Today is August 3rd and we have found our way back to Friday Harbor. Since our trip began....officially on the 16th of July (not counting the days of boat work while it was sitting in the boat yard). We have traveled many hours through the beautiful waters of the Pacific that flows around the beautiful San Juan and Gulf Islands. Once we left San Juan Island, we traveled west toward Vancouver Island. Always stopping in Sidney first to check in with Customs, we were then on our way to check out some new spots on Vancouver Island. The details of sights and experiences are too many to include now....but here are a few highlights.  First stop Mill Bay: a beautiful new resort is underway here.  Soon townhouses or Condos will be along the shoreline. We are grateful we explored this place before the construction of these started.  Currently, there are beautiful new docks and a marina office.  It is just a short walk to shopping.  Here we found a lovely bakery, grocery and many other services. There will soon be a bistro and a small marina store, marina bathrooms (we hope with showers) and eventually the condos.  We learned that supplies and services are more costly in Canada, but the people are so friendly. When we were in the bakery we discovered they would not take bank cards and we were low on cash. We scrounged up about $4. Our purchases totaled $5 something. We started to talk about putting the choc. chip scones back when the nice lady exclaimed "Close enough!" Next stop Genoa Bay. This place is my favorite. A peaceful little cove surrounded by high hills; it is truly a step back in time! There are lovely little house floats with flowers in the window boxes and friendly dock dogs. Two brothers operate this marina: Ben takes care of the docks and Will runs the little marina store. They have a great morning breakfast on the docks for $10. All the locals come for morning coffee and nourishment and to shoot the breeze.  There is also a little cafe; small but known for miles for its incredible food. We had the best halibut we have ever eaten here. This is a  friendly and clean marina you will not want to miss if you ever explore by boat in these waters. We moved on to Maple Bay and then to Chemainus where we met up with friends Terry and Dev.  This is a busy marina. We were literally blown in by high winds and rough water but landed safely and just at the right time. This marina is right next to the fery dock and to the 2nd largest lumber mill in North America.  It is not quiet by any means, but it has clean facilities and a great harbor master.  We crusised and sailed east then to Galiano Island...to Montague.  Again a beautiful protected cove where the water gets glassy. We rented a row boat since our dinghy began losing air and taking on water (not a good sign) and rowed to a nearby state park for a hike with Cisco.  Oops, I guess we rented a canoe, not a row boat. To our dismay Cisco does not understand the concept of staying still and centered while underway.  So to say the least our experience was a little eyebrow lifting and stressful until we were able to get him on land. Once back at the docks, we cleaned up quickly to catch the hippie bus to Humming Bird Cafe.  We have done this once before and it has lost none of its charm.  As a matter of fact it was better with the new driver "Tommy Transit"...quite the character (check him out on the Internet; he has written his own book). We rocked out and shook the tambourines, etc. while we sang through the dips and turns of the journey. The cafe is deep in the woods....words that come to mind: eccentric, colorful locals, green, organic and just refreshing! From there we traveled on to Pender Island to Pt. Browning. Everyone knows if you are going to Pender you need to hit this spot for "Turkey Tuesday" where they cook up a full spread just like Thanksgiving. People fly or boat in from the surrounding islands just for this wonderful meal once a week.  To be continued.....

Since leaving Anacortes, where we stayed another night after the brothers left, Denise, Cisco and I enjoyed a great evening with Dean and Rose, an older couple that were in the next slip by us. Since then we stayed at Blakely Island, Brown Island, Friday Harbor and we are now on our second night at Roche Harbor.  A big thanks to our friends Patrick and Alyssa on Blakely Island, and John and Patti Wilson on Brown Island for their great hospitality.
On our first evening at Roche, while walking the dog, Cisco accidently got a foxtail burr in his right ear.  At exactly the same moment, my front tooth cap fell off.  All of this required us to go via Taxi to Friday Harbor the next day for a vet trip for Cisco and a dentist trip for me.

Spring Break in Zion 2012

We have been in Utah since Saturday March 30th. We flew in early, rented a Corolla in SaltLake and drove to Tooele to see Lyle's sister Raegan and family....saw Rick and all of the family except Dallin (sorry we missed you Dallin). The day we flew in the temps. Got to 78 degrees..I shopped in Raegan's cute store and picked up some cute New to Me clothes...On Sunday it snowed and rained all day. No matter, we had great family fun time...Sheridan, Tom, Brigham, Stephanie, Laura, Len and Laura..with beautiful kids and grand kids to enjoy. We were pampered by Raegan....even left with a goody bag for Zion.

Left Monday...dropped off Tom and Sheridan to the airport and then journeyed on...5 hours to Zion. Stopped in Beaver at the Sippin Store Shoppe owned by Patty, a good friend of Raegan's and enjoyed a delicious lunch....then in Toquerville, Utah to visit Lyle's Aunt Helen who is 84 and sharp as a tack. She still 4 wheels for fun.

We arrived at our hotel at 4. We got the lay of the land and went to the best eatery in Springdale called Oscar's. We retired early and got up the next day and decided to do one of the roughest hikes in the park to Observation Point, east rim trail. (8 miles and very strenuous hiking)! We enjoyed our comfort of our room, ate a great meal at a quaint grill, and hit the sack early.

Summer days in the San Juan's 2012

Tuesday the 10th Lyle took off on the Nesika with his brothers Norwin and Arlin heading to Anacortes for maintenance at Marine Service Center. The main priority was to get the bottom repainted, wax and oil change. They arrived Thursday, and after many fun hours working and playing together, it was time to get the boat back in the water. I drove up to Anacortes and the brothers drove the Jeep back to Port Orchard. We stayed our first night in Anacortes and witnessed an incredible thunder and lightning show....which Cisco was not very happy about. We met a wonderful couple in the Chriscraft moored beside us....Dean and Rosie. Very inspirational people. At around 11am we headed to Blakely Island...one of our favorite stops. The weather got up to the low 70's, the sun came out and we enjoyed the peacefulness of the pristine surroundings of this private island. We love the marina grounds. We were visited in the middle of the night by a raccoon who walked right over the hatch located in the v berth where we sleep twice!

Zion 2012

Denise climbing up!

Angel's Landing

Raegan's Farm House

Obervation Point 6,508'!

Me on top of Angel's Landing.

Over Spring Break, Denise and I went to Utah to visit some family and do some great hikes in Zion National Park.

Saturday we flew into Salt Lake and spent Saturday and Sunday (Mar. 31st/Apr. 1)visiting the "Sisters" at Raegan and Rick's new old vintage home. (105 years old)

Monday, April 2nd, we arrived at Zion....sunny, cool, wind, nice room.....went to dinner at Oscar's, our favorite in Springdale. Great food but you feel comfortable in your sandals and shorts.

Tuesday hiked to Observation Pt. on East Rim...8 miles, elev. change 2148 ft. Dinner at Bit and Spurs Grill. Good too! Wonderful outdoor deck with heaters.

Wednesday hiked to Angel's Landing and West Rim, 5.4 miles to Angel's Landing. I left Denise at Scout's Landing 4 mi., while I went up the additional 1.4. When I got down we hiked the West Rim for approx. 3 more miles. We will do the entire West Rim hike next time we go. It's great.

Thurs. drove to Kanab to see the Coral Pink Sand Dunes...then came back to Zion and hiked the Watchman Trail, 2.7 miles, 368 ft. elevation change.

Friday hikes....Pa'rus Trail 3.5 miles, elev. change 50', Emerald Pools, 4 miles, elev. change 200 ft. Last but not least Riverside Walk, 2.2 miles, elev. change 57'.

Left Saturday for Vegas...had wanted to hike the Kolob Canyons hike via La Verkin Creek to the Arch. Will do this one too next visit as well as Weeping Rock.

Had a great night in Vegas and stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton. Flew back Sunday.