A voracious reader since my preschool years, it wasn't until we first set sail that I shared this addiction with Trent. When the winter's chill keeps you indoors, live vicariously through one of our favorites. You'll either be inspired to quit your day job and explore the high seas or vow never to enter the open ocean.
Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea by Steven Callahan. Amazing story that will have you on the edge of your seat even though you know that the author ultimately survives his months adrift in a rubber life raft. Everything that can go wrong does.
Berserk: My Voyage to Antarctica in a Twenty-seven-foot Sailboat by David Mercy. True story of an inexperienced sailor who journeys to Antarctica. Blends my love for polar adventure with sailing.
Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi. Eighteen year-old Tania lives her father's dreams as she becomes the first American woman to single-hand a sailboat around the world. Of course, at the same time she also finds love and herself, while narrowly avoiding catastrophe.
The Motion of the Ocean by Janna Cawse Esarey After reading a glowing review for this title, I learned that Janna was the wife of the skipper of the first boat Trent raced on. That sealed the deal and I promptly ordered it from the library. Couple honeymoons on a sailing trip around the world. Needless to say, mishaps ensue.
Tightwads on the Loose by Wendy Hinman. I met Wendy when our husbands raced together in the Van-Isle 360 (a two-week sail around Vancouver Island). We talked for hours and she told me that she was finishing up a book about their misadventures. When it came out, I couldn't wait to learn about their seven years on a 31' sailboat. Engaging and humorous.
What books would you add to this list?
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
Adventures in Kingston, part two
Kingston is one of our most frequent day trip destinations. In the off-season it is simple to get a free two hours of guest moorage. Though we've journeyed there countless times, we typically only visit two of the cafes (Mystic Mountain Coffee and J'aime les Crepes). This time, we planned to be a bit more adventurous. After wandering until the town stopped (did I mention, it is pretty small?), we finally chose to dine at the Grub Hut, a burger place that had been well-Yelped.
What a decadent dinner: cubano and rum shake (T); BBQ bacon burger and pumpkin shake (K).
Crowded, but we managed to slip into a booth just as another party exited. Awesome garlicky sauce on the BBQ burger along with some heavenly bacon. The thick consistency of the pumpkin shake made the deliciousness linger. No wi-fi.
Seeing as it was a bit brisk (low 40s) and it was only 6:30 p.m., we decided to delay our eventual return to RL with a movie. We decided on Saving Mr. Banks, which received rave reviews from my co-workers. The Kingston Firehouse is an intimate venue and appears to be a local institution. One employee to sell tickets and serve refreshments. Swarms of people filled every seat in the house.
There was a strong sense of community evident. The charming elderly couple in line ahead of us was fascinated to learn of our sailing jaunt and recommended that we not miss the Oak Table (which is housed in the same building as the theater) for breakfast the next day. When a woman with a 3 month old baby sat down next to me, several people in the audience offered to "hold that sweet baby if you get tired of it".
The movie itself was as delightful as promised and we both enjoyed it immensely.
We got a late start in the morning and headed to Oak Table for breakfast. We had eaten there once before and were blown away by their enormous Dutch Baby. We dined for days on leftovers. This morning though, looking at the chatting people in the parking lot and the line snaking through the lobby, we just couldn't handle the wait.
Instead we headed to the Borrowed Kitchen Bakery to split a ham and cheese croissant, baked apple fritter and maple bacon scone. After ordering, Trent said we should have gotten a cinnamon roll (we have a quest to taste a cinnamon roll at every bakery within sailing distance in search of the most delicious). The pastries were quite good: chunks of apple and flakes of caramelized goodness in the fritter. The chai was from a powder, but one that is Kristin-approved. Mocha verdict from T: "it's pretty good". No wireless, but someone nearby does have it. Sturdy tables for Bananagrams or Boggle. Closes at 5 on Saturday or 2 on Sunday (which pretty much means the only way we'll be eating there on Sunday is if we spend the night again). We'll have to return to see how it holds up to the cinnamon roll challenge.
After lingering a bit longer to see if the sun would deign to shine (it didn't) we finally set sail after additional coffee provisions, this time obtained at our old favorite Mystic Mountain. Though the sky was dreary, the trip home was not. The wind was coming from the north as forecast, but was better than forecast at 11-13 for most of the trip home. Flying the asymmetric spinnaker we reached speeds of 8.75 knots. We surfed home until the wind dropped just outside of Shilshole.
What a decadent dinner: cubano and rum shake (T); BBQ bacon burger and pumpkin shake (K).
Crowded, but we managed to slip into a booth just as another party exited. Awesome garlicky sauce on the BBQ burger along with some heavenly bacon. The thick consistency of the pumpkin shake made the deliciousness linger. No wi-fi.
Seeing as it was a bit brisk (low 40s) and it was only 6:30 p.m., we decided to delay our eventual return to RL with a movie. We decided on Saving Mr. Banks, which received rave reviews from my co-workers. The Kingston Firehouse is an intimate venue and appears to be a local institution. One employee to sell tickets and serve refreshments. Swarms of people filled every seat in the house.
There was a strong sense of community evident. The charming elderly couple in line ahead of us was fascinated to learn of our sailing jaunt and recommended that we not miss the Oak Table (which is housed in the same building as the theater) for breakfast the next day. When a woman with a 3 month old baby sat down next to me, several people in the audience offered to "hold that sweet baby if you get tired of it".
The movie itself was as delightful as promised and we both enjoyed it immensely.
We got a late start in the morning and headed to Oak Table for breakfast. We had eaten there once before and were blown away by their enormous Dutch Baby. We dined for days on leftovers. This morning though, looking at the chatting people in the parking lot and the line snaking through the lobby, we just couldn't handle the wait.
Instead we headed to the Borrowed Kitchen Bakery to split a ham and cheese croissant, baked apple fritter and maple bacon scone. After ordering, Trent said we should have gotten a cinnamon roll (we have a quest to taste a cinnamon roll at every bakery within sailing distance in search of the most delicious). The pastries were quite good: chunks of apple and flakes of caramelized goodness in the fritter. The chai was from a powder, but one that is Kristin-approved. Mocha verdict from T: "it's pretty good". No wireless, but someone nearby does have it. Sturdy tables for Bananagrams or Boggle. Closes at 5 on Saturday or 2 on Sunday (which pretty much means the only way we'll be eating there on Sunday is if we spend the night again). We'll have to return to see how it holds up to the cinnamon roll challenge.
After lingering a bit longer to see if the sun would deign to shine (it didn't) we finally set sail after additional coffee provisions, this time obtained at our old favorite Mystic Mountain. Though the sky was dreary, the trip home was not. The wind was coming from the north as forecast, but was better than forecast at 11-13 for most of the trip home. Flying the asymmetric spinnaker we reached speeds of 8.75 knots. We surfed home until the wind dropped just outside of Shilshole.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Adventures in Kingston, part one
Ah, the promise of a three day weekend - especially one where torrential rains and hurricane-force winds are not in the forecast. Trent and I have been thwarted too many times in search of perfect weather and we determined that this would be the weekend for an overnight sailing trip - even if we had to motor to get there.
The forecast: Saturday, S wind 5-15 knots; Sunday, N wind to 10.
The destination, planned so that we could sail downwind both directions, Kingston.
The reality when we got to Shilshole and left the breakwater: N wind 2 knots. I got excited for a moment when the wind instrument read 7. Unfortunately, that was merely because the speedometer wasn't working, which for some reason affects the perceived wind speed. Go figure.
So we motored. Got out trusty Otto, our autopilot and enjoyed the emergence of the sun after a morning of grayness. Sighted a seal and several birds (which some day I will learn to identify). And then a shout from Trent broke the monotony of the engine's roar - "I think I see a whale". Up ahead were two boats: a power boat and a sailboat, just loitering in the Sound. We slowed to match their meandering pace. I searched fruitlessly until a pointy fin surfaced in the distance. And then another, and another. Trent pulled out the binoculars (always a handy accessory for adventure in the high seas). We saw 7-8 orcas before they disappeared.
Disappointed, we hung around for a few minutes and then decided to continue on our way, as it was nearing dusk. The other boats gave up too. Or so we thought, until we noticed the same fins and lengths of whales puffing near the new location of the power boat. Trent tried to catch the action on video, but it was nowhere near as magical as in-person.
We arrived in Kingston just after the marina closed. Fortunately, we had the foresight to call ahead to get the bathroom codes. While Rock Lobster has a port-a-potty, I try never to use it, under the theory that if it never gets used, we never have to clean and empty it - or for that matter, smell it.
Stay tuned for part two of our adventures, where we explore the town.
The forecast: Saturday, S wind 5-15 knots; Sunday, N wind to 10.
The destination, planned so that we could sail downwind both directions, Kingston.
The reality when we got to Shilshole and left the breakwater: N wind 2 knots. I got excited for a moment when the wind instrument read 7. Unfortunately, that was merely because the speedometer wasn't working, which for some reason affects the perceived wind speed. Go figure.
So we motored. Got out trusty Otto, our autopilot and enjoyed the emergence of the sun after a morning of grayness. Sighted a seal and several birds (which some day I will learn to identify). And then a shout from Trent broke the monotony of the engine's roar - "I think I see a whale". Up ahead were two boats: a power boat and a sailboat, just loitering in the Sound. We slowed to match their meandering pace. I searched fruitlessly until a pointy fin surfaced in the distance. And then another, and another. Trent pulled out the binoculars (always a handy accessory for adventure in the high seas). We saw 7-8 orcas before they disappeared.
Disappointed, we hung around for a few minutes and then decided to continue on our way, as it was nearing dusk. The other boats gave up too. Or so we thought, until we noticed the same fins and lengths of whales puffing near the new location of the power boat. Trent tried to catch the action on video, but it was nowhere near as magical as in-person.
We arrived in Kingston just after the marina closed. Fortunately, we had the foresight to call ahead to get the bathroom codes. While Rock Lobster has a port-a-potty, I try never to use it, under the theory that if it never gets used, we never have to clean and empty it - or for that matter, smell it.
Stay tuned for part two of our adventures, where we explore the town.
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