July 5, 2013 ~ Lake Union to Oak Harbor

Last night we watched the fireworks from the dock, nicely framed by the ship canal bridge.  We also watched an unscheduled fireworks show of another sort – about 10 or 15 minutes before the show was to start we noticed thick black smoke and heard sirens, not a good sign around the lake.  Apparently some unauthorized fireworks landed in one of the boats at the dry storage place just on the other side of Ivar’s from us, and several of those boats went up in flames.  Heard on the news this morning that there was about a million dollars in damage, so quite a few boats were lost.

We actually got moving this morning, under cloudy skies with a promise that it would clear up.  It did.  When we arrived at the locks there were several boats already there waiting, milling about near the small lock.  There were too many boats for us to be in a small lock load, or maybe even two, and as we neared the green light came on for the large lock and all boats were directed there, following a tug boat.  There were enough boats that they were tying to both sides.  Considering the load of boats as well as the low tide, we got through in pretty good time and were cruising north in the salt by about 9:45.

This is always a long stretch, and in recent years we’ve made a stop in Everett – sometimes just to break up the long day, and other times out of mechanical necessity.  This time we continued on to Oak Harbor, about a 4.5 to 5 hour run from Shilshole.  We got about the same price for diesel as at Ballard Oil, maybe a penny or two less, plus free moorage for the night for buying so much fuel. 

Dinner tonight was toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and sweet potato salad.  We saw quite a few crab pots out at the entrance to the harbor, but from what I understand the season up in the San Juans doesn’t open for another week or so.  By then we’ll be in Canada, and will try our luck there.

Tribble has been adapting nicely to being on the boat – she has several years of experience at it now.  Even so, when the engines start for the first time she heads for cover – but now she comes up on the bridge in short order to join us and look out at the passing view.  Her first year on the boat she spent most of the engine-running time under the sofa, but she’s now a bona fide boat cat.

Across the dock from us is a purse seiner that is in the process of being converted to a pleasure boat.  The captain struck up a conversation with me and invited me over for a look – I think he wanted to show off the handiwork, which was impressive indeed.  What was once the fish hold has been converted into 3 state rooms, and there is a beautifully appointed salon and galley on the main level.  Down below was a walk around engine room where even I could stand up in a few places, although I had to duck under some piping here and there.  On each side of the engine room was a fuel tank, and each one held 3500 gallons – now that’s a fuel bill I wouldn’t want to suffer.

It’s a beautiful evening, and time to walk the docks and look at more boats.  

p.s. we'll add some photos soon...