We arrived in LaConner, WA on March 13 to see our new boat for the first time. She is scheduled to be launched at the end of the month. This time frame gives us great opportunity to see the final build process on the boat, and also to explore the the Pacific Northwest, which we have never visited before. Continue reading The Waiting Game
Meet The Tug
The new ESMERALDE. We met her in person for the first time today at her birthplace in LaConner, WA. A very exciting, long-anticipated day. We probably look totally goofy and giddy in some of these pictures, but the reality is that we felt a little but that way as we explored our new baby.
We also met some of the great folks at American Tug/Tomco Marine who are building her: Kurt Dilworth, who has been our ever-patient and wise counselor throughout the process, Cheryl Stinson, Mike Schoppert, and a bunch of the men and women on the factory’s floor and in the purchasing and supply offices — all great people who have done excellent work as our oat has come together over the last seven months. Continue reading Meet The Tug
Astoria to Portland, Oregon
We left our campground outside of Astoria in the rain (again) and drove to 3 Cups Coffee for a snack: more great coffee, and the best savory sausage tomato scone you could imagine! Debated a trip over the Astoria-Megler Bridge to see Ilwaco on the WA side of the Columbia River and to visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at North Head, but the rain depressed our adventurous instincts so we pointed the bow towards our next destination, Portland OR, about a two hour drive along the Columbia River. This route also put us on I-5 for a short distance, which was a little bit disappointing since we had so far driven the entire length of the Pacific Coast from Santa Monica to Astoria without ever getting on I-5. At least we were using it only to backtrack to the south. We could have taken the mountain road (Route 26), but we were a little bit done with mountain roads in the pouring rain. Continue reading Astoria to Portland, Oregon
![Astoria, Oregon, With [almost] No Rain](https://esmeralde.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/8bd983c3-cc33-4f7f-ae3a-dd4087afc7e2.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
Astoria, Oregon, With [almost] No Rain
We woke up this morning in the Bambi to a torrential rain squall. I though, “Oh no, here we go again.” And it did continue to sputter and spurt for awhile, but eventually, after coffee, breakfast, a morning dog walk around the campground and the daily clean-up, it basically stopped soaking us. Continue reading Astoria, Oregon, With [almost] No Rain
Roads, Rain and Redwooods
We started the day at a KOA Campground in Manchester, south of Mendocino. This is a spectacular part of the Pacific Coast Highway. Small funky villages, long expanses of incredible natural beauty, and little to no commercial degradation. Nothing fancy, either. Simple life stuff. Continue reading Roads, Rain and Redwooods
The Entire Herd…
…followed us up the road.
I’m not sure who was more fascinated with whom: the dogs with the cows, or the cows with the dogs, but the curiosity was delightful. Continue reading The Entire Herd…
The PCH: Best of the Trip (So Far)
After a really fun six-day stay in Napa, playing with friends, eating exceptionally well and–of course–drinking rather too much wine, it was time to hit the road again.
We left our pleasant little campground at Skyline Wilderness Park east of Napa and headed west through the rolling hills towards the coast on routes 12 and 116 until we ran into Route 1 and and the Pacific Ocean. Continue reading The PCH: Best of the Trip (So Far)
