FINAL SAN JUAN CRUISE with SHERI

Before we head back to Portland, there was one more cruise we had planned with my life long pal Sherilou. Sheri learned to sail on the lakes in Colorado in her teens. We met in high school in Las Vegas. Over the years she had several sailboats on Lake Mead and shared countless sailing adventures with all the girls. Her interest in our travels were huge, she kept track of us every step of the way and was a very important pen pal for me along the way. We were very excited to have our first guest onboard and share the trawler cruising experience!

Sunday, September 4th 2016 (day 159) 

Testing my new telephoto camera lense.

Oak Harbor Yacht Club.

This bronze is called "Waiting", located at the Yacht Club's park.

Our moorage at Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, WA.

Walk of Honor, Main Street, Oak Harbor... honors all the branches of US Military.

Soon to be crab cakes.... in honor of Sheri's visit aboard.

...another Oak Harbor sunset.

Sher is checking out the R.S. Colin Archer before we depart.

...heading to Deception Pass.

You may have seen this picture before as we traveled under Deception Pass Bridge 6 times this year.

Entering into the San Juan Islands.

We spent the first night at anchor in the rain, at Blind Bay, Shaw Island.

The skies cleared for our passage to Friday Harbor.

Sheri took this photo of us with Paradice in the background.

The Whale Museum at Friday Harbor, San Juan Island.

The garden at Blue Water Boutique.

Love this quote from Dr. Suess....

We enjoyed a fine dinner ashore at the Cask and Schooner.
AND we actually ran into MaryAnn and Tom (on Friendship II) again... for the 4th time.
We must be visiting all the right places :-)

Rigging decor in the restaurant.

Yummy cheese and fig platter.

Sheri adorned our salon with this art piece and a cherished blessing!

Girl in bed.

Passing by Roche harbor, heading around Turn Point Light Station, hoping to see whales.

Turn Point Light Station, Stuart Island.

No whales showed up today :-(  the sun came out instead:-)

Arriving at Roche Harbor.

Sunset from the flybridge.

The next morning we went on a "walk about".

The church was open when we passed by.

 We could not resist visiting and saying our blessings.....

The author, Ken Williams, was parked across the way from us on his Nordhavn 68'.
John went over and introduced himself. He had Ken autograph his copy of Crossing an Ocean Under Power.

Entering the sculpture garden.

The "Welcome Totem" is being stalked.

These three were among my favorite.

After Roche Harbor we made our way to Hunter Bay, on Lopez Island, for  Thursday night's anchorage for the night. Friday September 9th was a full days travel back to Oak Harbor so Sher could make her Saturday flight from Seatac. The week flew by.....

It was great having a sister on board. She learned to navigate with our newer technology, assist with moorage and anchoring, as well as skipper the ship. On the final day, heading back through Deception Pass... we were socked in with fog, making the passage very fascinating...

Sheri at the helm in the pilot house, socked in with fog.