Travels with Kerri On and crew

To all ... I'm sure all the local folks know about it, but to us "Outlanders" (Jay are you listening?), I found this interesting.

Washington State Parks offers an ANNUAL PASS (it was $6/ft in 2012) that permits you to dock/moor at any of the state park facilities all Year! We found it a Great bargain - in fact someday we may just spend a whole summer exploring the San Juans (again) and Puget Sound (have never been there).

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Yes Casey, I'm listening & agreeing. We stopped by Washington State Parks Headquarters, which is just off of I 5 with room to park boat & trailer in Olympia, Washington. Cost is now 4$ a foot & they went by the registered length, so only $88. Just our three days here at the Sucia Islands would have been $36, so already well on the way for a $ saver.

Jay
 
Hey Jay and JoLee and all. We came around the north end of North Pender in calm conditions today trundling in range expansion mode 2200 rpm and 6 knots. The Yamaha uses No fuel at this setting! Nice, cruise all week on $40. We managed to stumble into a cruising club rendezvouse at Port Browning Resort. Nice folks lots of big white boats with flybridges and multiples of our length. Fantastic stop. Great grounds to stroll, new restrooms and showers, laundry etc. Cafe and pub with great food. Groceries a 10 minute walk down a quiet country road. Have not been here before and it is worth a visit. Likely down to Rum Island tomorrow and Roche on Monday. Kerri On is running perfectly. Our new Dometic CF 50 is proving itself easy on batteries and we're free of the ice search! Ice cubes in sundowners. We set it to -4C and a bit of foam panel in the top basket keeps veggies well and stuff frozen below. Cool! Weather seems to be drying up. Sunny and warm for FH!! See you there. George and Carolyn
 
HI George and Carolyn,

Looking forward to FH and a visit. That fridge/cooler sounds like a good choice. Interested. Like the cruise expansion mode too. I need to train my Yami's to run all week on no gas. Good trick. See you soon,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
(KerriOn) "Range expansion Mode" (RExM), I love it.

I just looked at the records for our South Florida Loop trip in December/January. It was 645sm (in RExM...) with an average speed of 7.3mph. Used a total of 102 gallons of fuel ($514) for an average of 6.3mpg.

The Honda 150 is good, but I may have to look at a Yami if I ever get around to repowering!

RE the Dometic. Please tell us more about partioning-off (?) the freezer portion of the large side of the freezer compartment. We use a separate 25L Igloo cooler with four blue ice blocks that we refreeze/rotate from the Dometic. It works, but it's a PITA having refreeze/rotate the BlueIce blocks each day (and the BlueIce things take up valuable space).

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Love slow cruising! It really does save the bucks!

We will definitely get a freezer / fridge for Lake Powell. We are looking at the ARB 50 quart. A bit more expensive than the Dometic, I am sure they are both good, but we like the ARB the best from what we have researched. Here is a YouTube video on the ARB, and here is the Amazon page. Both these units are head and shoulders about the 2005 vintage Norcold on Daydream.

We'll be launching at Squalicum this next Thursday for Friday Harbor, and will be cruising the following week! Can hardly wait!
 
George,
Glad to hear you and Carolyn are still enjoying the cruising life. Maybe we'll see you at Pender Harbour. That is if I can get Meander's bottom waterproofed and painted by then. I sure am envious at the MPG you get. I have to get around to summarizing Meander's fuel usage over the last 9 years and 1000 hours sometime. I'm guessing its about 2.75 KMPG.
Pat,
Engle cooler/freezers for me all the way. We've had ours for 6 years now, uses very little power, works great. Did a great job in the Baja, Lake Powell and around the Rideau and Trent Severn.
Cheers
Ron
 
See you in Pender Ron. Hi Casey. We found a small wire basket in a Dollar store that fits just right hanging on the wire racks in the Dometic. We put a left over piece of 1/2 inch insulation foam in the bottom of this rack to keep things cold but not frozen. The little compartment is used to store a bit of milk and is never frozen. Took some experimenting but is doing well. We don't need to freeze much but the first mate Must have icey cubes in her sundowner or we ain't yachting ! We're camping. The slow cruise setting (love the math Casey!) works until 12 knot winds and 1' chop then we should speed up a bit like just on nice plane. We try to avoid much chop now as we're in no rush. Works so far. Best to all. See you at FH Harvey
 
We have enjoyed our time in the San Juan's, we spent a few more days enjoying FH then went just across the way to Parks Bay for 2 nights on the hook. Washington State Preserve, no shore access. We enjoyed hanging on the hook, one day devoted to napping and meals. We went back to FH just as Wild Blue (Jim and Joan) came in for the summer Hunky Dory was at the dock also. Jay needed ice cream JoLee needed more shopping. We had some more visiting and catching up to do. FH is such a nice town.
We got out of there finally, today for a quick run to Cap Sante marina in Annacortes. Light winds and rain for our first crossing of Rosario Strait. Very nice marina facilities here. Top notch marina for $1.00 ft/ day.
Jon of Gypsy River is here and Fred of Sea Mist We had dinner out together at the Rock Fish Cafe, excellent meals, and lots of laughs. Jon is heading to Alaska with Sam of Waggoner and Retriever fame. He's raring to get going. We are awaiting friends from Hawaii coming to get their Grand Banks in the water. We'll be heading back to BC in a few days to get over to Pender Harbour. The San Juan's are fantastic cruising grounds, we've barely scratched the surface. No whale sightings today but many porpoises. George and Carolyn. Kerri On is 100%, love the boat.
 
ghone":d46863wu said:
We came around the north end of North Pender in calm conditions today trundling in range expansion mode 2200 rpm and 6 knots. The Yamaha uses No fuel at this setting! Nice, cruise all week on $40. George and Carolyn
Click to expand...


Hi George & Carolyn,

When I switched from sail to C-Dory I found it very hard (and still do) to go slow especially when the water is calm. One really has to discipline themselves. But a nice cruise on $40 a week sounds appealing.
Thanks for your cruising updates, it is fun to follow your adventures.
See you in Pender. Seems like there is a lot of boats heading for PLI (us included) after Pender. Really looking forward to this.

Martin.
 
We've arrived back in Nanaimo, great trip back thru the Gulf Islands. Flat water mostly and much at hull speed. Transited Sansum narrows on plane and waved another C Dory with no name. Nearer Nanaimo, we elected False Narrows rather than Dodd Narrows as wind was up and one can anchor near the Gabriola shore after getting thru the narrows if too bumpy. I have run through here dozens of times over the years and it is now becoming difficult due to kelp clogging the way. Got thru with much steering but at the end picked up a large kelp frond that closed off my water intake. No worries a quick stop and lift the motor cleared it ok. Bumpiness for a bit coming into the harbour and who do we see on the hook but Jay and JoLee of Hunky Dory. Had a great visit in the evening at the docks at Newcastle. We'll both move to the downtown marina for tonite as Sam and Jon and fleet will be in on their way to Alaska. We will do chores this week and be ready to head to Pender anytime next week. George
 
Since departing Nanaimo in early June we have been poking around the Sunshine Coast and Desolation Sound. We had a different goal this summer of going slowly and staying places at least 2 nights. This allowed for much more time to read, beach comb and just enjoy life together. We actually stayed quite a long time in places like Pender Harbour (2 weeks) and Westview/Powell River (5 weeks). Long enough to really grt to know the area. Then onward. Places in Desolation Sound that have 74 degree water for swimming and day after day of calm winds and sunshine. No cell reception, no worries. So many highlights of why we cruise. Met many new cruisers to keep in touch with. Kerri On is running flawlessly with no issues in 88 engine hours this season and 715 miles so far since May 8. We are in Campbell River today not been in my own boat before. The water is 55 F almost 20 degrees cooler than 25 miles away in Desolation. The current off CR never quits and floods in from the north so is cold. We are going to store the boat for a couple weeks and do a road trip to see family in September. Then a Fall cruise of the Gulf Islands. We met c brats out here Ron and Anne on Meander found us in Grace Harbour and Jan on C Change and Dorothy and Bill on Blue Skies came up as we were fueling in Refuge Cove Nice to visit with friends. We have been surprised at the lack of wildlife in these popular area. Not even dolphins this year. But fish all over. Great to see schools of little fish every where. Melanie Cove trails were posted closed due to a momma bear with cubs but we didn't see them. Great season so far and more to come. Carolyn and George
 
Much has happened since last update. We took a road trip without the boat thru southern BC to visit family in Alberta and to scout cruising opportunities in the Kootenays and Chilcotin areas of BC. This Fall we also bought a small condo to serve as a home base for further travel. Market bottomed out here so we thought why not? Moved off the boat in early December and are enjoying condo life. Very easy. Power comes out of the wall and water out a spout. Next month we go to Kona Hawai'i for 7 weeks to tune up for a gruelling summer of cruising.
Starting off with the Friday Harbour CBGT, we'll cruise the SJ's for a bit then load up to start an inland BC, Idaho, Montana and Washington loop trip. We plan on running up the Okanagan valley boating in the lake near Vernon and then on to the Shuswap lakes prior to high season. On a bit to Revelstoke and lakes and meander to Nakusp and Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes. On down to Castlegar and Columbia River and Kootenay lake and east to Creston and on to Koocanusa Lake. Learning about the history of the dam creation projects and resulting issues since good and bad. Interested in history of the towns also. More East to Waterton Lake and then dip south for Hungry Horse, Flat head and start looping back end of July to Lake Pend Or Reil and Cor de lene and others on the way west. Heard about the Scablands in Washington and how it's topography is pretty unique. Back into BC for early September to hop a flight to Reno for the Air Races and then a Fall cruise thru the Gulf Islands and San Juan's.
A bit of a different trip this season. Inland lakes, mostly reservoirs and in holiday season. We wanted a closer to home waters explore this year, as we have zero time in this mode in our own backyard. Kerri On is serviced and in storage, when we get back from Kona we'll bottom paint and clean and load up. Likely a lesser load this year as we won't be loaded for live aboard, only 3-4 months. What has anyone else got planned for a trip this season? George and Carolyn
 
Hey G&C!
We're currently in AZ "downsizing" stuff from the house prior to putting it on the market.
We plan to head East in about mid-February, hopefully to get in on the Hontoon Island CBGT but we'll see....
From there, plans call for us to launch at Astor, FL and head North on the ICW to the Chesapeake Bay and back. We're planning a slow trip and planning for six months on the water.
I can hardly wait; I'm getting dang tired of this downsizing, estate sales, and all that. Too much like Work!
Best,
C&M
PS: Where did you buy your condo?
 
You're right downsizing is a big job. We did 2 households purged into a 10x10 storage for the last few years. I am helping my aunt move to a care home now so doing it some more. There is obviously a biz op in downsizing/ de clutter. I thought at some point to take El and Bill's excellent idea of a "safe Harbor". Market conditions and mortgage rates coincided to be a no brainer so we just did it. Our home port is Nanaimo and our realtor found a nice 2 bedroom condo that had just been all renovated in colors we liked and at a price that allows us to keep being nomadic. With someplace to regroup at. It's 5 minutes to downtown Nanaimo and backs on a nice park. Once downsized stay downsized! That 10x 10 had enough stuff to outfit an 850 sq ft condo! Amazing. Carolyn is on a fru fru diet. Keep the clutter to a minimum. A woman does need a few dollies and stuff but hey keep it real! Good luck on the sale and get back afloat. All the best. G and C.
 
Hi George,

Sounds great!

Maybe you have mentioned before, but how do you spend 7 weeks in Hawaii at a reasonable rate? Do you rent vacation rental, have a time share, or know good friends?

Have a great time.
Steve
 
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