Obstacles to Departure

Day One: We're  in a slight state of shock that we’ve managed to pull it together and get ourselves here.  It’s always a push, never seems to get easier – and by all rational measures – is clearly insane, the lengths involved in getting Heron ready for yet another summer cruising season.  Nonetheless, once the exhaustion wears off and we wake up to the realization that we not only get to be out on the water again in this spectacular part of the world but settling into “Heron Time,” there’s no question.  It’s worth it!  

All the last-minute stresses faded away as we motored through the San Juan Islands  admiring Heron’s Winter 2015 Improvement Projects:

~Finally after years of shower-rationing, a Spectra 340Z Water Maker! (More later on how this wondrous device works through reverse-osmosis to turn saltwater into drinking water and most amazing, long hot showers!)

~We pitched our quirky old British SMEV stove/oven for a sleek Force 10 (which doesn’t require a fire-stick to start, has an oven which actually works).

~Replaced original windlass with a new Lewmar Windlass.

~Dissembled and serviced the six Main Winches.  

~Rebuilt Start Motor.

~Upgraded to a 9.5’ aluminum-bottom AB Dinghy with an 8H Yamaha outboard (from a dinky inflatable Zodiac with a 5H Honda), thanks to the Captain’s Best Friends on his 60^th Birthday.
 

~Switched out Main Salon lights to LED (Jury still out on these... too bright)

~Replaced old plastic lifelines with stainless.

~Upgraded GARMIN AIS transmitter.

~Installed emergency EPIRB beacon. (Hope we don't need this, ever.)

All paled in comparison, however, to One Day's Wild Things Count:  one orca, three dolphins, one juvenile raccoon, one Bald eagle, one pigeon guillemot, and small flock of marbled murrelets, diving.

Our favorite Marbled Murrelet