Sundown Sailing Adventures

We made it to Bellingham and are beginning to get the lay of the land…and soon the sea. Exciting times!

Until the boat arrives at the boatyard tomorrow morning (Monday, Sept. 14), we thought it wise to spend a bit of time driving around to get our bearings. We began the day with a trip up to Blaine, WA, right on the border of Canada, eh. We’ve been told that if we secure a slip in the harbor there, the lease will easily transfer to the Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham where slips are supposedly scarce. After touring Blaine (partly on bike!), we headed back south to Bellingham to more thoroughly check out the town. I’ve decided that Blaine is much like Two Harbors, Minnesota. There’s a water front main street, but it seems a bit quiet–perhaps because today is Sunday. On the other hand, Bellingham is kind of like Duluth, Minnesota, complete with a state university and many happening spots.

One of those is the LFS Marine & Outdoor store where we’ll probably buy much of the items we still need, like a Coast Guard kit, new life vests, new life lines (the “fence” that wraps around the outside of the boat), a dinghy and outboard motor, a new tricolor mast light, air horn, ship’s bell…and on and on the list goes, where it stops no one knows!

About 30 minutes into gathering information and prices, I got a little “hangry, so asked the clerk to recommend her favorite local restaurant. She said there are a lot from which to choose, but said the Old Town Cafe is at the top of her list. When she said they serve locally sourced, organic food, we were on our way and weren’t disappointed. If you’re familiar with Fort Collins fare, it’s a combo of The Rainbow, Tasty Harmony and Avo’s, but exceeds them all. We’ll go back for sure.

And if we eat there or a number of other local restaurants or buy food at
local grocers at least eight times during the month of September, we’ll be entered to win one of several special prize packages. It’s part of an “Eat Local” incentive program. We want to begin supporting our new community–and eat good–so we’re in! Wow, are we in.

This still seems very surreal and I feel a bit displaced, which is to be expected I suppose when one uproots and prepares to live on a boat. I’m still asking, “Who does that?!?” The answer that echoes back? “You do!” Wow!