Homeward Bound - October 1, 2009

We didn't expect, when we crawled out of the sack this morning, that we would end the day all snug in our slip (not exactly "our" slip, but I'll explain later) in beautiful Ilwaco, WA. But that's just how the day had ended. After watching several boats head out towards the jetty, while sipping our morning coffee, Dave turned on the radio to listen to the weather/bar reports. Sure enough, the bar restriction had been lifted and the winds had changed (coming out of the SW and to become westerly by afternoon). Once again the winds were in our favor.

We hurriedly readied the Sea Crest for departure (checking and warming up the engines, stowing our belongings, locking down cupboards and doors, and then untying her from the dock), and 1/2 hour later set off for the bar. A much more leisurely passing this time around!

The seas pushed us home, and we made very good time. Altho the swells were increasing as we neared the Columbia River, we just rode the current.

Tillamook Head and the lighthouse was an awesome site...seeing it from tte vantage point of the sea gave a clear perspective of how isolated the light was from the Head's craggy cliffs looming in the background.

As we passed Seaside we could see the Long Beach Penninsula in the distance, looking like an island. Ilwaco, WA is on the south end of that point. By 1 pm we were at the "Red Line" (the bouys leading into the Columbia River. Dave radioed the Cape Disappointment Coast Guard for a bar report. This time they did not disappoint! The bar was unrestricted, altho by the look of the seas, if those conditions were unrestricted, I would hate to cross it when there were any restrictions on it! YIKES!!!

At this point, the winds had shifted from the West, carrying us safely, and without incident through the Columbia River bar. It was not long after and we were entering the "A" Jetty leading to the Port of Ilwaco. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse is a prominent feature as one enters the "A" Jetty. I look forward to hikes in the area to further explore it, once we are more permanently settled in.

When we arrived in port, one of our neighbors on the "J" dock assisted us in docking. Whaat a wonderful welcom at the end of a long journey. Because of the strong afternoon winds, we had found it easiest (and safest) to park in another neighbors slip, as they are gone for the season.

It was an amazing journey, and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Fortunately, the adventures of the Sea Crest are only just begining. We will be upgrading and remodeling her over the winter months in preparation for Spring 2010 when we plan to take her to Alaska for the Summer.

I will continue to make posts, as our work on the Sea Crest continues...please check in on our latest happenings. Knowing her Captain as I do, this is bound to be an impromptu voyage (or two) on the horizon before the head her north in the Spring...

Garibaldi - Sept 22 - Oct 1, 2009

Garibaldi has been a wonderful port to call "home" during our stay. The folks at the Coast Guard & Port had been more than helpful. Marine services and supplies were nearby the harbor, and for the few items that we needed that could not be found in the local shops, the locals had been most helpful to pick them up for us on their errands. Thank you Tom & Holly at Big Tuna Marine. Small town living at it's best.

We bought a fresh salmon from "Deep Water Dave" at a local fish market & cannery. We used the head, bones and tail for crab bait, which supplied us with several very tasty meals. We were able to crab right off of the aft deck of the our boat while tied at the dock. The salmon was delicious, as well.

If we would have stayed in the area any longer, I think that we may have been issued library cards! We made several trips to the library which was a short walk from the marina. Dave enjoyed their free wifi service, and I picked up a few paperback books that they were giving away.

Part of our daily routine was to listen to the NOAA weather channel for an updated weather report looking for an encouraging forcast. A novice soon learns that winds and swells "increasing" are bad, and that "decreasing" or "diminishing" winds and swells are good. The larger the number in feet or knots is typically NOT a positive sign (i.e. one would prefer wind waves of 1 -2 feet over those that are 5 - 6 feet). You also learn that "Max Ebb" is not your friend! Our dilemma in Tillamook Bay was that, on average, it would take us approximately 10 hours to reach our destination (and the next available port). We had to cross two bars, both of which are well known for being inhospitable, at times. When there was an opening to cross the Tillamook Bay bar, the Columbia River bar would be at max ebb (and rough) by the time we would reach it to cross. So we waited...

We enjoyed the town while we were there. Dave had taken the bus system up to Astoria towards the end of our visit, hoping to make connections to Washington to bring a vehicle down for us to use. Fortunately, he didn't make his connection, since two days later we were able to make a run for it. The day after he had journeyed to Astoria, we took the bus into Tillamook to go shopping...a fun little excursion.

On the morning of October 1st we were in the salon of the Sea Crest, drinking our coffee, watching boats head out to the bar. We turned on the weather radio, and found (to our surprise) that the bar restrictions had been lifted and it would be safe for us to cross. With that, we quickly got the boat ready to travel, and headed for home.

Brookings North - Sept 21 - 22, 2009

We departed Brookings Harbor, OR at approximately 7 am Monday morning. Seas were calm with little to no wind. We had originally had it in mind to make a short day of it and anchor in Port Orford, but the NOAA weather report anticipated a storm front moving our way by mid-week, so we took advantage of the agreeable weather.

I took the helm that afternoon to give Dave a break. Seas were out of the SW, pushing us northward and increasing our normally "pedestrian" speeds up a few notches. At top speed we typically travel 8 - 8 1/2 knots, in landlubber terms it takes us about 3 hours to travel 20 miles!

Dave took over the helm that evening. We passed by Florence (Siuslaw River) at around midnight. I would have loved to see all of the Oregon Coast in the daylight, but will have to do so at another time. It's amazing to see the coastal locales of my youth from this vantage point. Thomas Creek Bridge, Pistol River and Cape Sebastian were icons of my early childhood. It was a thrill to see them from the oceans view and use them as navigational points. As we came closer to Port Orford, memories of picnics at Humbug Mtn and driving that curvy stretch of road along the stream was another reminder of my childhood.

I resumed the helm at 6:30 am on the 22nd.I was enjoying my time at the wheel. The seas were like glass, making her a breeze to run. We had decided to bring her straight in to Ilwaco, WA that evening, when our plans suddenly changed.

We had filled all of our fuel tanks before we left Brookings, so had plenty of diesel to make it home. However, the fuel line configuration was continuing to put air into the system, cutting out the engines.

We were 20 miles south of Tillamook Bay when the port engine went out. Dave worked in the engine room for several hours while I ran the boat on our starboard engine. Then, as we had to switch fuel tanks for the starboard engine, air got into it's lines as well, and it cut out. Dave was able to get the starboard engine up and running again, but all of the repeated attempts at starting the engines had drained the batteries...such is life! A radio call to the Coast Guard, and help was on its way. The Cape Disappointment CG (Ilwaco, WA) had responded to our hail, so at first it looked like we'd get a tow all the way to Ilwaco! But the Tillamook Bay Coast Guard were eager to come to our rescue (perhaps why they are called the Cape "Disappointment" CG), and within an hour or so they were tossing lines across our bow. The 3 hours into Tillamook Bay bar were relaxing. We just sat back and enjoyed the view.

Crossing the bar is a different story...It's one thing to cross a rough bar when you are under your own power; it is quite another to cross it when you are "in tow". To say it was exciting would be an understatement. We were crossing 12 - 14 foot seas with 6 foot breaks. I recall seeing the jetties - rocks looming at either side of us. Waves crashing all around us. The boat lurching this way and that. At one moment our tow line was taunt , then slack...would of made for some interesting photos, but wasn't thinking of photography at the tme...sorry.

What they don't tell you before you get hauled back to safety is the success ratio of such an endeavor. 1 in 3 boats towed over a bar are capsized. We got to see the Coast Guard haul someone's capsized vessel past us the following morning. Kind of gets you in the gut, watching that. A reminder to count your blessing.

Looks like Garibaldi will be home for several days now...we're awfully glad to be here!

Brookings Harbor, OR Sept 16 - 21, 2009

After settling in at the dock in Brookings, I phoned my Uncle Curt & Grandma who lived nearby in Gold Beach to let them know of our arrival. Uncle Curt dropped what he was doing at his motel (The Oregon Trail Lodge, Gold Beach) and drove down to Brookings to see us. Dave was eager to show off his boat, so gave Curt the grand tour, then I went to run errands with my uncle and head to Gold Beach, leaving Dave to catch up on his sleep (which was much needed after an all-night run to reach Oregon).

My uncle graciously loaned us a vehicle while we stayed in Brookings, which allowed us the great opportunity to make frequent visits to Gold Beach to visit family and to run errands to supply the boat for the remainder of our journey.

The afternoon following our arrival, Dave and Curt worked together on a remodel project at the motel, while Grandma and I got a good visit in (Thursday). Friday night we all met at the motel for a scrumptious family dinner, even Grandma ventured out for the occassion!

Dave and I worked on the boat on Saturday. The weather would have permitted us to venture further north, but we had planned to spend Sunday with my family and really weren't eager to leave just yet.

Dave and Curt continued working on their project on their chores at the Oregon Trail Lodge on Sunday. Grandma and I stayed closer to home to work on our chores. At the end of the day, both Uncle Curt and Grandma drove us back to the Sea Crest. I was tickled that Grandma was able to join us. She wasn't able to tour the boat, but was able to see it below where the car was parked above the dock. Sometimes life is just about "being there"...

We both had a wonderful visit, but were longing to hit the "high seas" once again. We hoped that the seas would be forgiving and allow us to travel the next morning to resume our journey home.