After getting to Sitka we had some spare time, well really just a chance for Mom and Dad to kick us off the boat in a kind way to get some work done. So we got to spend a lot of time with our grandparents. To our pleasure.
Blog Update fom the Dogbarkers: Autopilot Pranks
Wilma and Wilbert are the hydraulic autopilots who steer the boat so we don’t have to. And they are acting funky, like they don’t appreciate all the sail changes and configurations.
The Early Expedition
“Uggghhh! I don’t want to get up,” moaned my sister, or maybe it was me. The plan of the day was to wake up at five and drive four hours round-trip to Tow Hill hike and the semi-famous blow-hole hike.
An Amazing Adventure in Haida Gwaii
Dogbark has reached Haida Gwaii, a place with huge forests, intriguing wildlife, and lots of Haida culture and history. After a couple stops at Haida Heritage sites complete with totem poles and hot springs, we headed to a beautiful anchorage called Crescent Inlet where we decided to go on a bushwhack!
Week 1 in Photos
This gives you a visual sense of our first week cruising. For a beautiful description in words, check out Becca’s blog post at halcyonwandering.com.
Quick update from the top of Vancouver Island
We are jumping off to Haida Gwaii today. We will be out of service for a bit, so I wanted to share a few photos from the trip so far…
A day with Hula Girl
Well it’s not just Dogbark sailing the Inside Passage. We also have another boat with us, Hula Girl. Someone had the idea for me and Talia to ride on Hula Girl for a day. So we did, and this is what we did!
Islands and Sunshine and Dolphins, Oh My!
We’ve finally set sail, and headed off into the beautiful San Juan Islands and Inside Passage (Not to be confused with the Northwest Passage). Many people have asked “What’s it like?”, or “Where are you?”. Currently, I am on a big sailboat steaming towards the not-so-big town of Port Hardy, on the east side of Vancouver Island.
The Emotional Lowdown
On yesterday morning’s regular bike ride, Savai got teary. “This is the last time we’ll ever do this,” she said.
Roald Amundsen
This is a report Savai did in 4th grade before we plucked her out of school a little early to set sail.
How to use a Chop Saw
I learned how to use a chop saw and by the end of the day, I was a CHOP SAW MASTER! I decided to make a video so that you can become a CHOP SAW MASTER, too!
Cruising Dogbark
So far this blog has been a litany of haul-outs and paint jobs, power washing and chop saw work. But we actually love sailing more than boat work…
Hauled out in P.T.
We hauled Dogbark out of the water last month. She’s now hidden away under two (2!) sheds in the Boat Haven boatyard in Port Townsend. Here are some photos of the haul-out. We lucked out on weather that day!
Are critters also sailing through the Northwest Passage?
GUEST POST BY BECCA–The Northwest Passage is there because the ice is not. So how is this new waterway affecting the lives of critters that were previously turned back by ice?
Introducing our crew: Becca and John
When Graeme and I sailed across the Pacific, we were pretty much solo. For this adventure, however, we want all the help we can get. Enter our illustrious crew: Becca and John Guillote.
Passage Pasta (One of Our Current Dreams)
Once upon a time there was a dad. He had already decided that he and his family were going to move on to a boat. So, he had another idea. He and his two amazing daughters were going to start a pasta company…
Muskoxen are freezing and the Arctic is warm…
If a headline says climate change is causing Muskox to be “entombed in ice” then what does that mean for us?
Boatwork from a Kid’s Perspective
Well there’s fun boatwork, and not so fun boatwork. I like the blogging part of boatwork, but not so much the cleaning out the bilge part… So here are some tips to make boatwork more enjoyable.
Re-configuring My Cabin
My so-called cabin was tiny. Now it’s bigger but still tiny… I thought I could stand up properly but, it’s more of walking trying to touch your toes.
Splash Day!
Dogbark has been on the hard in Anacortes for many years. Now she’s back in the water! Savai and our godson Jake came to watch the show.
Boatwork in the Anacortes Yard
Dogbark had been sitting for several years and needed some love. She had grown a cozy green sweater of mildew on her decks. Exhibit A: Before power-washing. Exhibit B: After power-washing.
Talia’s Northwest Passage and Europe Bucket List
Well, I’m just gonna go ahead and say that so far I have definitely not been the person in my family who is most excited about this trip. But, there are some things that I am really looking forward to. Here is a list…
Why Cruising with Kids? Why the NW Passage? Why Dogbark?
Ever since sailing across the Pacific on our honeymoon, Graeme and I have dreamed of cruising with kids…
Dogbark’s Route (Talia’s Extremely Rough Draft)
It is hard to tell you anything about our route because it is designed to be extremely flexible. But here is a list of our (possible) major stops, and the distance between each one.
What is an Open 60 and Why do we Want One?
Open 60s are a class of sailboats that were designed to sail singlehanded around the world. They are tough, fast, and relatively easy to sail for a boat that is 60′ long…