Seiku the wind and waves increased. We had a favorable current and were moving at 6 knots, but that also increases the steepness of the waves and so for the next 1 1/2 hours we bashed along with a bit of spray coming over the bow. We arrived at Neah Bay around 6:30, topped off the fuel tanks and got a slip at the Makah Marina.

8-13-2012 The wind clocked around to SW at 17knots off Tatoosh Island. Looks like we'll be waiting a bit to leave. The rest of the weeks forecast looked good for 10-20 knot north winds down the coast.
Hope so.
Ed

Day 2; Mao's first stroll around the boat

Day 2; Aug. 11 Kingston to Port Angeles
Not much to report today. It was a long day to me which seems odd as we'll be having a couple 24, 48 and possibly 72 hour hauls in the days to come...did I bite a bullet???
Mao did o.k. for the first half of the day, having her first stroll of the entire boat topside. However, the latter half must have seemed like Mr. Toad's wild ride. Rounding Point Wilson we hit some big waves and it was that way until we pulled into Boat Haven at Port Angeles at 7:45 this evening. Thanks to Wade for letting me borrow his gate key so I could shower. Thanks to Ed for making dinner (steak and salad) so I could shower. Did I mention I needed a shower? Manager's office closed so we couldn't get either a gate key OR internet password; pictures will have to wait once again.

Animals sighting: Seals, all seabird types and possibly one mink whale although Ed says this doesn't count be I didn't see it twice (I'm thinking it was because HE didn't see it at all.)

Day one ................off the dock !

Well we're off...finally! Didn't quite get the early start we'd hoped. With the help of mao mao, we kept waking (and laughing) through the night remembering the items in our brain lists we'd forgotten. Ed got a 5a.m. start on the bus and was back by 10:30. After popping a bottle of champange to toast our adventure, letting loose a few tears for those we won't be able to squeeze for a while, we set off into the wind...yes, into the wind. Not too unexpected for this time of year and the way we're headed.
Mao mao did really well. After a while she decided it was to loud in the cabin and demanded to be topside. I harnessed and leased her up and to our surprise she made herself at home with us in the cockpit; reminisent of Bruno. Photos to come.
The water was a bit choppy, much wave action. I found myself a little quizzie. Ed scolded me for not coming to the boat more often over the last few months. Decided to stop in Kingston for the night...no slips available so we've anchored in the harbor...more wave action. Needless to say, an early night for us all.

Thanks for everyones help getting us set up. A big thanks to Ed, Jen, Evie and Issac for giving us the late night ride to the boat !

This message is posted via radio, so pictures to follow.