This week, I had the pleasure of joining the crew of the Beagle Spirit as we left Elliott Bay for good and headed to the San Juan Islands. As the Seattle skyline faded into the distance, it felt as if the journey—and the nomadic lifestyle—had finally truly begun.
Our first night at anchor was at Port Ludlow, which had a very cool totem pole and great scenery (a recurring theme of this trip). The next morning we managed to break our anchor winch as we were raising the anchor, meaning we had to stay in a marina in Rosario.
Fortunately, once we made it to Roche Harbor we were able to find a marine shop with the parts that needed replacing. We also met up with our old friends Brian and Meghan Rader, who themselves have been sailing for years and had lots of stories and wisdom for us about living aboard a sailboat.
After saying goodbye to Brian and Meghan, and restocking on supplies, we headed for the border. We checked into Canada—no mean feat thanks to some rather difficult customs officers—and spent the night in Bedwell Harbor on South Pender Island. This was probably the most scenic anchorage we’ve been to so far. The next morning we took the dinghy ashore to hike up to the top of Mt. Norman, and took in a breathtaking view. After recovering from our hike we departed Bedwell Harbor and over the past two days have continued exploring the Canadian Gulf Islands, stopping in Burgoyne and Maple Bay.
Since leaving Elliott Bay, we’ve started to establish something of a routine each day: Head to an anchorage, get settled, explore the area, spend the night, raise anchor the next morning, and set sail for the next stop. It’s really incredible to think that this will be the life for my parents for the foreseeable future. As with any change it comes with its own set of challenges but it really seems like they’re finally living the dream that they’ve been talking about for years now, and I couldn’t be happier for them.
I’ve got one more week aboard the Beagle Spriti before I head back to life in Pittsburgh while Mom and Dad continue their fun (this used to be the other way around… what happened!!). It’s been amazing to see the adventure officially begin, and to get a taste for the trials that come with living at sea. I’m so happy for my parents to see them embark on their new life. If this first week is any indication they’re in for one great retirement!
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