How to get to coastal North Carolina

After a very fun birthday layover in Seattle, it was time to continue eastward to pay a visit to the Wind-Lass in coastal North Carolina.



So, how exactly does one get to North Carolina's Outer Banks?

Thoughts: What writing this blog means to me

Before starting A&D, I found myself yearning to write regularly for some time. I've always been a writer and a reader and faithfully kept a diary from the time was about eleven years old when I received my first blank journal as a birthday gift from my thoughtful step-mom, Bonnie.

In happy times, in difficult times, whatever little notebook I had at the time served as something akin to a friend, a page that would absorb my tears or overflowing joy (usually about a boy ;). Those pages lacked the judgement of others and offered quiet moments of reflection. In large part because of my diary habit- and because of reading, I learned to love writing.

   

                                                      Covers of an old diary

Somehow, in my mid-twenties I found myself at a loss for what I wanted to write about. I'd gotten to a point where writing a diary didn't make as much sense as it used to, especially when there were plenty of other things to do.

Instead, I decided to write about something I'm continually, even ridiculously, excited about: travel. There are so many awesome travel bloggers out there that just getting started was intimidating. So I have to continually remind myself that I'm not here to win a race, but to enjoy the journey. And as much as travel is the main focus, this blog will never just be about travel tips, product copy-writing, or even travelogues. This spot is about a journey, the trip of life, and whatever inspires along the way.

Sunset over Juneau's Gastineau Channel

A surprising aspect of blogging is that I find myself increasingly aware of, and thankful for, what life has blessed me with.

Perhaps that's also part of getting older. Lately, I've begun to like the skin I'm in a bit more than I used to- even if it is a little more wrinkly these days. Oh well, the laugh lines mean you've really lived, right? I'll bet Keith Richards tells himself that, too. ;)

The story of the Raa Wee Yin, an Alaskan skiff

This is our boat in Alaska, the Raa Wee Yin, which we've been told translates roughly to "little mighty one".

Shortly after we acquired the Raa Wee Yin in 2009 and before her new paint job.

And over the course of the past four years that Scotty and I have owned her, the Raa Wee (we leave off the Yin for short) has proven her moniker many, many times.

She's also around two decades old and made of wood.

Raa Wee Yin is a 20-foot Tolman skiff, designed by Renn Tolman of Homer, Alaska. We've also been told she is the number one hull (first built) of that design. These skiffs have a devoted following of folks who enjoy their classic lines designed with stability and fuel economy in mind.

There are plenty of reasons these boats have become popular (if not populous) in our area. You can learn more about Tolman skiffs here and view the specifications for different types (our is a standard shown in the #3 photo).

But before she was ours we almost lost her for good.

In 2009, we began borrowing the Raa Wee from a friend who brought the skiff on a trailer all the way to Juneau from where it was made in Homer. After over a year of letting Scotty use it on a regular basis, the friend bought another boat and offered to sell her to us. Scotty called me and we discussed it, but at the time we didn't have much extra money and he reluctantly said no. Within days, another family purchased the Raa Wee. And our days of using her were over. (We were very sad.)



But then a miracle happened. The family decided they didn't want the upkeep of a boat that wasn't practical for their needs with several young kids and winter crossings to a nearby island.



At our friend's suggestion, they asked Scotty if he was interested. And after a few months of going without "our" skiff, we didn't even need to think about it!

Since then, the Raa Wee has taken us on many trips to nearby islands for camping in the summer, helped us successfully fish for salmon and halibut, and on rides to watch whales with family and friends.

The weather in Juneau is such that while rain and overcast skies are frequent, any time of year can bring beautiful, clear days with blue skies and sunshine. 

Sometimes we have no choice but to give the Raa Wee a rest...

But when the seas cooperate with the skies, we make it a priority to get out on the water. 

Even if it's really cold!

A few years ago, our good friends Tony and Jeff helped Scotty completely re-paint and patch up a few spots on the bottom needing fiberglass work. For weeks, they worked late hours after their regular jobs to get it done, cheerfully joking, a case of beer and music to make the tough work easier. It was a major project that we couldn't have done without all of their help.



There's something about boating that really brings people together. Growing up in Minnesota, the only boats I knew of graced the pages of fancy yachting magazines and seemed to belong only to wealthy people who boated on Lake Minnetonka (i.e. not us). And until I moved to Alaska, I never knew that having access to the water on a small, sturdy vessel could affect my life in such a positive way.

I am so thankful for this little boat.

And for her captain too, of course. :)

A birthday layover in Seattle

After a very scenic flight from Juneau, we landed in Seattle. The plan was to stay there for the full next day and continue to the East Coast first thing Saturday morning. As usual, we assessed hotel options on Hotwire, compared rates, and then decided to book directly with my favorite Seattle airport hotel the Hilton SeaTac. It's a nice, comfortable, convenient place to stay, but earns top rank in my book for two important reasons...

See Reason #1: The pool

And Reason 2: the hot tub

The main pool is huge and in the growing handful of times we've stayed here, I've never seen it crowded even though it's heated year-round. In fact, these photos were actually taken on our way back from the ICW trip at the end of March and I happily swam in it for nearly an hour. Also, the grounds and landscaping at the Hilton are beautifully done with flowers and a variety of plants. Sure, the SeaTac Hilton is also a conference center, but for me, staying there feels like a treat because I can swim- outside, in a lovely pool- to my heart's content.

Anyway... back to original programming.

Once checked in, it was already after midnight so I sent our good friends Annie and John a text to let them know we'd arrived in their city and then called it a night.

The next day, Scotty and I had breakfast in the hotel and then hopped the Seattle Central Link light rail from SeaTac to the last stop on the line at the center of downtown, Westlake Station. We purchased an unlimited Day Pass, which costs $5.50 or twice the cost of a one-way pass. Since we planned to come back to the hotel in the afternoon to swim and then go out again downtown later that night, this option made the most sense. More information about stops and travel times can be found here.

From SeaTac to Westlake Station, the ride takes about 40 minutes and includes 11 stops. We take the light rail about the half the time we stop in Seattle (the other half of the time we are either renting a car or being picked up by friends). I've found it to be a pretty relaxing and inexpensive way to get downtown. Here's a photographic tour of the ride (excuse the window reflections).

Leaving the SeaTac Station

Seattle highways

Downtown Seattle from a distance

And closer up

Upon arrival at Westlake Station (from Nordstrom's sky bridge)

Scotty and I walked around downtown for a while, grabbing some Starbucks (when in Rome, er Seattle) and checking out one of the famous Duck Tours vehicles.

And later, we got hungry for lunch, so naturally we stopped for tacos at the Blue Water Taco Grill. We each got a fish taco plate with beans and rice, and in Scotty's words, "It's actually better than I thought it would be." He was right. I have a good man, that one, to put up with my Mexican food obsession. 

After lunch, we met up with Annie and John and, because we had dinner plans downtown later, made a beeline back to the hotel pool to enjoy the unusually sunny Seattle weather. We were too busy talking and sunning ourselves to take any pictures, but this one one the light rail sky bridge pretty much captures the mood. We love hanging out with them!

                 

Me and the big A

Annie is my oldest friend, all the way back from third grade when we went to Waldorf School together in Minnesota.  Even though sixth grade was our last year in school together, we've managed to stay close through multi-state moves and over twenty years. Just typing that makes me feel old... sheesh.

She's a keeper, this girl.

And this is pretty much how I end up when we're all hanging out...

Scotty had made dinner reservations at Shuckers, a seafood restaurant in the Seattle Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Incidentally, the four of us went there last year on my birthday and for special occasions Shuckers has become a fun tradition. With its full bar, fresh-shucked oysters, and twenties decor, dining there almost feels like stepping back in time.

My dinner: bleu cheese salad and two types of oysters rockefeller

Scotty's tuna tartare, whipped potatoes, and asparagus

Scotty, Me, Annie, John

Thank you, my dear friends, for an awesome day and for celebrating another trip around the sun with me. :)

A bird's eye view of Southeast Alaska

When we took off last to visit out sailboat in North Carolina, this is what our flight out of Juneau looked like. It was May 23rd, and Juneau-ites were enjoying some exceptionally warm and sunny weather. That day the high temp reached a pleasant 63 degrees Fahrenheit.

Scotty and I had both worked all day and by the time we took the 8 p.m. flight to Seattle we were wiped... but happy to be taking a mini-vacation!

 Yes, it really was 8 p.m. when we took off. See how light is still was outside?!

Float planes docked in the nearby tidal lake can take people to small communities and on private charters.

Lemon Creek runs out to the ocean

The Lemon Creek area is between downtown Juneau and the Valley. It's also where the town dump is located. We joke about how tall the garbage pile is growing, but it really is- you can see the mound from the air.

Below is the Twin Lakes area just south of Lemon Creek.

Especially from the air, it's evident how closely many people in Juneau live to both mountains and sea.

 Part of downtown Juneau with Mt. Juneau on the left and Mt. Roberts on the right

 Nothing but mountains and ice fields as far as the eye can see

A nonstop flight from Juneau to Seattle takes two and half hours. For me, it's the perfect amount of time to enjoy some reading, take some photos, and chat with my seatmate (a.k.a. Captain Scotty). And you can't beat the view, as least when the weather cooperates!