Ready, set, go! GONE!!

We finally left Bellingham this morning after a multitude of items that gave us one delay after another.  

We had a delightful open "house" on a warm winter Sunday.  Our friend Diane (Diane Padys Photography) took a great photo of us. We thought we were ready.

And then we prepared for our sea trials.  We began with a modified sea trial by just running the engine while tied to the dock.  It was awful!  The new engine shook on its mounts and made horrible noises.  It was suggested that our prop was out of alignment and so, reluctantly, on Christmas Eve, we got back out of the water 

and onto the hard.

Jerry got the prop off,and then the weather turner COLD.

It was surprisingly comfortable living aboard when the air was a brisk 25 degrees.  Earlier in December, we had even colder weather but the boat was in the water which keep the bottom half at least 20 degrees warmer. Many friends offered to put us up, but we were content to be in our own space.  The holidays made it hard to get the parts we needed in a timely way, but Jerry got the new prop on and the engine re-aligned. 

and by January 6th,we were back into the water and our sea trials were perfect!

We spent four days provisioning, last minute shopping, packing, and connecting with family and friends.  I put together a week of meals in our new thermos. It's like a crock pot without any fuel.  You bring the food up to a boil in the heavy bottomed pot, put it in the thermos and leave it for 8 to 10 hours.  In the morning, the bottom of the pot is still too hot to keep your hand on and the food is ready to serve or put up.

yummm.

Our friend Terry came to see us off this morning.  Jerry checked all systems on a quiet, grey morning.

The dinghy (in green) was rolled up and stowed, the bikes were tied in an old sail bag (blue), the extra diesel cans (yellow), and extra  propane tanks (to be able to carry three months of cooking fuel) were all lashed tightly.

We unplugged from the grid

and Jerry got the honor of removing the dock lines.  Taking a little of Whatcom County with him in his Whatcom Skill Share Faire sweatshirt. Harper Stone did the best logo ever.

Terry got a shot of us leaving.

 

and we were gone.

Tonight we are comfortable at the marina in Port Angeles, and tomorrow we head out to Neah Bay and beyond.