PITTER-PATTER, LET’S GET AT ER!
POST PASSAGE SOULSTICE LONG OVERDUE UPDATE
LIFE IN THE PNW
So, getting the boys to provide a narration on the passage from HI to WA has been like herding cats. I have decided to abort that project and continue on with the blog as others have requested an update.
Stephen tells me he is working on his blog entry still…
My last entry has been quite some time and since then I have been up to WA 4 times now to visit Soulstice. Stephen actually just returned to work at the end of September.
I made a trip to see him post the passage in August from the 7th-11th, August 22-28, Sept 16-23, and most recently Oct 14-20 ( this time we actually flew together as he was back in Reno).
Each visit was a unique adventure in WA. The boat is in Blaine, WA, which is literally on the Canadian Border and close to Dill Pickle chips:) and Tim Hortons! Despite this tempting border crossing, we have stayed in WA so far. My first visit was just hanging on Soulstice in the slip as Stephen had just completed the 30-day passage and staying put sounded like a good idea. It was a re-con of the area to include Blaine proper, Bellingham, and a first visit to the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie area.
We were very fortunate to have Mark & Molly Welch, Lhotse ( their awesome black German Shepherd), and Kitters ( the boat cat) offer us friendship, pet-loving opportunities, food, shelter, and rides. They are friends from our 1st marina in Ballard, called Shilshole. They migrated over to Blaine and bought a new 65 ft monohull called Koda 2 years or so ago. Their presence in Blaine was part of the reason why we chose to get a slip there. Stephen had quite the bromance with Mark in Ballard in 2017-2018 and was looking forward to rekindling their friendship:)
We did dinners and movies with the Welches, checked out some local hiking/Mtn biking trails, and enjoyed the local beer-tasting scene all while being passengers of their incredibly well-outfitted Sprinter Van. We met other dock neighbors also that helped us feel content again that Soulstice was in a good hood with kind and charitable neighbors.
On my next visit at the end of August, it was decided that Soulstice needed to visit the San Juan Islands, and Stephen and I should enjoy some cruising while the good weather lasts. We went to Sucia Island and explored the hiking and did some paddleboarding. The weather decided to take a turn and we did hurry back to the marina. We talked about how we needed a vehicle to get around and couldn’t be reliant on the neighbors all the time. There really isn’t Uber and although downtown is within walking distance many other places of interest require some wheels.
I left that last visit with a few attempts to look at some “ junkers” or get a “beater” car and we even test-drove a few. When I left Blaine to head back to Reno to work, Stephen then continued the effort and pursued some test drives out of town. He came across a 1988 Dodge Ram and felt the price and setup were right. The setup means that it is a vehicle we see ourselves using to camp. It has a big, long extra cab that fits a human sleeper over 6 feet tall - perfect! He then got really serious about campers and had a mission to get a camper before my next return so we could go camping in the Baker area. As I mentioned earlier, on the 1st visit, we did drive to Baker and relished the Chain of Lakes hike. A magnificently beautiful hike in Mt. Baker park. Stunning scenery to titillate the desert dweller with evergreen delight and voluptuous alpine lakes. I was now enamored by the Cascades and was looking forward to my next return.
And…. On my next return, I was picked up by Betsy Gold (the 1988 Dodge Ram) and a 1995 Cascade camper was precariously on the top. Success on the camper search with a purchase made. Heading out to the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie Park was the upcoming adventure we had planned. I can say I have never been picked up in a cab-over camper set up and I always like "firsts"! We are backpackers, car campers, and tenters but this was like Soulstice - glamping on the water - changed to glamping on land. It was fun to grocery shop and have so much room for a trip to the mountains. Moreover, a bed that stays made and does not require “ taking down” and “ putting back up” every morning and every night respectively. A heater!!! A toilet??? Whaaa… getting crazy here:) the icing on top was the 3 burner stove and a large oven. Oh wait and a shower with hot water- STOP the madness!
We headed out to the Mt. Baker area with our Northern Cascades day hiking guide and got busy! I love exploring new terrain. I love hiking all day and then having a beverage, a tasty dinner, and sleeping in the woods. Repeat, repeat, repeat. The hiking we did was glorious as each new trail provided us with succulent views to savor. The cascades were flirting with my outdoor emotions big time and I wanted more. The jagged, rough-cut peaks that created this mountainous amphitheater granted us so many awe-inspiring views that would definitely "WOW!" the most seasoned traveler. That trip definitely created an appetite if not a deep gnawing in our guts to get more of this enchanting, unrestricted outdoor playground.
After that last trip to Washington, Stephen stayed back a bit longer to get the camper winterized as well as Soulstice. Soulstice would not be decommissioned but things like pickling the water maker and having a radiant heater and dehumidifier back on her to keep her dry. We are back in the land of battling the moisture/mold that haunts the PNW. Dry heat is the way to combat that problem. There is not enough Damp Rid to do that job.
Stephen made his way back at the end of September to rejoin the ICU forces at Carson Tahoe Hospital and feel the fabric of scrubs on the skin. He does like it there and even though the hospital has been a dynamic place of ever-changing staff and administration, it has served us well for employment and we are comfortable there. I had to give up my “bachelorette pad” in the Jaggers' basement and make room for my old roommate:)
We had a few weeks of work before we were both on the Reno to Seattle to Bellingham flight together. I met a very fun girl from Reno on the flight as Stephen and I had different seats due to the later booking of the flight. She informed me of her wariness of flying and some hand holding at take off WOULD be happening. I do appreciate people who are bold and good communicators - ha! Our arrival in Bellingham was terrifically complemented by being picked up by 2 of my dearest Montana friends, Karen Florey and Becky Petrashek. Part of my old ER crew from Kalispell and outdoor buddies whom we enjoyed Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wildnerness amongst too many to count outdoor adventures and silliness.
Karen had been on Soulstice before but Becky had never. Only pictures of Soulstice and blog posts were her reference but a live visit aboard would complete her Soulstice experience. These ladies are WILD, FUN, and EASY GOING - perfect for a sailing journey or any journey. We made plans to take them to Sucia Island as well. It is the closest and despite a week's time, it goes by fast. We did not want to be rushing as Stephen and I and Becky and Karen had busy travel days on the front and back end of the trip. As you get older, I know you build in more chill days and do not rush, rush to fit more in as it seems to deter from the experience.
The crabbing in Sucia Bay this time was phenomenal and we had our best catches of the Dungeness crab to share with Karen and Becky and some to freeze to bring home to the Jaggers. A few Red Rock crabs too and I have found the meat sweet like the MD Blue Crab. The claws are gigantic and always plentiful with crab meat. Troy informed us Stephen would be homeless if he returned without crab but they would keep me - haha! I loved being able to give my friends the experience of catching fresh seafood and topping up their dinner plates that same night so they could please their palates with butter, Old Bay, and beer as accouterments. What a party in your mouth!
After we came back from Sucia, Becky and Karen also got to meet some of our dock neighbors and see the inside of their boats. It is like an “open house” experience and that is a normal part of life in the marina. People want to see the insides of other’s folk's boats and check out their tiny home that floats. We are on the commercial dock, so the friends with 60+ ft boats are tiny yes… but truly like the mansions of landlubber homes. Becky and Karen had a blast seeing inside these magical floating engineering feats.
And… that brings us up to date as I am back working and Stephen lingered behind for 3 days more on Soulstice. He wanted to clean her up after my girl's party:) and finish up a few more boat/camper projects. Tricky Dick, the Dickinson heater, remains a frustrating nonworking diesel-fed heater that is being given one last chance with a new fuel line installation and the camper has a sway bar to be installed and some coil over shocks.
Our next upcoming travel plans do not include Soulstice. We are heading to Joshua Tree to celebrate my 50th Bday on 10/29 and then to Patagonia ( Chile & Argentina) for my real Bday treat to be captivated by the Torres del Paine National Park and Fitz Roy.
Below is a myriad of pictures to complement this blog entry
Lake Padden Park
Chain of Lakes Hike- MT Baker - Helllooooo Gorgeous Cascades!!!
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| Betsy Gold! 1988 Dodge Ram 150 |
Salmon dip - delish!
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| Nothing better than hiking with a furry friend! |
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| Yep we have seen him |
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| Fresh Blueberries in your mouth - oh that sugary squirt is delish! |
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| Hike to the Nooksack Cirque |
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| Just prior to this pic, we had enjoyed watching a pod of Orcas out there but too slow on the camera as caught them breach a few times before diving back down. |
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