Fireworks and Last Goodbyes

48° 23' 19.3704'' N122° 29' 46.59'' W

"It's out there at sea that you are really yourself."

-Vito Dumas

The Northern Star in La Conner, Washington

At last, the Skipper is typing this from her bunk on the Northern Star. Five minutes ago, I was watching a Great Blue Heron fish and walking the dock nearly for the last time. Because tomorrow, we leave La Conner Marina and never look back.

Months after our first sailing lesson in Utah, the moment has nearly come. We’ll pass under the Bridge of Heart-stopping Terror again. Mom has since found out that we probably only cleared it by 7 or 8 feet (I was sure fifteen was generous back then!). If there was a member of the BYU basketball team up there, he’d have hit the freeway. Shudder.

Skipper Krystal and First Mate Kris (mom)

Oh! I just saw fireworks outside my porthole window! Back in a sec…

Back. So apparently, La Conner sets off fireworks for no apparent reason—except us leaving tomorrow. Yes, I’m sure that’s it. Mom/First Mate and I sat on the stern and watched them burst into color over the pine trees.

The fireworks rather describes the night tonight. Magical, unexpected and a little bit chaotic.

It’s always a little chaotic when you introduce a new crew member to the boat after. Alyssa! Huzzah! The last of the crew that hadn’t met the Star! She said it felt roomier—and homier—yet shorter—and wider—all at once. But she loved it. “It doesn’t feel like we’re on something new. It’s like it’s just another home.” (I paraphrase slightly).

The Heron preening itself.

She and I walked the dock tonight while the Captain and First Mate were making some last preparations. We passed boats named Knot Irish, Orion’s Lady and Seafarer. The covered dock’s huge timbers creaked as we stepped, halting to take pictures of shadows on the water and crab pots. Just as we headed back to the Star, a Great Blue Heron swooped in, and instantly had an elated and faithful audience in us.

Turns out, herons look incredibly gangly and move with flawless grace. Our friend the heron stalked along the dock without making a sound, and seemed to have the patience of a saint, turning its head fractionally this way and that—and finally darting into the water, and coming up with a squirming flash of silver. The minnow was down his gullet in no time, with hardly a splash to show the fish’s demise. (Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UmxARZAqqg)

If the heron had the grace of a lady, it also had the manners of. After the meal, it daintily cleaned its beak in the water, and preened the long feathers on its chest, revealing deeper blue among the gray.

It was pretty well dark by then, and Alyssa’s arms were about to fall off from holding the heavy camera up for ten minutes straight, so we headed back to our floating home.

Another firework. :D

Skipper Krystal and Stewardess & Deckhand

Sunset in La Conner

Boom! Boom! La Conner hasn’t given up exploding things, but I probably have to give up typing things. I will clarify one thing. Though this is our last night in La Conner, we won’t totally head North tomorrow—only a hop in the right direction over to Anacortes—two hours closer to our goal. We pick up Captain Mark, and the on Thursday we will put in our first day of 10 hours sailing—hopefully crossing into Canada in the process. Nainamo is where we will go through customs—and hopefully they won’t throw out all our goodies.

We’re nearly there! I can smell Alaska now—or maybe that’s just the smell of low tide. But I will tell you this, the ocean here doesn’t smell the same. Not as fresh. Not as wild.

Or maybe I’m already imagining things.

Skipper Krystal

P.S. Alyssa and I will put up videos tomorrow. :)

Hey guys! This is Alyssa just wanted to say what a blast today was! This was my first time seeing Seattle and then going to La Conner. It was so beautiful and I am grateful I can come on this trip.

Seattle, Washington

          

     

        

The V Berth with Skipper Jack