07/24 - 07/26 - Bellingham, WA CBGT

Ruth and Joe I just wanted to thank you again, for the fantastic weekend and GT! You two have so much energy and enthusiam...I should be so lucky. We had a great time, as usual, and I even walked away with a C-Dory hat. To Steve and Beledia, you two are more than welcome to reef up with us anytime! THanks again for the "dock assist". Robbi and Fred, thanks for the fresh crab lunch and lessons. Now I know how to clean 'em buggas up easy. Meredith had a great time and now she IS truly addicted. Big thanks to all the "moms" for looking out for me & my foot and telling me not to push it too hard. It's actually doing OK.

After leaving we made the run to Friday Harbor and boy, was it busy and crowded. We had an offer by a nice couple to reef up to them inside the customs dock, but we declined due to the traffic. Seems a large ~50' or so cruiser had "crushed" another smaller 25ish boat against the dock just prior to our arrival. :shock: Both boats were still there and according to the guy who offered to let us reef, when it occurred everyone could hear "crunching" of fiberglass. :x

We cruised up to Jones Island and had some lunch there. Then it was on to Sucia for the overnight/dinner. We anchored in Shallow Bay as there were no buoys left. I counted 28 boats in that little bay. Will post some shots in my album later. It was just about a perfect night, after a perfect day...culminating a perfect weekend.

Passed Bob and Betsy on their way out of Bellingham and Joe and Ruth were at the dock, offering to help me load. Made it home w/out issue and cleaned the boat inside and out. I'm tired and hot....

Aloha...M & M
 
Special thanks to Ruth and Joe for a really great CBGT. Especially for arranging the shuttles and to Jeremiah for driving too. Our first at Bellingham, and it was worth the drive. We did make it home in time to clean up and get parked and sleep before 0600 Monday as that W__K thing still hangs around. Long, hot and busy drive. For some it was obvious that it was not a good day.

Great to meet some new old friends, and see some we have met on occasion. We learn so much from you all, it is really worth every minute.

Much appreciated that the Sea Sport crew came around. they all seem like they will fit in and it looks to be a good match.

Wish we were going on to Naniamo with the sun and good weather, but we will save that trip for next time.

Thanks to everyone for coming, it was great and we are looking forward to the next one.

:thup :thup :rose :cake :hug :hug2

Harvey
SleepyC
 
OMG!!!!!!
:shock:
Joe still does 30 sit-up and 30 pushups (military style) each day![/code]
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so that is how he is still so sexy :wink:

thats it tommy and i start in the morning. i hope i can do 30 sits up. but i just shoot for 5 push ups.

Tom says he will match Joe. i will have to ask Tom what millitary style is ......Wish us luck :roll:
 
Susan E":2i0ms15f said:
OMG!!!!!!
:shock:
Joe still does 30 sit-up and 30 pushups (military style) each day!
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Click to expand...

No kidding. I was just complementing Joe on how in-shape he looks/is. He looks as though he could crush me with those strong hands. Like I said: I should be so lucky. Guess it's not all luck though.
 
Thanks Ruth & Joe and to everyone as well!!! What a great time we had both at the gathering and with the Tyboo crew at James Island!!!

Best Wishes & Safe Boating,

John, Amy & Teddi (the chocolate labradoodle)
 
It was our first CBGT and although we didn't stay long, we look forward to the next one.

We made Mill Bay in 3hrs, after a 20 minute stop at Poets Cove to clear Customs and ditch our contraband American blueberries.

We dropped off the girls and scooted up to Silva Bay on Gabriola Island and were treated to one heck of a light show.
 
That was great! There was some discussion on the dock about buying Ruth and Joe a big fancy motorhome to tow their boat around the country setting up these gatherings wherever they go. Thank you guys so much once again.

Thanks also to the SeaSport and Boondocks guys. I think they found our little group to be quite an eyeopener, and I do believe they left us feeling just a little better about what it is they just bought.

The kids had a wonderful time. Austin found a new best bud in Margaret of Reef Madness. She's out sitting on the dock at 10:30pm with her feet in the water showing my kids what they could see with their underwater video camera. And she was enjoying it! That was after her and Gene hosted me and a couple other dock bums (seriously - genuine dock bums - it was me, Fred and Catman!) on their TC for drinks and stories. Thanks to them and all the people who were so good to (and patient with!) my grandkids. Austin also found some new friends in David's grandsons.

We completely missed the Bellingham CBGT and the San Juans the last two years, so this trip was so much the better. We had great luck in each spot we stopped at. The rafting with John, Ami and Teddi at James Island was especially nice. We started off the first night in B'ham; Tuesday we had Doe Island all to ourselves; Wednesday to Friday Harbor; Thursday we visited Les and Dusty for a while, cruised to La Conner for a quick look, and then found a spot at the dock on Matia; Friday and Saturday back at B'ham for the CBGT; Sunday to James with the Frazeys; Monday night at Deer Harbor; and a peaceful run back to the trailer at B'ham for the drive home on Tuesday.

We traveled 255 miles on the water and used 150 gallons of gas. Not the greatest economy but considering the full provisions and all the junk those kids had to bring along, the heavy old barge did pretty good. It seemed we were going against the tide wherever and whenever. Even going into Bellingham Bay with the incoming tide was against current. I haven't figured that one out yet - our bays down here usually fill up with the tide coming in. The best was going thru Deception Pass at max ebb. Oh boy - for just a few seconds the water speed was 25 mph and the SOG was 14 at 5500 rpm. The rest of the run thru the pass was against ~8 mph current. Kind of like driving up the Columbia, but about four and a half miles narrower. It was foggy and a little choppy coming across Rosario that morning, and after getting across we ducked in behind Allan Island for a bit. The fog was lifting when we got to Deception and other than the tide rips, the water was smooth. I knew what the tide was doing but I picked my line and headed through, going to WOT at the narrowest spot. It was cool and quick. Wouldn't you know it, when we went back out through the pass later that day, the tide was flowing the other way and against us once again.

We had fun. It was great seeing the SJs again and wonderful seeing the people. Next year for sure!
 
Mike: Great to see you and the kids had a great time. All in all....who really cares what the fuel economy was..... and, you for sure had just about everything against you as far as fuel mileage..... but hey.... so what if you really just lost about 1-2 mpg? So what if you would have only used 100 gallons and gotten 2.5 mpg..... That is only 50 gallons different.... and look at the fun you had.....together. Just about the price difference of taking your crew to a dinner and a movie... Give me a great weekend on the water!!!!

Just average it out for a season.....and some days the tides/winds will be with you....and others...well... ya just gotta love what having the boat gives us.

Sure glad to see you made this trip and would have loved to been there....and...follow along with Bill and El and others as they continue to travel.

Now... Let's see....maybe Last Dance can hook up with Joe and Ruth with his RV???

Byrdman
 
Speaking of El and Bill, they were the first folks we saw when we got there and the last we saw as we left. How cool is that? They even sent us off with snacks for the road.

I didn't lose 1-2 mpg, Patrick. More like .1 - .2. The best I get is ~2mpg, so 1.7 isn't so bad. The boat is a tub, BM, not a Jabez.

I had a great visit at EQ. Only problem was he had the interior of you guys' Heads Up Rossi ripped out for pattern making or something.
 
Sorry you missed it when she looked pretty. She will be pretty again in a week or two. Had to remove it all to do the sub floor work....once we knew where the above floor items really were going to end up.

Here is how she looked a few weeks ago before we took her apart again...

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Byrdman
 
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