C-Brat RugBrats of the PNW

OK, Brownsville it OUT!

Everything I read about Eagle Harbor leads me to believe that finding moorage for a group of 4-5 boats may be a challenge on weekends. Again, never been there so I don't have first hand experience.

I *believe* I convinced the Mrs. that we need to reconnoiter Silverdale Marina this weekend so we can either keep it on the list or "x" it off.

My biggest concern about any of the places is finding moorage for all of us. I'd settle for Blake Island or Port Orchard if I felt somewhat comfortable that we would have a decent chance of all finding space. That's really the only reason I want to check out Silverdale Marina. Those of you who have gone to these locations, what do you think? Should we just pick a date and go?
 
Julie,

If you're willing, sure give them a call. If nothing else we might get an idea from them if they think 4 or 5 boats showing up without reservations will find space.

Thanks.
 
Well, it looks like Port Orchard is not an option if we want any type of guaranteed reservation. The have some very large groups all the way through August.
Silverdale has some openings and we can reserve dock space for groups of 5 or more. Here are the dates:
June 30-31 weekend
July 21-22 weekend

July 27-29 is not good because that is whaling days.

What does everyone think? Do we want somewhere guaranteed, or try to do a first come first served basis?

Julie
 
July 21 weekend is the Bellingham C-Brats gathering, so let's not schedule it then.

June 30 weekend we're busy with an important family commitment up in Port Townsend. We'll be going by boat.
 
Oh, I doubt we'll find a weekend that works for every potential participant. If I were you I would go ahead and book that June weekend.
 
Well, June 30th works for us!

I'm still going to try to reconnoiter Silverdale this weekend just to make sure.

Remember, this is our FIRST RugBrats event. I'm sure it took the C-Brats lots of times before they worked out a lot of the bugs. If only 2-3 families show up this first time, I can live with it. With experience we'll figure out the good spots, the good times and what people like.

I'll share a "for instance" with you all....recently my family boated to Port Ludlow. There isn't much there, one restaurant and a golf course (I never did see it), but they also have a very lovely beach with no crowds. It's about a 5 min walk from the boats to the beach, but lots of running, rock throwing, toe dipping and picnicking. No play structures and nothing organized for kids, just a beach. Come to think of it, the bathrooms are a 5 min walk away too...but I could definitely see myself going back.

Right now I'm up for June 30th! Let's see how many of us can make the date and if it's only 2 or 3, then the world is our oyster and we can try to crash any place we like!!! :D
 
We're anchored in a cove on Matia Island with Grandson, Bryce, and will be in the northern San Juans for awhile if anyone with a CRugBrat wants to come up and join us -- Pat and Patty, and Joe and Ruth are anchored here now and we're having rousing games of UNO and there's a challenge game of Hearts promised for these 'kids' for this afternoon.
We drove up from Seattle a few days ago, and it's an easy trailer run (through all that ++**__## traffic) to Bellingham and an easy launch into the pond. Come on up and join the game.
 
A few months ago, there was a Puget Sound Anglers BBQ on Gedney "Hat" island. It is very nice there with picnic / pavilion and a sandy beach. The only problem is that it is a private island, so we would need an invitation from someone who owns property there. Anyone know someone who can invite us?
 
Ok, I said I would reconnoiter Silverdale this weekend and I TRIED!

After 2 1/2 hours in 4+ foot seas (not the entire time, but most of the time), I saw the water turning a weird green color, then I realized it wasn't the water I was looking at it....it was my wife's face!!!! :disgust She'd had enough and I needed to find calm water and soon. Luckily we were at the entrance to Poulsbo, so we headed in for a quick layover.

Heading back things were calm until we reached the middle of the Sound, then the occasional 4' + wave would hit. We probably shaved a half an hour off of the return trip with the calmer water.

The things I do for the RugBrats!!!

Now I am darn curious to find out what Silverdale is like so...

I'm going to be at Silverdale on Saturday, June 30th for the First Ever Rugbrats gathering.

I hope to see some of you there!
 
We will be there also! Since it doesn't look like we will have 5 or more boats, are you going to make a solo reservation? I think we may do that just to make sure we have a spot (if they will take solo reservations).

Jeff and Julie
 
Wow, Carl...now that's dedication. Or something. :-)

Have a good time on the 30th...I'm just going to have to miss it this time around, but I'm sure there will be other opportunities.
 
OK, Arwen and I went to Silverdale yesterday. It's a good choice. Does not appear to get the kind of traffic Poulsbo or Blake Island do. Great playground with good picnic/seating options, both covered and uncovered. All within eyesight of the marina. The marina itself is a bit Spartan, but perfectly servicable. I don't know about weekends, but on weekday afternoons after school, the dock is a favorite spot for teenagers to stroll, giggle, and sprawl all over each other the way teens do; it's kinda cute. Did we do that?

It is quite a haul from Edmonds, however. I was shocked at how much fuel was gone once we got home this morning. About 20 gallons gone.

I looked over our entire itinerary, though, and realized we went almost 70 miles. We took a couple of detours, anchoring overnight in Oyster Bay (highly recommended, but no shore access), to Bremerton for breakfast this morning, a circle of Sinclair Inlet to see the naval vessels, and a stop in Poulsbo for pastry and a father's day card. All those sidetrips added something like 17 or 18 miles! Anyway, there-and-back from Edmonds is 52 miles or so.
 
I tried to chart the run out from Tacoma to Silverdale and it looked to be around 30 miles. I called the marina and they do not take reservations for single boats so we will just show up and see what is available.

Jeff and Julie
 
Tim, darn I wish I could spend that much time on the boat...I'm very envious.

52 miles round-trip...whoa. So if I leave at 0 dark 30, I should be able to enjoy myself and then plan on returning home around 0 dark 30. :)

Oh well, with good weather it should be like going to Port Townsend I guess.
 
Sarge":1c4ns8jb said:
Tim, darn I wish I could spend that much time on the boat...I'm very envious.
Click to expand...

Yes, but remember that at the moment I'm not earning anything like a full salary, and that state of affairs is not sustainable over the long term. It IS sustainable until the weather turns bad in October or so, though... :-D
 
Our C-BratRugBrat headed home this morning with his father, after a great week and a half of cruising with RatBrats Joe and Ruth, Pat and Patty. Great hiking on Jones, Sucia, Matia, and Stuart Islands and the Orcas were marvelous off San Juan.

Our former attempt to get kids out on a Brat Cruise (up in the Gulf Islands a few years back) turned out very well also -- BratRat's Catman got balled out for playing hide-and-seek in a parking lot with the other kids, though. And Austin, Ami, and Bryce proved they could 'outjump' their folks when they leaped off rocks into the coves.

This past cruise was another great four-on-a-boat time.
 
Back
Top