Day 81 Last post for a while.

This will be the last post for a few days.  We will be leaving Newport early tomorrow morning.  The plan is for us to be under way by 5am.  The winds are much lighter that time of day so we will be off.  We want to get far off shore by the time the winds start to kick up.  We figure on 30 miles out.  We will be influenced less by on shore winds by being out that distance.

We've spent the day working thru Zephyr cleaning and battening down as much as possible.  I ran "jack lines" down the side of the deck.  It's a long yellow strap that goes from the bow to the stern fastened to the boat along the way.   You fasten safety straps to these as you move around on deck.  This way, if you loose your balance, you won't fall overboard.  At least in theory.  

All the cabinets are fastened down.  We installed straps on the front bunks so that things that have been stowed on them won't go flying.  Tracy installed a "lee cloth" to the bottom bunk.  This is a cloth that goes under the mattress and comes up the outside of the bunk and fastens to the bottom of the top bunk. Since it blocks your way out of the bunk, it keeps you in it when the boat heels.  You don't go flying out and onto the floor.

The galley is officially closed.  There is no more cooking till we finish the trip.  Tracy has made several dished that can simply be reheated in the microwave while underway.  After we get more miles under our belts, the galley will get more use while traveling.  Until we get that experience, the galley is closed while we are underway.

We figure the trip North will take about two days if we go straight thru.  That will get us to the Straits of Juan De Fuca where we will spend a few days at Neah Bay to rest and recover from the trip up the coast.  Neah Bay is just a few miles inside of the straits.  We stopped there on the way South so we know the layout.  We will see how we feel.  Two days of pounding into rough seas will take it out of you.  Port Townsend is another day up the Strait.

Tracy gave the kids medication so they will travel better.  Shadow hid his under his tongue till Tracy turned her back and then spit it out.  Bad Kitty!!!  He got another one so now he is set for travel.  Showshoe is the one that has the worst problem.  We'll see how he does.

Well, that's about it for now.  Look for a post in a few days.  I'm not sure of the internet connection at Neah Bay so we will see.