Moss on rocks

The anchor chain is being released as we settle in to our mooring spot tonight just off the shore of Rosario Resort at Orcas Island. Today was truly a full day of fun and activity. Mike and Tami were delighted to find out that our playground for today was Sucia Island. Sucia is part of the Washington State Parks system, but has no ferry service so access is only by private boat. We have never been on the island so the opportunity to both kayak around it and climb all over it was very exciting.

Getting ready

We were in the first group to launch off the fantail in our two-person kayaks. The sun was trying very hard to make an appearance and it made for beautiful skies. We paddled around within the protected inlet and explored the interesting formations in the sandstone cliffs caused by erosion. We saw lots of birds and our guide told us what they all were. Okay, we know what a seagull, raven, and eagle look like. The others were really cool but we just can’t remember any of their names.

On the water!

Honeycomb rock formations along the shore

As we ventured out into less protected waters we started hitting some strong chop and current so we headed back into the inlet again and explored the other shore. Soon enough it was time to head back to the ship since we have to stay fueled, you know! Mike did ensure that we were the first in our group back on the ship, as he was feeling somewhat over hydrated.

On the hike

More hiking

Headless goose!

After lunch the weather continued to improve which made our afternoon hike around the island a pure delight. We made good time, too, and arrived at the pick up point early enough that we got a bonus ride out to the point where a large group of sea lions were noisily lounging. A very special experience. We just wish we had a sound recording of the various grunts, groans, and snorts emanating from those corpulent creatures. The sea lions, not us!

Our guide showing us some bull kelp

Sea lions

While the weather was drier and warmer than the it had been running, it was also quite windy. During our time at Sucia we were protected from the wind, but once we sailed out in the evening we lost that protection. We moved into the inside of the Orcas Island horseshoe for protection for the night, anchoring just off Rosario. For the next day we signed up for a hike on Orcas, and some beer tasting at the Island Hopper brewery in the afternoon.

Finally, there be monsters!:

Alligator?

Our skiff driver

Our guide, Megan, who will be moving with us to our ship when it arrives

Ah, the Pacific Northwest in spring. The one thing you can count on is changeable and challenging weather. So this morning we found out that high winds were predicted for today so kayaking had to be cancelled, but no worries! There are also hikes and a skiff tour on offer, so we opted for the skiff tour.

Last night the trip from Seattle to Deception Pass provided some excitement as the ship was rockin’ and rollin’ from yesterday’s wild weather. At one point in the night around three a.m., Tami was rudely awakened by the cabin door flying open. Our cabin opens directly onto the upper deck and we had not realized how to properly latch the door. It did not take long for Tami to assess the situation as the wind impertinently entered the cabin, but it there was a little muted cursing involved.

Deception Pass

More Deception Pass

After spending the morning being instructed on safety getting in and out of skiffs and kayaks, we were ready for a little adventure. Our skiff tour took us for a great view of east approach to Deception Pass. The tide was turning so we could not get too close to the bridge itself, but we had a very dramatic view of the power of the water rushing through that narrow space. We did, however, later go through the Pass in the ship once there was a slack tide and it was fun to see it from a different perspective.

Some wildlife (but not acting very wild)

Water going out FAST

After dinner one of the crew presented an entertaining and well-researched presentation on The Pig War, the infamous international incident on San Juan Island that nearly sparked a war between Britain and the US in 1857. In short, a British pig ate the potatoes in a US garden and refused to leave. Said pig was shot by the angry farmer, who subsequently offered to pay for the pig. The offer was not accepted and the dispute escalated. The British wanted to arrest the farmer. Things were already tense since ownership of the islands was in dispute. US troops were sent in. British warships and marines were sent in. A stand-off entailed and the military occupation lasted 12 years. Fortunately diplomacy eventually prevailed and Kaiser Wilhelm I helped broker an agreement that the islands should belong to the US. We did not find out if anyone ever paid for the pig, but the farmer was not arrested.

Fisherpeople

Bird

Anchor chain

The Plan

We took a swift Uber ride down to the meeting point for our trip, riding right past Fisherman’s Terminal where our ship was moored. Seemed like we should just pull in there since the ship was in sight, but we went on downtown to meet our fellow passengers and get properly registered.

When we checked in, we discovered the bad news that our ship, the Wilderness Explorer, had an issue that was delaying its departure. The good news, however, was that the Wilderness Discoverer was also departing today for the San Juan Islands and they would be able to accommodate all of us on their ship for the first few days and then meet up with the Explorer on Tuesday to transfer passengers and send us on our way. Turns out the Discoverer is on a one week beer-themed cruise, so we felt like we were getting in on two different cruises. Our original itinerary was to include a stop in the San Juans, so we still get to enjoy that area and get in on some good beers, too!

Boarding ship.alt

After a coach ride back to Fisherman’s Terminal, nearly where we started, we were soon walking up the gangplank and greeted with a warm “welcome aboard” and a glass of bubbly. We met the staff and several of our fellow passengers who were seated near us, including one couple from South Africa. We decided that they must have travelled the farthest and we had travelled the shortest distance. As we expected after our previous Uncruise, everyone we’ve met so far has been so nice and very interesting.

Waving goodbye to the office

Keenan greeting us at the locks

Saying bye to Keenan

Our future crew

After our life boat drill we finally cast off and we were able to let Keenan know that we would finally be on our way. He had walked down to the locks so he could see us off. And there he was to greet the ship as we entered the locks! He brought his camera and took quite a few pictures that will be fun to see when we return. Our future crew from the Explorer was also there at the locks to greet the ship. It was fun to compare the experience of going through the Ballard locks with our last trip through the Panama Canal on our previous Uncruise trip.

Transiting the locks – a bit smaller than Panama

Soon enough the ship was below the wall and we were ready to head out to our adventure. Dinner had already been announced but in a shocking development, Mike and Tami opted to stay on deck to experience going through our familiar locks from a different viewpoint from usual. Finally, though, we said good bye to Keenan as he headed back home and we at last made our way to the dining room for a delicious salmon dinner with an orange creme brûlée dessert.

After dinner we heard about the next day’s options, chose tomorrow’s activity (we chose kayaking), and headed to our cabin. A benefit of being a last minute addition to this ship is that we got upgraded to one of the biggest cabins for this portion of the trip. Sweet!

Checking out our room – we got upgraded to the BIG one

Spring has sprung

Here it is, the first of April and there are signs that Spring has finally sprung. Tulips are up in the yard and itty bitty green leaves are showing on the Styrax, but it is still so cold! So it’s time to get out of town again. Hmm, which way will we head this time? Hey, let’s go north, to Alaska! If we’re cold now, why not get colder and head north with the migrating whales? They must know something.

Yes, that mossy part is our driveway.

Last year was the Year of Sweat. We went to Houston to watch the Sounders lose their opener and it was hot and muggy. We went to Panama and experienced wonderful places and sights, but we sweated buckets. We rode our bikes to Vancouver, BC, and got stinky every day. We went camping in Eastern Washington during the hottest week of a very hot year. We built a boat during a whirlwind week of physical labor and long hours, then we capped off the summer with a week of bicycling the famous and wonderful Katy Trail in Missouri during a week of, you guessed it, unseasonably hot and humid weather. Sweat defined 2017, so we’re thinking 2018 may be the year of layering.

We enjoyed our Uncruise adventure to Panama so much that we decided to try them out on a little longer adventure and their season opener from Seattle to Juneau seemed to fit the bill perfectly. We will embark right here in Seattle and the ship takes a leisurely two weeks to make its way to Juneau. We hope to see lots of wildlife and gorgeous scenery, take some challenging hikes, kayak in quiet waters, and eat fantastic food.

Got to get that man out of that CHAIR!

This trip requires a little different wardrobe than last year’s adventures. We expect plenty of rain and grey skies, but we’re used to that. We are amping up on such things as rain pants, thick socks, and bushwhacking rubber boots, though. Alaska takes clouds and rain and wilderness to a whole new level, and we hope we will be prepared for it. At least we won’t need any immunizations this time, and on Uncruise we know we won’t need anything fancy!

Not packing light this time!