SEATTLE BOAT WORK & OTHER FUN STUFF

As we headed south to Seattle we made a stop in Blaine for a grand-kid fix, we saw Lindsay, TJ and Shamus - such fun as always. I took Shamus to the Steamboat Show at the Marina.

After a few days in Blaine, we moved south to Elliott Bay Marina where we stayed two weeks having a number of additions and repairs on Serena Ray taken care of. We installed two solar panels, replaced three chart plotters of the 4, replaced all batteries and had an onboard wi-fi system put aboard. Repairs included the auto-pilot, refrigerator and stern-thruster prop which mysteriously lost its blades somewhere in Alaska?? John had to get wet and install it. The washer/dryer got a maintenance check and the carpeting was cleaned.

Elliott Bay Marina is a beautiful spot in Magnolia which overlooks the Seattle skyline including the Space Needle. Cruise ships sailed in and out next to us. We frequented Maggie Bluffs, a fun outdoor restaurant next to the marina. Sunsets were beautiful.

While in Seattle, we (the "Gang") hosted a wedding shower for Kimberly Trautman, who is the daughter of one of my dear friends Linda from high school. It was held at Suzanne's home in Mill Creek. She is Robin's daughter. Robin is the dear friend who joined us in Ketchikan, Alaska for a week. Linda, Robin and their kids visited us in Lewiston for a week each summer while they were growing up... almost every year beginning in 1978. It was a fun reunion for all the kids and Moms too!!




When Chelsey came for Kim's shower, Ryan, Jayden and Ethan came along as well and they all stayed at John's brother Rick's home, as our boat was "undergoing repairs" (a bit of a mess). We all went to the Seattle Aquarium and had a wonderful time.

We finally were able to depart Elliott Bay on the 28th and headed to Scott & Karen's waterfront home in Manzanita Bay, Bainbridge Island. Scott and John were best friends in high school and sailed together... in the "Old Days". We enjoyed a great evening!! Scott had smoked a pork shoulder all day....pulled pork, smoked salmon, fresh corn....... Delicious!

More boat tweaks.......after all it is a boat!!

O.K. We still had problems with the autopilot and the stern thruster, so we returned to Seattle the next day. This time we stayed in Shilshole Bay Marina in Ballard for an unscheduled 3 days, getting the remainder of the gremlins off Serena Ray. A Sea Monster graced the breakwater and we enjoyed more beautiful Seattle sunsets.

It's Wednesday the 2nd and we are in Port Townsend, happy to report all systems are working well. We will fuel the boat in Neah Bay at the Makah Indian Reservation (best fuel prices around) and wait for a safe weather window to start down the Washington/Oregon/California coast. Until our next report....