Red Rock Crab - our first scavenging experience

I purchased my crabbing license last week for $17.  I dropped my husband's collapsible crab pot off the dock on the off chance that I could be successful. 

We caught three red rock crabs (supposedly as tasty as dungeness... I am not sure I would go that far).  After watching numerous videos on YouTube about how to kill/clean crabs we went for it with success.  We choose to pressure cook them to minimize shell fish odor.  

It was a good learning experience and the finished product was decent.  However, when I drop the pot again, I am going to hold off for a nice large dungeness.  The meat of the Red Rock crab was decent but the crab itself is much smaller than dungeness and it was far too much work to get the meat from the shell.  Despite my best effort, there ended up being a lot of shell in the meat.  Lesson learned. 

Ma'alahi Tour -Master Head-

The master head is accessed through a stern facing door in the master stateroom.  There is no teak/wood in the interior (YAY!!).  There is semi-separate area to shower (neither of us has taken a shower aboard as of yet).

Entrance:

Full length mirror installed on inside of head door:

Vanity:

Note: There is a water tight cubby next to sink intended for garbage - this is where my hair dryer, iron, and straightener are stored.  

Interior of vanity:

Bottom of Vanity:

Note - small cubby next to toilet is a water tight place to stow toilet paper.

Solar Ventilation & Garbage:

Soap Dispensers for Showering: 

Note - you can see that there is a heavy duty vinyl shower curtain that extends around the area to keep the door and vanity dry when showering.

Tribal Canoe Journey (TCJ)

Last Friday, 7/22/11, I was walking the kiddos up the dock to change our laundry around before T got home from work.  It was a great surprise to see 10-12 Native American Canoes arrive and tie up on our dock.

 From what I was able to find out - each boat belongs to a tribe/family.  This event was started in 1989 and has continued annually since.  Tribes from hundreds of miles away (US & Canada) all journey to a host tribe for an event where they gather and share in their traditions.

I found the following on the TCJ Website www.paddletoswinomish.org
     "During TCJ, families and friends from afar reunite as the canoes travel to the host tribe. The canoe families paddle for an average of eight hours each day, taking breaks on support boats or beaches as necessary. After a full day of paddling, the canoe families stop overnight at designated tribal locations or specified towns to camp, eat, rest, and share songs and dances during the evening. When the tide is right and the conditions are safest the canoes head out again until finally they reach the host site."

What an amazing trip!

Ma'alahi Tour - Master Stateroom -

The Master Stateroom is located in the bow of the boat.  There are three different floor plans for the Catalina 42' MKII.  We have the two stateroom centerline design meaning that the master birth is centered in the boat with a little bit of room to "walk around" the bed. 

Facing bow:

Facing forward starboard:

Facing stern toward port side:  

Note: hanging locker for storage, door on left leads to living room, door on right goes to master head.

Storage: Hanging locker in bow of boat (behind our pillows)
Note: used for storage of diapers, wipes, and other paper products purchased in bulk. 

 

Chart Storage: (on ceiling)

Clothing Storage:  large drawers under bed

 

Hatch Blinds: (Ocean Air)

 

Dock Culture

I like to joke around with my husband that we are hippies for choosing to liveaboard.  That was - until a few weeks ago we were put in our suburbia raised place.  

Don't get me wrong - our friends from the city think we are CRAZY.  Not just choosing a "different path" - CRAZY.  

We were sharing our almost nightly walk on the docks when I pointed out a couple to my husband, "... is THAT a GOAT?" (thinking that I am pointing out an odd looking dog ... or something)  

Yes - a goat on leash, on the docks.

Apparently, according to locals I have consulted, there is a couple (we have not met them) - that has a miniature milking goat and two laying hens ON.THEIR.BOAT.  Those are some earthy liveaboards - they have us beat.  I would love to get a picture of their set up.

Anyhow - tangent over - 

We were pleasantly surprised, last night, by a bag piper playing on the bow of a boat moored down the dock from us.  I was able to get a short video of him playing:

We love meeting cruisers that are passing through.  The cruising community is so welcoming and accepting and you get to experience unique and unexpected moments like this right from your home. 

Hello

My name is Andrea.

Our family moved aboard our newly purchased 42' sailboat a week after our son was born.

The boat - "Ma'alahi" ("simple" or "simplicity" in Hawaiian) is moored 90 miles north of Seattle, WA on an island near the Canadian border.

My husband, T, works for a marine service company and I am lucky enough to be able to stay "at boat" with our two kids -M (2 months) and K (17 months) - and 70lb Lab "Buddy".  

We DO have dreams and distant plans for major cruising.  For now, however, I would like to share our live aboard journey with you:

• How and why we moved aboard and what we have gained (and lost) from it.  
• What tricks, resources, and products we have found to make living aboard with young children possible (and safe).
• Boating trips that we hope to make in the future (when the kids stop totally overwhelming us!).  
• Other experiences that we have been able to have as a result of NOT being tied down to land (and a mortgage). 

I am new to blogging.  I do not claim to be an accomplished or entertaining writer.  I hope to find my voice on this blog and become a pleasant resource to families who are considering taking the leap into a "simple" lifestyle.