This is the way to cruise - get up, walk up to the inn for breakfast, get underway for a leisurely 23-mile cruise, pick up a local pilot, and be treated like long-lost family by very kind people (the pilot's family).
But first, we have a raid to report. While preparing the boat to get underway, a noise was heard on a nearby open boat which was assumed to be the owner getting ready for a fishing trip. Lids of various compartments and containers could be heard opening and slamming shut. Upon finally glancing up to see what was going on, the pictured escape artist otters (four) were seen slipping out of the boat the way they had probably come aboard.
As we appraoched the inlet to the EXTENSIVE canal system of which Chris and Gail Wilkinson's backyard is a part, we were directed by Chris to a pier adjacent to the boat ramp just inside the entrance where he boarded us for the 50-minute ride toward their home around the perimeter of their massive development. As we were on the flying bridge away from the computer below, I prayed that the plotting software was faithfully laying down a "bread crumb" track in our wake so we would be able to find our way out tomorrow when Chris would not be available to pilot us out.
We were kindly given permission to settle into the vacant pier behind the home of their neighbors Seth and Roxanne who were very gracious to us vagabonds of the sea. This pier was a bit more suitable for us than Chris's pier.
We met Gail and daughter Serrin and her charming 17-month old son Eric upon landing and then spent the rest of the day and into the evening in the pleasant company of this group of ex-Seattle-ites. We were treated to lunch out at a large and busy waterfront establishment and a fine steak and chicken diiner with homemade brownies and ice cream later on.
Mary learned from the ladies how to make organic homemade yogurt, and we were also treated to homemade pumpkin bread.
Things just keep getting better, and I don't wanna go home! Thanks Chris, Gail, Serrin and Eric for such a great day and for extending your friendship to strangers.
Tomorrow, I will lower the mast before we depart to get us ready to run under any of the numerous bridges north of here that are under 16.5 feet without having to wait for them to open.
