I have been thinking about how things change with boating. Bill and I started out kayaking, Bill in ’93 and me in ’95. We were amazed by what we could see in both the US and Canadian San Juans. We had many memorable adventures with family, old friends and new friends we met along the way. When long kayak trips became more difficult, we spent a year or more dreaming of a recreational boat that would get us out on the water for more adventures. Then a friend told us about the boat we later called “Sea Bee.”
Although it was in Florida at the time, we agreed it was the perfect boat for us, so we bought it and shipped the boat from Florida to Point Hudson. We took the mighty Sea Bee out for more adventures over the past 9 years and joined PTYC to learn as much as we could from far more experienced boaters.
Despite some pretty wild rides, in seas we probably should not have been in, and the loss of the “Mini Bee” dingy last year, overall, we have had a great time. We have thoroughly enjoyed the company of our PTYC friends as we continued to explore the South Sound, our local waters, the San Juans, Gulf Islands, Princess Louisa Inlet and Desolation Sound. Many of those destinations would have been difficult to reach with a kayak.
After the rough weather we encountered trying to get to Desolation Sound a second time, we talked about getting out of boating. It was a hard conversation to have. We both knew how much we would miss if we made that decision, and we were just not ready to accept that outcome.
Instead, we pushed that decision down the road because we are reluctant to miss all that boating offers. We bought a new boat with ease of access and safety in mind. No more tiptoeing on the rails to put out fenders in bad weather! We hope a new boat will keep us on the water longer than we could manage on Sea Bee and provide us with many adventures to come. No doubt we’ll miss our first boat. The boat that got us hooked on recreational boating in the first place. We are signing the closing documents for the sale as I write this, then Sea Bee will be heading to Monterey Bay. Farewell Sea Bee, we wish you fair seas and many more adventures in your new home.
We look forward to seeing you at Port Hadlock for Open Boat on April 28th; the Past Commodore’s Dinner on May 3rd; then Opening Day celebration at Port Ludlow on May 4th and 5th. See our website and the calendar for more details.
Then our cruising season begins! I hope you plan to join us for part of your summer adventures on one or more of the wonderful cruises planned for this season.
Enjoy!
Commodore Eileen
There is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame