The Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue and crew...

If that weren't such a 'crappy' story, it'd be hilarious. Reminds me of a young seaman at the rail one day when I asked him "Whar's wrong son, weak stomached?". He responded "No sir, I'm throwing it as far as anyone!"

BTW, it IS hilarious!

Charlie
 
Glad you enjoyed the story, Charlie... I was laughing while I wrote it. Heck, I was laughing while... well, you know.

Tom, it's not my boat... and I can hose it down. Well, except for the head! :disgust Our boat is just right for two and a cat. I have used that "go for distance" line for years on the cruise boats... no one ever does. "Ya got a little somethin' on your shirt, sport." :disgust

A day off today, and we spent it out and about on Wild Blue. This is MY idea of being in the PNW. And the Blonde enjoyed it. But, we did get some work news while out - looks like we'll be putting in more hours for the next couple weeks.

http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2012/08/play-day.html

Scene2e.jpg

The whale watch boat I drive has a flybridge helm - great for seeing logs and other debris in the water... but, I love the way Wild Blue rides and handles! 8)

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim,
Speaking of whales. I just returned from two weeks at Cape Decision Lighthouse. Went through Sitka to Port Alexander by float plane (heard tales of Hunky Dory's visit to PA.) then by boat 30 miles across Chatham Strait to Cape Decision. The whales were like cows in a pasture for the two weeks of my visit. The morning of my departure I saw two different whale completely out of the water. :roll: Some Orca but they are fast movers.
If you get a chance, check out Cape Decision Light House on Facebook.
 
Hi Steve,

Great to hear from you! I checked out the site - looks like quite a project! Somehow, I don't think of the words "work" and "party" being used together. :wink: A labor of love, no doubt.

What else is going on with you? More sailing south? RV wandering?

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan
 
I saw Harvey today. Didn't get much of a chance to visit, since the Washington State Ferry crapped out and their schedule went into the toilet. We were juggling guests from one boat to another to try to make thing work for getting people back in time to make sea planes and not leave any people behind who were an hour and a half late due to the ferries.

Joan told me that Merv and Kathy stopped in today, but I was already out.

Crowd control was a big part of my day today, while Joan juggled manifests to make things work. In the end, we were able to accommodate the people who were on time and the people who were late due to the ferry. You have to be flexible.

We had to run to Boundary Pass to see a humpback today, and then almost to Active Pass to see one this evening. The Orcas are apparently on vacation, since no one has seen any in a few days.

The afternoon trip was good. The evening trip was beautiful: nearly flat water, 3 sunsets (I learned that trick in the Tetons, using the terrain to get more than one sunset), and several spectacular "fluke dives" with the humpback.

I am used to doing just one trip a day... two? Whew! 8)

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim,
Sorry we missed you, we would have enjoyed watching someone actually having to work :-) You must be pretty beat.

What a fustercluck with the Ferry crapping out on the dock and having to be removed by a large Foss tug. We watched several ferries sitting outside the harbor for 30 + minutes waiting to get in.
Town full of displaced, homeless, ferryless people not knowing when they would get home... had one heck of a time getting to the ice cream shop :cry :cry

And YES the docks were full of very noisy drunks on Saturday night plus the usual bunch of inconsiderate idiots who let their dogs loose to crap all over the place.

We were lucky to get a mooring but were exposed to all the wakes so we are still walking sideways and bumping into fixed objects.
Nice chat with Harvey who also had to leave for that "W" thing :cry:

Engine service this week so can try to catch up with the grass which will not stop growing this year and maybe time to plan the next trip. Will try to cath you next time by.

M & K
 
HI Merv,

They now have another ferry in service, so maybe the scheduling mess will settle down. We have been juggling boats and guests for several days, trying to accommodate.

The summer we cruised the Erie Canal, August brought an onslaught of Canadian boats... seems that the first two weeks of August is prime vacation time for our friends to the north. Seems that way here on the docks and out on the water, too.

I know what you mean about the dog droppings - some days it seems like a poopy mine field out there. :disgust

After a week "away," we had Orcas again yesterday! I had two water taxi trips (trying to work around the ferry), with a whale watch trip in between. The guests got on the boat, assuming we wouldn't see Orcas (word gets around town pretty fast), and I could see their enthusiasm build when I told them we have "a good report."

http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-plan.html

Foggy this morning - that plays havoc with schedules, as well, since we have a regular flow of guests who arrive by sea plane. Joan opens this morning - she's going to have a busy time right off the bat. I will go in around the crack of noon. 8)

See you next time around.

Best wishes,
Jim

The internet connectivity has been hit or miss since last night... messing with the ferry schedule is one thing - don't mess with my connection!
 
I got to visit with more C-Brats this morning! I was cleaning the carpet out on the dock when I heard, "Hey, Wild Blue!" It was my buddy Casey, with a guy in tow... that guy turned out to be Jim (Jennykatz). I told Casey that Jim isn't near as pretty as Mary, and Casey let me know he wasn't as snuggly, either! :disgust

While the three of us were on the dock talking, along came Bob and Betsy (C-Pal)... it's a mini gathering! :D

Apparently I didn't look too presentable, because they asked, "Day off today, huh?"

"No, I have to go in around noon."

"What time do you get off?"

That's never a firm deal... 5:00, if I only have one trip, closer to 9:00 if I have a second trip. Sometimes I don't find out about the second trip until I get in from the first one... something about "making hay while the sun shines." :wink:

It's always fun to see our friends (and meet friends that we know, but just haven't met in person, yet)... and in a few weeks, we'll get to wander around on our own schedules, too. 8)

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Hi Jim,

Good to get to see you and Joan for a few seconds last weekend. WOW, do they keep you two busy. Good thing I guess, makes for a better paycheck. Had a beautiful trip over and back, same day. That is a first. Saw a pod of dolphins on my way south. Must have been feeding because they were pretty stationary.

You were out with the tourists, but as I was leaving FH there was a pretty significant BANG and seconds later the Fire/Paramedics showed up. Didn't see any smoke or flame hope nothing too serious.

I had been over to see Merv and Kathy and was just leaving the fuel dock when it happened.

Sure was a beautiful trip back. FLAT -- wow flat both ways. Thanks for saying "Hi" and sorry it wasn't for longer. Maybe next time.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Hi Harvey,

It can get pretty crazy at times... like when the ferry is running an hour and a half late and we're trying to get two boats with guests out on the water. I, too, am sorry the timing wasn't more cooperative. Thanks for understanding.

I didn't have an evening trip today (will make up for it with two private charters tomorrow) and we were able to go out for supper with Casey, Jim, Bob, and Betsy - a great time!

I had two "wild and crazy guys" (think back to the old Saturday Night Live routine) on the boat today...

http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2012/08/di ... iends.html

About 3 weeks to go.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Jim,

Thanks for the message, and glad you had good company. Maybe next time we can go to the ice cream store :thup :thup Sounds like you are having a good time and enjoying the work, so maybe it's not so much work as work can be. Spent the weekend on the boat, short trip, to Sequim Bay State Park. Very inexpensive and wonderful scenery. Company could have been better though -- (no other C-Dory's around.)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
No shortage of C-Dorys around Friday Harbor... well, since the 22 named Sweet Dreams is on the next dock over, I see one every time I come and go from Wild Blue. My weekend wasn't as relaxing as yours, Harvey, but it was a treat to get the evening off yesterday and dine with friends.

The work is pretty darn pleasant most of the time. And, I've been taking notes for future writing. :wink: Never a shortage of interesting situations around here.

When I was making my living in photography, I said I'd never have another job that people do for a hobby... you know, things like driving a boat. :mrgreen: As I told my then college aged daughter when she worked at an amusement park during a summer: someone has to work hard so people can have fun. 8)

So, if I drive a boat all day for a job, what do I do for a change of pace when I have a day off?

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Sorry we missed Bob and Betsy and Casey and Jim (Mary?). But it looked like we might have trouble getting dock space on Saturday night, so we anchored out at Montague and ate all our prohibited food items. Good smooth trip today into Anacortes.

Best.
 
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