The Terrific Trio Travels....Post Views....32,608

Late on Thursday morning, June 22, the terrific trio reunited to set out on their secret adventure!  Cruising up north I-5 we passed a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier before taking on the traffic of Seattle. Nancy, Jo,Geo    

North of Seattle we stopped where we always stop in this area. (Well, we did 15 months ago.) There is the stump of a giant arborvitae or western red cedar.   

After having dinner and sleeping the night in Anacortes, not to be confused with Anaconda, we made our way to the ferry dock Friday morning.  

Jo drove us into the ferry and safely parked on a downward angle, ready to take on the sea. See?

It was an enjoyable ride, to be enjoyed inside the walls of the ferry....
Last year for my 70th B-day we visited Orcas Island in the San Juan chain.  




This year we have an adventure on the island of San Juan...

Approaching Friday Harbor on Friday....

The "Tall Ships" docked in Friday Harbor.  







After a shared lunch of nachos at the oldest tavern in town we were off to explore

Caught sight of a few pirates...

Took a quick look at one of the tall ships
















Snapped a picture of the ferry we just disembarked...

Listened to a little local music






Found me the perfect look, in case I ever get married again....








Over indulged in a yummy hot fudge sundae..

Time to find our accommodations for the night....4 miles from town.... 



Home sweet canvas tent....

It was pretty cool...canvas walls, wood floor, no heat, no electricity.


hot water bottles to warm up our bed overnight...

Lounging outside at dusk

Finding our way to the shared bathhouse after dark...

Waiting for breakfast by the man made lake...



Full breakfast 
Mess tent has electricity.  
Fun adventure!


Would I choose such a camping experience again?  No....
The bed was comfy.  I slept like a log....a noisy log.  My snoring

kept Jo awake, so she says.  Nancy didn't hear a thing.  She had taken her hearing aids out.  I did not enjoy the aroma of campfires throughout the night; bothered my breathing a bit.  Nor did I enjoy the sounds of other campers having a good time.  Me thinks my rugged camping from now on will be in a well developed motel setting.  

Set Sail, Maties!!
     Our main event for going to Friday harbor that weekend was to set sail on the Lady Washington tall ship for 2 hours Friday evening!

The sails were not open and that was one of the tasks to be observed and experienced.

The captain giving orders to set sail and the crew scampered up the lines.

This ship and her companion,Hawaiian Chieftain, were sharing crews that evening for training purposes.  For whatever reason, the captain invited guests sailors to join in working the sails.   

Jo, who worked on a tall ship 15 years back, jumped right in to help out.

 
The Hawaiian Chieftain sailing past us...

Sailor Geo enjoying the sailing..

           






When it came time to lower the sails the crew leader was busy with no help around. He asked if I would keep the line from going slack as he pulled it down.  I did so!  Only once did it almost go slack.  

 We had one unplanned experience.  When it was time to dock there were no crew on the dock to catch the line to pull us in because he was on the other ship.  One crew member on our ship donned a life preserver and jumped from the ship to land on the dock.  He missed and swung back in.  On second try he missed again only to land in the water.  Someone on the dock was able to get him out and tie the line.  The crew and we passengers were a bit shaken, but relieved the sailor was alright. 

Hawaiian Chieftain and
Lady Washington  
(online stock photo) 

 Launched on March 7, 1989, the Lady Washington was built in Aberdeen, Wash., by Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public development authority. The new Lady Washington is a full-scale replica of the original Lady Washington.
In 1787, after the Revolutionary War, she was given a major refit to prepare her for a unprecedented trading voyage around Cape Horn. In 1788, she became the first American vessel to make landfall on the west coast of North America.
A pioneer in Pan-Pacific trade, she was the first American ship to visit Honolulu, Hong Kong and Japan. Lady Washington opened the black pearl and sandalwood trade between Hawaii and Asia when King Kamehameha became a partner in the ship.
The modern Lady Washington, constructed as a brig, was thoroughly researched by historians and constructed by skilled shipwrights. She was launched as part of the 1989 Washington State Centennial celebration. The new Lady Washington is a U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified passenger sailing vessel.
Over the years, Lady Washington has appeared in several motion pictures and television shows, including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Trek: Generations, Once Upon A Time, and Revolution. (computer webpage info)

_____________________________________________________

Saturday morning there was time for a quick walk through the local farmers market before boarding the ferry back to Anacortes. 

A happy terrific trio....
Sunburned, windburned Gram G

__________________________________________________

Since returning to land a week ago Gram G has been overly busy getting ready for her next super great adventure....ya all come back soon, ya hear???

This has been a good 10 "terrific trio travels" days in the life of Grandma G.

"Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous work in the deep.  For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea...Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.  Then they were glad that the waters were quiet and he brought them to their desired haven."  (Psalm 107:23-30)