Where In the World Is Lesley? (Day Four)

Itinerary: Cap Sante (Anacortes) to Friday Harbor (San Juan Island)
Cruising Time: 3 hours
Weather: Sunny and warm
Pages Read: 0
Relaxation Level: Calm with the exception of one rough passing through Upright Channel between Shaw Island and Lopez Island (due to confluence of currents).

Reflective Morning in Cap Sante

Lands End

Cap Sante Cove

Kiss me, you fool!

Gotcha!

Tending the fenders.

Don't worry about a thing. Just a little rough water.

Rough current.

Must be rough.

Lady Mick's Personal Chef

Welcome to Friday Harbor, home of FOUR bookstores!

Boat lust.

Click on pictures for full-size view.

Where In the World Is Lesley? (Day Three)

Itinerary: Port Edmonds to Anacortes (Gateway to the San Juans) via Saratoga Passage and Swinomish Slough/La Conner.
Weather: Overcast and cool (75)

Night Sounds in Edmonds: Trains, distant thunder and Great Blue herons calling out to one another.

Underway at 9:00 AM. Arrived Cap Sante Marina, Port of Anacortes at 4:00. Fairly smooth sailing (with the exception of the occasional Bayliner wake - Yeehaw!).

This is summer vacation—the keen sense that the world has shifted into new patterns of delight, and game and joy, and the gloriously embraced illusion that those patterns will not end. (Ray Bradbury ~ Dandelion Wine)

Tug and Log Raft

Regal Eagle

Affordable Beachfront Property

Rainbow Bridge (La Conner)

Crab Pots

Cap Sante Marina

Marina Trash Receptacle

Goin' Fishin'

Pages Read: Still zero!

Relaxation Level: Mellow

Click on pictures for full-size view.

Where In the World Is Lesley? (Day Two)

Itinerary: Seattle to Port of Edmonds
Weather: Cloudy, clearing to sunny afternoon skies (75)

A relaxing day spent shopping for provisions, followed by a leisurely stroll through a nearby community garden before getting underway.

Eastlake P-Patch (Community Garden)

I'm ready to create a garden like this. Just need the cooler climate!

Busy Bee

FRESH blackberries. Yum!

Blueberries?

Requesting permission to land, Captain.

Captain Mike

Aurora Bridge

More nautical stuff (Block & Tackle)

I love tugboats!

First port of call

Paging Dr. McDreamy

Beautiful, beautiful, glad I am here!

Miles traversed (on foot) to locate an OPEN ice cream store in Edmonds: 500 (or so it felt). Outcome: Cranky husband.

Pages Read: Zero!

Relaxation Level: Extremely High

Click on pictures for full-size view.

Where In the World Is Lesley? (Day One)

Lincoln to Seattle via Dallas/Fort Worth
Seattle Weather: Sunny and hot (95 degrees!)

Look who got to meet us at the DFW airport for a quick visit!

Who says you can't live aboard and have a garden?

Nautical stuff.

Our v-berth, which doubles as a wine cellar. Perfect!

I awoke to the rhythmic sound of oars slapping against the water.

Have laptop will travel.

Casting Off!

We're off to the land of Starbucks on every corner, Pike Place Market, Bill Gates' stompin' grounds, Elliot Bay Book Company, FRESH seafood, and Dr. McDreamy. (Yes, I know he's not a real person, but I can still fantasize about bumping into him on a ferry, can't I?)

Actually, we'll only be in Seattle for about 24 hours before we head out to the San Juan Islands and then over to the Canadian Gulf Islands. We'll spend time in Edmonds, Anacortes, Friday Harbour (a personal favorite of mine), Reid Harbour on Stewart Island, Roche Harbour, Sidney (another favorite), Cowichan, Brentwood Bay and Victoria. We've been looking forward to this trip for just about a year, but we've left all the planning to my dad & June. They've made this trip several times and know all the great spots for crabbing, whale-watching, and taking in gorgeous sunsets.

Our home for the next two weeks!

Dad & June's liveaboard boat (Lake Union, Washington)

Our Skipper and First Mate

Possible stowaway?

And what books do I plan to take, you ask? Well, I'm desperately trying to pack light. And, I know I won't read as much as I think I will. However, we do have a couple of long flights, so here's the list:

Pastries: A Novel of Desserts and Discoveries by Bharti Kirchner - I chose it because it's set in Seattle and has been on my shelves forever.

Loud & Clear by Anna Quindlen - Essays are always a good choice for reading in sips & gulps.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson - Just because, although it might seem a bit odd to read about hiking the Appalachian Trail while cruising islands in the Pacific Northwest...

The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King - The beachy cover caught my eye. Plus, it's another that's been lurking on my shelves far too long. BTW, the author is Pat Conroy's wife.

On Rue Tatin by Susan Herrmann Loomis - A little French travel read that's on my Armchair Traveler Challenge list.

Mademoiselle Benoir by Christine Conrad - An impulse purchase yesterday at work. The gorgeous cover caught my eye and I knew I had to buy it!

Sorry. No time to upload and post cover art. But take a minute and look at the cover for Mademoiselle Benoir (click on the title). Isn't it gorgeous?!

Rod has a couple of Lee Child books in his bag (Tripwire and Without Fail), so if I happen to run out of reading material, I can always borrow one of these. Jack Reacher is no Lucas Davenport, but he'll do in a pinch. ;)

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Yes, I've been a bit lazy absent lately. This is where I've been, in case anyone's missed me! Thanks, Heidi and Dave, for sharing your gorgeous pool with me and Rod. It's perfect for swimming laps, floating with a book, floating with a cocktail, and cooling off during these hot summer afternoons!