26 Tuesday Jul 2016
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We are loving this boat. Everywhere we go here in British Columbia people are coming by and telling us stories about the boat. This is it’s homeland. Until I get better internet feel free to check out it’s new website currently under construction by the master web designer – Lauren Haynes! http://argonaut2.com/
25 Monday Jul 2016
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Saturday, July 23 we awoke to blue sky and glassy smooth water – ahhhh.
Made bacon, potatoes and eggs for breakfast
and were underway by 8:30. It was a fairly short day today. We cruised past Orcas Island,
through the San Juan Islands and across the Rosario Straight.
There’s a lot to watch out for while cruising up here like ferries
kayaks
and float planes.
At noon we crossed into Canadian waters – calm seas all the way. It was such a great day even Huckleberry was smiling.
Our destination is Van Isle Marina in Sydney on Vancouver Island about 20 miles north of Victoria. Once at the marina Justin masterfully maneuvered the boat around this jetty
and into this little slip.
I am still in awe. Here we cleared customs and did some chores and errands. Had dinner at the Sultry Mermaid. A nice nice day.
24 Sunday Jul 2016
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On Friday, July 22 we were up at 5:30 to be at Might-O donut shop when it opened at 6. Eight yummy fresh donuts for us and eight for the lock hands. We were underway right on time – 6:30am – gray and rainy but we’re ready. The great voyage begins.
Justin and Lauren and Chris and I are taking the Argonaut II up to its homeland, British Columbia. Just about everything we’re doing is a first for us. Justin has sailed the boat around Lake Union and Lake Washington enough to have a pretty good feel for driving the boat and has docked many times but only at its spot at Stimson Marina.
Many years ago Chris and I along with little Justin sailed our 24 foot sailboat to the San Juan Islands several times but that’s the extent of our experience.
We pulled away from the dock
and made a gentle U turn and went less than a quarter of a mile to the Ballard Locks where we waited for the green light
and soon had the whole small lock all to ourselves.
By 7am we were through the locks and on our way, eating donuts and drinking coffee. 9am we were passing Point No Point Light House, cruising at 9.5 knots with the tide and the wind.
11am crossing the Straits of Juan de Fuca – huge swells, wind chop, very rough seas. We even took water over the bow several times.
And a pretty miserable doggy.
Five hours later we pulled in behind Lopez Island
into a calm but breezy bay.
Here we dropped anchor for the first time, tested the anchor alarm and finally relaxed with some crackers and cheese. Then a quick row to Spencer Spit for the pooch
and dinner in the Salon. In celebration of a successful first day, Justin broke out a special bottle of port to share after dinner. Boy did we ever sleep great that night.
20 Wednesday Jul 2016
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Well, we’re back together again. This time in Seattle with Justin and Lauren. And our new home – the Argonaut II.
Chris discovered an ad for this yacht when we were in town over Thanksgiving and had Justin check it out. One thing led to another and by January we were the proud owners of the Argonaut. Justin and Lauren have been living aboard since February with their pooch Huckleberry Finn.
This has been a dream of Chris’ forever and even though we bought it in January Chris has been in Japan all this time and never ever saw it in real life until this weekend! Pretty crazy, eh? So here’s the adventure to date. Fizzie Time on the Poop Deck. Is he happy or what?
The next day: Checking out the anchors.
Then off on our first cruise around Lake Union. Getting a lesson from the pro.
Some sights along the way. Seattle skyline.
Gasworks Park
A Cycle Saloon?
Chihuley Glass
Justin’s favorite house boat
Sleepless In Seattle house boat
Oh, and Huckleberry’s favorite cruising spot.
and back at the dock, hanging my father’s ship’s bell.
And you know what else is fun? Fixing dinner up on deck.
And relaxing after dinner.
Stay tuned for more family fun to come.
16 Thursday Jun 2016
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Last weekend we stayed closer to home but had a great time. On Saturday we took the train north
to Miyajima-guchi then the ferry
to Miyajima Island or Island of the Gods. On the way across the Inland Sea we passed a lot of these bamboo oyster rafts.
Since we’d been to this island before (check out my blog for details of that trip) and seen the Itsukushima Shrine, one of the most scenic spots in Japan and the Grand Torii Gate
we took off in the opposite direction to explore another side of the island. Our destination was to check out Tsutsumigaura Park and Campground. This was a 40 minute walk along the sea. Along the way we saw a smaller torii
and this row of lanterns just begging to be photographed.
Deer on Miyajima are called Nihonjika, “Japanese deer”, and are everywhere.
And here is one of the oyster rafts up on the beach for repairs.
Off in the distance we see our destination.
After an ice cold asahai we checked the map and decided instead of going back along the coast we would take the short cut straight across the island.
Turns out this involved about 2 hours of very steep hiking
and the trail gets smaller and smaller.
And look, there’s the park,
and over here are the oyster rafts.
Then it was down
down
down.
If you look really close in the picture above you can see the tramway going up Mt. Misen. Then back into town and a lunch of fresh oysters to top off our trek.
It’s now four days later and my bags are packed and I’m ready to go… Once again I’m headed back to Coronado. So, until next time, sayonara!
09 Thursday Jun 2016
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Just wanted to share a few highlights from the past few days. First is our take-out dinner we brought home from the local market last night. So fresh and yummy!
Have you ever heard of chair socks? They are to keep your chairs from scratching the wood floors. Or maybe its to keep them warm. Such a selection. I’ve always used little felt pads that stick on the bottom of each leg.
It’s iris season here – as well as the “official” start to the rainy season.
And last, this is a tiny arrangement I made using the only flower in our back yard. Pretty cute, eh?
07 Tuesday Jun 2016
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We did a mini-bike trip this weekend on the tandem – yea! We left Saturday morning with our biking buds Bill, Tracy and Pearl. We drove east about three hours up past Hiroshima to Onomichi where we crossed the bridge to Mukaishima Island. Here we parked the cars, mounted our steeds and rode this tiny ferry
back across the channel to the world’s tiniest Taco Shop (only five seats at the counter).
The Japanese owner lived in Mexico for a few years and learned how to make tacos. So she now makes tacos from scratch with all fresh ingredients in this tiny place. A great way to start a leisurely bike tour.
Then it was back on the ferry and around Mukaishima Island to our first bridge.
This huge bridge was amazing because the bike/pedestrian lanes were under the bridge. Can you believe it? Image how cool that would be in the US.
We biked around Innoshima Island and over bridge number two.
Always on a completely separate bike lane. Oh, and by the way, can you tell that it’s pouring down rain? – ever since we left the taco shop.
Once on Ikuchijima Island we headed straight for our favorite Dolce ice cream shop
and on to one of the funkiest onsen’s ever but we like it.
Here’s the gang enjoying a Rouge Double Chocolate Stout with peanuts, ready for a hot soak in the bath.
Later that evening several folks from Chris and Bill’s work joined us. The next morning we hung out waiting for the rain to let up which it did around 1000. The others rented bikes and we rode with them across another bridge to Omishima Island. From here they continued on and we turned around and retraced our steps (or treds) back to the car. Lots of good times except my camera seems to have pooped out – maybe because of the pictures I tried to take in the rain.
*If you’ve not read my previous blogs about our first Islands Ride you should check it out at bikes and bridges. It’s an amazing riding experience especially if you’re interested in how bike lanes can integrate into such infrastructures as bridges.
03 Friday Jun 2016
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Today it was off to Arashiyama. We arrived at the Toroko Train Station where we were greeted by this friendly clan of tanuki’s. These “raccoon dogs,” more linked to wolves than dogs or raccoons, are a symbol of prosperity. (Look them up. They’re really cute.)
Here we boarded the Sagano Torokko Ressha or Romantic Train. This 25 minute train ride wanders along the Hozu River through a beautiful canyon.
Upon exiting the train we wandered through a dense bamboo forest.
During our free time we wandered through the streets of Arashiyama. This shrine has a thick carpet of moss
and here’s a typical street scene.
As we wandered down to the river
we found a great place for a delicious lunch
where we watched the activity out the window.
Since we had more time to kill before we met the bus we wandered upstream a ways to take in these truly Japanese sites.
And my personal favorite. . .
Ok, enough of that. Now it’s back on the bus which, by the way, is the prettiest bus on the road
and we’re off to the Golden Pavilion.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in 1397 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as his retirement villa.
The grounds behind the Pavilion were quite peaceful.
Now it’s time for the long bus ride home but before we go . . . a little green tea ice cream would taste good right about now.
. . . . . ciao!
02 Thursday Jun 2016
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We started our day with another Japanese version of an American breakfast. Just like the one we had in Tokyo last weekend. Green salad, macaroni salad, yogurt, corn porridge, hard boiled egg, 1″ thick half slice of white toast, croissant, 2 slices of ham and one slice of barely cooked smoked bacon.
Then it was off to Kodaiji Temple.
This is a temple of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddism.
It was established in 1606 by Nene to pray for her late husband.
The principle image is a statue of Shaka, the young Buddha.
Yea, we now have four hours of free time so we just wandered the streets of Gion. Here are some of the sights from our wanderings.
At 1500 we met our guide and were taken to a Tea House where we sat on tatami mats and met a Maiko-san (Geisha in training) who served us tea, and explained her daily training and apprenticeship. She also performed a traditional dance.
We then had the opportunity to ask her all kinds of questions which she was very happy to answer with our guide doing the translating.
Once again we were on our own to get back to the hotel. Chris took me to one of his favorite spots in Kyoto which was very pretty and peaceful.
And more wanderings, just taking in the sights of the city.
And the end to another lovely day in Kyoto.
01 Wednesday Jun 2016
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Last weekend we took a trip to Kyoto. This was a six hour bus ride north of Iwakuni organized by the ITT folks on the base. Our first stop was Fushimi Inari Shrine, one of the oldest in Kyoto.
Inari is the Shinto god of rice and foxes are thought to be his messengers. Notice the key in the mouth of the foxes – the key to the rice granary. There are many fox statues found at this shrine. This was a large complex with a lot to see right here.
My favorite place was at the very back of the shrine’s main grounds where you find the entrance to the torii gate covered hiking trail.
This trail consists of over 10,000 torii gates.
Since early Japan, Inari was seen as the patron of business, and merchants and manufacturers have traditionally worshipped Inari. The torii gates along the entire trail are donations by individuals and companies and you will find the donator’s name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each gate.
Along the way we’d come upon a cluster of smaller shrines.
When we got to the pond we headed back. This is such a Japanese scene.
As we neared the main road we came upon these shrines
and one more collection of messenger foxes.
Then it was time for some sweet potato fries (with sugar sprinkled on instead of salt). Lots of street vendors along the way.
Here’s a guy preparing takoyaki (octopus balls)
and this man was making dragonflies and crickets out of bamboo – very delicate.
Check out this architecture. It looks like it’s made of giant popsicle sticks.
Back on the bus to our next stop – Nijo Castle.
We were guided through the complex of buildings but were prohibited from taking photos. But once outside again we had an opportunity to wander through the beautiful Japanese gardens.
On our way out I noticed this tiny plant
next to this little sign. It was particularly interesting as Obama had just been in Hiroshima the day before.
Everywhere reminders of peace on earth.
Life in Japan and Beyond 