05/11 - 05/14 - Friday Harbor 2023

[johnr]

Thanks Dave. I've never done any shrimping. Maybe I should try it while out there if it's open... Colby

You should definitely try it, it's the most expensive method ever devised for eating shrimp.

 

[multimediasmith]

Reading this thread is moving the plan from the "dreaming" shelf to the "hoping" or even "planning".
Thanks for the inspiration.
A lot depends on Canada's and US Custom's stance on visiting and then returning to the US visa Vis the pandemic restrictions. US customs said this past summer that if we cruised through the North Channel of Huron, we would have to show vaccination documentation for reentry.


Would LOVE to cruise Desolation, Broughtons, San Juans next summer... ENDEAVOR gets more and more ready... so do I.

 

[DayBreak]

If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need to be vaccinated to re-enter the country by land or ferry terminal. The following is a question of DHS and a quote from them: Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?
"A: No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation."

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/29/fre ... s-enter-us

 

[Pat Anderson]

I will ask for the second Thursday of May through Sunday noon

That coincides with May 11-14. At this time I have stuck it more definitively on my calendar, and if it works out I'll plan to launch out of Anacortes (or Harvey's back yard if the weather cooperates?) a couple days before the gathering, and then hang around to cruise for another week afterwards. Is crabbing open then? Colby

Colby, look forward to seeing you at Friday Harbor. Patty and I been going to FH as long as there has been a gathering there - looking at the Cruises and Events photo album, it seems that was 2008, but it might have been earlier. We always hang around in the San Juans to cruise for a bit after FH, so maybe we could cruise a bit together!

 

[colbysmith]

Colby, look forward to seeing you at Friday Harbor. Patty and I been going to FH as long as there has been a gathering there - looking at the Cruises and Events photo album, it seems that was 2008, but it might have been earlier. We always hang around in the San Juans to cruise for a bit after FH, so maybe we could cruise a bit together!

That would be nice. I remember several folks telling me before the first FH gathering I attended that there were always folks that cruised around after the gathering. For whatever reason, it was a odd year, and nobody cruised afterwards. I think my wife was with me then, and we just did our own thing then cruising to several of the other islands. Just this evening Rosanne and I were discussing her schedule and possible vacation requests. As of now, the gathering weekend is her weekend to work, so at this time, she is not planning on being at the gathering with me. However, she may try to fly out to join me a week earlier at my brothers and maybe do some day cruising in the bays, like Gig Harbor or Tacoma. Then I'd hang around for another week after the gathering to cruise around the islands. So company would be ideal. Colby

 

[smckean (Tosca)]

Colby,

I might be interested in "hanging out" for a couple of days after the gathering. I wouldn't be interested in going too far, but I wouldn't rule out even going a bit into Canada. A couple of caveats: 1. the weather has to be reasonable; 2. if shrimping opens that week, I'll have to re-think things; 3. I'm getting so bloody old now, I just don't know what my strength will be (I'm having pacemaker problems right now as I write this).

Anyway.....a possibility.

 

[colbysmith]

Maybe there will be a group of us hanging out afterwards. I'll bring my passport along. And I still might be interested in doing some shrimping. Although I prefer crab. :? Colby

 

[ssobol]

Colby,

I might be interested in "hanging out" for a couple of days after the gathering. I wouldn't be interested in going too far, but I wouldn't rule out even going a bit into Canada. A couple of caveats: 1. the weather has to be reasonable; 2. if shrimping opens that week, I'll have to re-think things; 3. I'm getting so bloody old now, I just don't know what my strength will be (I'm having pacemaker problems right now as I write this).

Anyway.....a possibility.

If you're going to travel a long way for the gathering, might as well make the trip worth it...

 

[Pat Anderson]

Colby,
I'm getting so bloody old now, I just don't know what my strength will be.

Well, Sandy, no pacemaker here, but you are only one year older than I am (I know that from your Vancouver Island trip)! None of us knows "when," but we need to go until we know for sure that we no longer can! Starcraft Tom aside, I see that as being 8-10 years out, Dr. Bob is a great example!

 

[smckean (Tosca)]

Pat,

Well, it certainly is the ultimate gamble :wink: !

One of my good friends died at 52 many years ago. One day he was fine, then 6 months later he died of a brain tumor. My best friend died at 73 and he was in the best shape of anyone I've ever known (he ate perfect, didn't drink or smoke, exercised like a mad man running dozens of miles per week, did everything "right"). The "In Memory" section of my high school's reunion webpage just keeps getting longer and longer at an accelerating rate.

I ain't planning to go soon, but I see the handwriting on the wall. Denial ain't my thing (nor is religion -- which IMHO is little more than organized denial). Maybe I'll make it to 90 or beyond, but I ain't planning on it :wink: :lol: .

 

[Catman]

Hey, 2023 Friday Harbor attendees, plans are being formed for a post-gathering flotilla to Princess Louisa Inlet!

Jeff and Dianne, formally with Ripple, initiated what I think is a fantastic idea. I've been there only twice since 1972, last visit 1996, so I have to go. We can't know what kind of weather awaits, but 33 years of C-Dory boating has shown me that May can be a month with days-long mild windows.

At any rate, think about it as we formulate a schedule, ports of call, and goals. I estimate that we'll have plenty of dock space at PLI, and am hopeful that Covid won't thwart our Canadian rendezvous. So far I believe we have four boats.

 

[ssobol]

Hey, 2023 Friday Harbor attendees, plans are being formed for a post-gathering flotilla to Princess Louisa Inlet!

Jeff and Dianne, formally with Ripple, initiated what I think is a fantastic idea. I've been there only twice since 1972, last visit 1996, so I have to go. We can't know what kind of weather awaits, but 33 years of C-Dory boating has shown me that May can be a month with days-long mild windows.

At any rate, think about it as we formulate a schedule, ports of call, and goals. I estimate that we'll have plenty of dock space at PLI, and am hopeful that Covid won't thwart our Canadian rendezvous. So far I believe we have four boats.

What is the approximate round trip time of this excursion? I know there are potential issues with weather and sea state, but some idea of the time involved would be helpful.

 

[Knipet]

Hey Brock,
Joanie & I want to get in on this adventure!
Are you still up for the "you guide for food" arrangement?

 

[Catman]

Steve, great to hear you and Joanie are onboard! You guide for food, you say? You bet, if I can remember my way there. I'll just follow somebody else, and you follow me...

ssobol, you bring up a good question, and my answer at this writing is I don't know. I was thinking five days, for what that's worth. I imagine we'll have both retired and employed boaters among us. I envision us cruising up there more or less together, but likely returning on a schedule that fits our vacation time. Too, weather will play a major role.

Let's talk about this in the time we have. Once there, I'm in no great hurry to return, but I don't want anyone to feel abandoned and left to return alone, unless by choice. I would think each of us will need to have a group as well as an individual plan.

 

[ssobol]

Steve, great to hear you and Joanie are onboard! You guide for food, you say? You bet, if I can remember my way there. I'll just follow somebody else, and you follow me...

ssobol, you bring up a good question, and my answer at this writing is I don't know. I was thinking five days, for what that's worth. I imagine we'll have both retired and employed boaters among us. I envision us cruising up there more or less together, but likely returning on a schedule that fits our vacation time. Too, weather will play a major role.

Let's talk about this in the time we have. Once there, I'm in no great hurry to return, but I don't want anyone to feel abandoned and left to return alone, unless by choice. I would think each of us will need to have a group as well as an individual plan.

It's about 150 miles (one way) from Friday Harbor to Chatterbox Falls (end of Princess Louisa Inlet). Ambitious to do it in 5 days if you consider round trip.

 

[colbysmith]

I still plan on coming out for the gathering. I don't have any set plans for after, other than to cruise. I need to be back home by the end of May. (4 day drive, and if it works out, I hope to launch and retrieve in Sequim). Depending on what others are doing, it might be worth my while to join up to the Inlet. Colby

 

[Catman]

Real good, Colby.

Ssobol, you're right, it is quite a jaunt, and five days would be a stretch. Two days up, one day there, two days back doesn't sound very realistic--or relaxing!
Not to mention, there's mercurial Strait Of Georgia lurking to possibly spoil any plans we think we can carry out.

I think what's more realistic is for me to stop trying to satisfy both people still employed, and those retired with many days to cruise. Folks choosing to do this will need the luxury of time on their side. Several have said they want to continue on to Desolation Sound for an undetermined period. Personally, that sounds like fun, and something I'd be up for if the weather cooperates.

But I know that I'm determined to see Princess Louisa-weather permitting-and I'm going to budget a minimum two weeks for the journey.

 

[rogerbum]

Real good, Colby.

Ssobol, you're right, it is quite a jaunt, and five days would be a stretch. Two days up, one day there, two days back doesn't sound very realistic--or relaxing!
Not to mention, there's mercurial Strait Of Georgia lurking to possibly spoil any plans we think we can carry out.

I think what's more realistic is for me to stop trying to satisfy both people still employed, and those retired with many days to cruise. Folks choosing to do this will need the luxury of time on their side. Several have said they want to continue on to Desolation Sound for an undetermined period. Personally, that sounds like fun, and something I'd be up for if the weather cooperates.

But I know that I'm determined to see Princess Louisa-weather permitting-and I'm going to budget a minimum two weeks for the journey.

I did a Princess Louisa-Inlet trip over a 4 day weekend around the 4th of July back in 2011. We launched in Blaine and cleared customs in WhiteRock. That took less than 1 hour. We then headed up to Secret Cove. We did some fishing along the way and arrived at Secret Cove in the mid afternoon (~72 miles from Blaine). We got a slip for the evening and ran the dingy over to get some groceries. We left the next day and ran up to Princess Louisa Inlet. That was only a run of another 76 miles or so (~148 miles from Blaine). We fished along the way (caught a nice white king salmon) and even dropped a shrimp pot (got maybe 30 spot prawns). We reversed the trip the next day and were back in Blaine about 3.5 days after we originally departed. We had calm seas most of the way and sometimes ran 30kts in the Tomcat. We still had (for us) plenty of time to sightsee and fish along the way since the high speed travel time was less than 3 hours each day and the days are fairly long in early July. So even in a 22, 5 days seems like plenty to me as that's only about 60 miles each day and even at 15kts, that's 4 hours of travel time. But I recognize that different folks like different speeds.

 

[TyBoo]

I added this to the Calendar and made a signup list. I trust the dates of May 11-14 are still correct and DayBreak is the honorary cruise director?

 

[DayBreak]

Thanks Mike. Yes and yes. Waiting for e-mail response but I do not see why we would not have the May 11-14 date for our group. Would love to do Princess Louisa with the gang but we plan to head up to the Broughtons early Sunday on the 14th. Weather permitting, hope to be there the following Tuesday on the 16th. Open to travel with other Brats if they can keep up!