Great to be aboard again!

Due to squirrelly weather...bomb cyclones!...we delayed our trip back to La Conner to retrieve ToG. Jeff picked us up in Tacoma yesterday and, since there was zero wind, we spent the afternoon motoring to Friday Harbor. Rainy and chilly...but calm.

When we arrived at the AT dock, we found ToG toasty warm...the heating system fix/upgrade seems to have done the trick! (The ambient lighting was on, and the boat was free of pine needles as well. What a nice welcome!)

In addition, the crew installed a freshwater wash down system (with port in the cockpit), repaired a nasty gouge in the gel coat, and fixed a lazarette hinge. This team continues to take good care of us.

My photo does not do justice to the amount of debris in the water in the islands due to heavy rains and high tides:

We experienced a first yesterday while making our way north through the Swinomish - the railroad bridge closed! There was a boat a bit ahead of us and they had just passed through...and then the bridge started closing. It took about 20 minutes (the dude in charge was walking very slowly) and we had to circle a few times. It was kind of fun to watch but I can see how the situation could be bad if there were a lot of boats and/or bad weather and current conditions.

We plan to spend a few days here in Friday Harbor. It's supposed to be beautiful this weekend! (The marina is the emptiest we've ever seen it...as we haven't really boated in the islands in the off season.) Maybe we'll make it to Roche for some crabbing, but the reality is that we are taking it day-to-day based on weather windows. We don't have to be home until Thanksgiving, so we'll see.