Puget Sound Loop Choices

After 30 minutes of writing a response to the criticism of this topic being put into the "Grand Adventures Forum," I lost the post. Gurr. I may not be as reserved in this response! Because the Puget Sound Loop trip was included in the "Grand Adventures" forum in no way detracts for me the other grand adventures that are included in this forum, nor does it diminish the "grand adventures" that are written up in other forums. If someone wants to post their adventure in this forum, it doesn't bother me. Like Jim said, adventures are very personal. My boating adventures certainly are not someone elses. To me, an adventure is not "Grand" because it includes a high danger risk. That is just me.

May we all continue our own grand adventures.

Robbi
 
Three reasons I consider this trip an adventure.

1. Most of the destinations and waters are new to us.

2. It's on a boat....anything can and often will go wrong

3. My wife tolerates the porta-potty. 7 nights of use could exceed these limitations. When the boss ain't happy........ :crook

I do agree that this adventure is not on the scale of others....ones that we may do ourselves when we retire (Alaska, Great Loop)....but it's a nice warmup.

-Greg
 
Think I've already said enough perhaps to much. I too do not want to be responsible for others not sharing their boating experiences due to thinking a certain standard must be met. There is already a shortage of cruises shared compared to cruises made And normally I'm pushing to have them shared though going through the photo albums sure helps.

Dene, I apologize if from my comments you think I was criticizing you for planning a non adventures advent. You gave three good reasons that makes it an adventure to you, but the main is simply there is a degree of risk and danger in just leaving the dock and these kind of trips should be made before heading off or considering one of the more grand types. What drew my attention to your thread and caused me to share my opinion on it was simply the priorities set at no over night anchoring and the must have shopping every night and that in the planning stages posted in a Forum that I personally felt should mainly be reserved for ones who have already gone through what you are planning and then worked them selves up to the Grand Adventure and the reporting sharing of it here. I enjoyed your thread but not knowing that area would have had nothing to add if it had been posted on any different forum. Knotty C started there thread about last summers cruise in the General Chat Forum and I made a request that it be moved to the Grand Adventures Forum because I didn't want it lost for future viewers to enjoy and learn from. And it was moved here.

I think a good example of what I've been trying to share is the write up I did on our first cruise in 2003 very shortly after purchasing our first and only real boat. I was totally new to this site and everything about it, when El and Bill proposed a future trip on the McKenzie River in the Northwest Territories and wanted to know about others interest, so instead of writing up our first cruise and sharing it where it could be viewed for the future and not be lost in the clutter of this site I shared it on the "C-Brat Cruises and Gatherings Forum" in the thread by El and Bill titled "Upper Yukon River" where it can only be accessed by serious searching or random luck today.

Many good views have been expressed on this subject and mine is I realize only one of them. To me hurt or hard feeling are not worth anything I expressed. So an apology to all where that might be the case.

Jay
 
Great timing for this question Greg! My daughter gave me the Cruising Guide to Puget sound for a XMAS present. Yesterday I read almost cover to cover, and then thought about a cruise itinerary if I ever towed Hunky Dory out there. I like your idea of a week in the South/central regions hitting the hi-lites. I’m anxious to see what you decide will be your itinerary after getting input from the experienced Puget Sound C-Brats.

Although I can’t provide any advice on destinations, anchorages and marinas, I can share some tips that we have found to increase my wife Carol’s enjoyment of C-Dory cruising. She also dislikes the C-Dory Porta-Potti, no head compartment (like our sailboat had) and lack of a shower.
1. Break the cruising day up with 2 stops each day, 1 for lunch and shore excursions (i.e. shopping & bathrooms) and the final destination each day which should include a restaurant and excursions.
2. Spend some nights in B&Bs. If this is your first extended cruise as a couple, spend most nights at a B&B.
3. Most important, cruise with some other C-Brat couples, or meet up with them on the cruise at some destinations. Now all I have to say to get Carol to agree to a cruise is the names of some other C-Brats that will also be coming.

For what it's worth, Rick from Maine
 
Great tips. Love the idea about a B&B. That would be a nice surprise treat, especially in the middle of the cruise.

HunkyDory. No apology required. I wasn't remotely offended. I relish your's and other's perspectives and have always enjoyed your posts.

Someday....we'll have the whole summer to explore the Sound. Given that, I'm sure we will appreciate the quiet anchorages and exploring the parks, etc. in a larger boat, min. 25 footer. This particular trip is a highlight one. My wife loves the waterfronts she's experienced at LaConner, Friday Harbor, Bell Harbor, and Poulsbo. We just need to hit the remaining ones before we transcend to the more tranquil exploration.

-Greg
 
El and Bill":3b2zt6g4 said:
Greg --
Back to the original idea of your posting -- what to do in Puget Sound -- you might want to take a look at

http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/southsound.htm
http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/poulsbo.htm

And in our opinion: Life, itself, is daily a marvelous adventure offered for a relatively short time, to relatively few, and should be appreciated every minute of every day, regardless where or how it is spent.

Been to your links several times, Bill. Guess who inspired me to explore the Central and South Sound??

-Greg
 
Sounds like fun! My wife and I are planning on travelling a week in the Puget Sound this summer. Keep the good information coming brats! :thup

I for one love the idea of solitude, protection, and great scenery. The shopping could probably be left to one or maybe two days.
 
Yes, you speak the truth here for sure, as usual (except for the "minimalist is better" stuff of course!). Today I learned the City Attorney of Bothell, a guy about my age, give or take a few years, died just before Christmas. A month or so ago, I was exchanging pleasantries with him at a conference in Chelan. It could as easily have been me, you never know.

El and Bill":5e4efzww said:
And in our opinion: Life, itself, is daily a marvelous adventure offered for a relatively short time, to relatively few, and should be appreciated every minute of every day, regardless where or how it is spent.
 
Here on the Chesapeake both the primitive-anchor out- no amenities trip and the cruise-in-to-a dock trip offer much. For me, it is sometimes just great to find a place to tie up, see what kind of village or town (or city) has grown up around the water, walk and explore other boats...etc...Here on The Bay a local waterman would not see the difference between an anchor out trip and a tie up trip...just what pleases you.
 
terraplane":8mp08jm5 said:
Here on the Chesapeake both the primitive-anchor out- no amenities trip and the cruise-in-to-a dock trip offer much. For me, it is sometimes just great to find a place to tie up, see what kind of village or town (or city) has grown up around the water, walk and explore other boats...etc...Here on The Bay a local waterman would not see the difference between an anchor out trip and a tie up trip...just what pleases you.

Bingo. One of the things I enjoy most about guest moorage is the chance to peer at other boats.

-Greg
 
any time I venture beyond my comfort zone which extends from Edmonds North to Deception Pass, I consider it a grand adventure.
when I go out shrimping or fishing it is a grand adventure to me. I have been basicaly stuck in wdfw areas 8-1 and 8-2 all my life and till the C-Brats and the gatherings came along. I never ventured thru Deception Pass or up the Swinnomish channel.

A grand adventure is more a personal point of view.
 
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:47 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg of Dene wrote:

Three reasons I consider this trip an adventure.

1. Most of the destinations and waters are new to us.

2. It's on a boat....anything can and often will go wrong

3. My wife tolerates the porta-potty. 7 nights of use could exceed these limitations. When the boss ain't happy........

I do agree that this adventure is not on the scale of others....ones that we may do ourselves when we retire (Alaska, Great Loop)....but it's a nice warmup.

Greg, It sounds like and adventure to me, 1, new water; 2, on a boat; 3, pushing the limits. I am wishing I could make that kind of trip myself. Your reasons sure sound OK to me, and if you can get your companion to go with those, GO FOR IT. Being new to C-Dorydom and power boating, a trip like that for us would be a "Grand" adventure.

Don't know if the Marrowstone Mall would count as shopping, but if you want a quaint, quiet dock, with a walkup, clean restroom(non electric and no shower) Mystery Bay is a fun trip in, and close to Port Townsend, and it's State Park moorage.

Happy travels, and enjoy Your Grand Adventure, and thanks for this thread, We will be watching and may follow some leg of the trip as well. there are many grand adventures yet to come.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
When you are inside around there, Indian Island and Marrowstone Island, it is very nice...BUT be prepared getting there and getting home from there to get your fillings knocked loose!


Dene":1uapht9i said:
Great tip about Mystery Bay. Found it and it's circled. That whole island looks interesting.

Thanks!

-Greg
 
Yes, be prepared, check the chart and know the tides. It is a fun learning experience to get into and out of there, but not hard if you are prepared to follow the channel. The tide rip off the NE tip of Marrowstone was a bit of a surprise for us and made that trip memorable to us as one of our great adventures. It was our first over-night trip out of our home bay, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat, including going around Point Wilson. I would just know more about precise tide timing next time.

The walk to the Marrowstone community store, (aka Marrowstone Mall), resulted in one of our all time favorite music CDs by a local harpist, Paula Lalish.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Don't remember if during this thread anyone mentioned the new marina at Tacoma ( seem to forget lots of stuff these days) but it is a good one, and the amenities at the marina and nearby are first class. Tacoma never used to be very high on anyones' list but things have changed much for the better there. Worth at least one night.
 
Anybody moor at Fisherman's Terminal near Lake Union. We intend to stay there during the final weekend of the Seattle Boat Show. We're hoping that public transportation is readily available. Also...are their restaurants and the like nearby?

Finally, is it possible to moor near the Lake Union Yacht display. Be nice to see them, then motorboat out of there?

-Greg
 
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