It has been awhile since the last blog but for good reason: All of our efforts have been in helping to get our new house finished. Our latest prediction is that the house will be finished before the end of June, only 20 months since breaking ground! Even that date is not firm, but we run out of time in our current rental on June 30th, so it is either into the new house or aboard Lion’s Paw until the CO is issued by the City of Bainbridge Island. With these events on the horizon, it was time to take a short break, so we left Eagle Harbor on Lion’s Paw on Memorial Day, heading for the Sound Sound, new territory not explored yet in this region of endless anchorages. We motored south to the channel called the “Narrows” where the Narrows Bridge crosses from the Peninsula to the mainland and Tacoma. We were able to set sail to traverse the Narrows, tacking back and forth in about 10 knots of wind before we finished the journey by entering Wollochet Bay, a popular bay bordered by numerous homes, each with their own docks and many power boats. We were entertained throughout the day watching wakeboarders and families speeding along while we sat amongst them at anchor. Although the day started in overcast and cool temperatures, the sun finally broke through to blue skies and warmer temperatures which made for a very pleasant afternoon and evening in the cockpit as we resumed our season game competition where Debra managed to clean my clock at all fives dominoes.

After a pleasant night of sleep, we awoke again today to overcast skies and cool temperatures. Unfortunately, it lasted most of the day, but we had a nice day motoring to our next anchorage: Jarrell Cove Marine Park. There was a public dock, but it was occupied by several boats, so we picked one of the 14 vacant mooring balls. After a relaxing lunchtime, we launched the dinghy and went ashore for a pleasant walk through the forest and checking out the marina before returning to Lion’s Paw for another round of all fives. Once again, Debra was the victor but only after taking her to a third, tie breaker game. The sun finally showed its face late in the afternoon, so we are hoping for clearer skies tomorrow as we head for Olympia, the capital of Washington. We plan on several more days and harbors before returning to Bainbridge Island and the final push to finish our long awaited new home.