UP NORTH FOR THE SUMMER

March and April sure flew by...we enjoyed time with family and then returned to La Cruz, Mexico for a week to organize Eager Dreamer to put her up for sale. She is at the Marina Nayarit and is being cared for and we hope someone will come along and will enjoy her as much as we did these past 6 years. We returned to Lake Union in Seattle and moved aboard Serena Ray, staying three nights while getting some work completed. Can't beat the view of the Space Needle from our stern!


After leaving Lake Union we pulled up to a fuel dock, looked up at the attendant....lo and behold it was Ron Siegle who was my buddy in home room for 3 years at Ballard High School (a VERY long time ago). We had a great time catching up.....










THE BALLARD LOCKS


John and I lived in Seattle 30 years prior to moving to Lewiston, ID. Visiting the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (AKA the Ballard Locks) was a fun pastime for us---watching the boats pass through from Lake Washington and Lake Union into Puget Sound. Built in 1916, the small locks (there are two) hold about 4 boats. Our passage through was thankfully uneventful.


Scott Norton is an old friend of ours and lives in Manzanita Bay on Bainbridge Island. We anchored in front of his home and he paddled over to see us. He and John started sailing together in high school.




The watermaker had to be looked at so we stayed 3 days at Shilshole Bay Marina in Ballard. Another high school friend, Linda Trautman and husband Don visited and we enjoyed dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Seems like this was the week for high school friends!


Golden Gardens and Shilshole Bay Marina
















While growing up, I spent many summers walking here to Golden Gardens next to the Shilshole Bay Marina. In 1962 this Leif Erikson statue was donated to Seattle and placed here in Ballard, which was once known as the Scandinavian section of the city. Leif was the first European to set foot in North America, 500 years prior Columbus. Basalt plaques surround the statue with names of Scandinavians who immigrated to the Seattle area.

Leaving Shilshole, we cruised up to Port Ludlow and enjoyed a lovely anchorage. Heading North we stopped by Port Townsend and visited Gary and Lana Wiles, the former owners/builders of Eager Dreamer. Good fun with them as always.

On the way north from Sucia Island, we were boarded by the Coast Guard. They conducted a routine safety check. Very polite and professional and about the ages of our kids...

We are back in our old port of Blaine at the visitor's dock for a short time. We continue learning the systems aboard Serena Ray and are getting settled into our new floating home. It is a lot different than a sailboat. Lots to take in......

Next week we'll head north through the Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, and eventually make it up to Alaska! Until next time........