ExTerra Adventures: July 22 through 27th Sequim Bay State Park family sojourn

July 22 through 27^th Sequim Bay State Park family sojourn

The Coreys! July 2020 Sequim Bay State Park

We depart Port Angeles around 2 in the afternoon to catch the flood current. With our headsail out we make our way to Dungeness Spit. The light house is closed this year so we have chosen to go directly to Sequim Bay State Park where our family will gather for 3 nights of camping. We tie up to a park buoy and remember just how much of a pain it is if the buoys don’t work as designed. Aiden is able to dangle over the side far enough to slip the dock line through and back to the cleat.

Pam rewinds the furler to get at the knot on the bottom of the rope wraps. The knot has exited the housing and caused the headsail to not completely furl when we took it down. Not a major issue but it is best to fix such things as you find them.

Launching ET the dinghy

Aiden in his kayak

The next morning it is time to launch ET, our new to us rigid dinghy, a Walker Bay 8 with pontoons. We also inflate the Intex “Challenger” one-person kayak that we have purchased for the boat. Aiden quickly takes to the water and deftly explores the shore line and dock pilings.

Thursday evening our son Jacob, his wife Brittney, and grandkids Emily and Sam join us. We reserved two camp spots months ago and they have just recently opened the campground for overnight use, limit of 5 people per space.

Jacob and Brittney, Emily and Sam

We do simple camp meals and of course, s’mores over the fire. The next day they set up their two kayaks, also Intex inflatables, the two person “Explorer” version. We all launch to the mother ship and ExTerra spends the next few days as a platform for crabbing, kayaking, fishing and relaxing with ‘kids’ and grand kids, vacation as it should be! At one point we have ten people and 2 dogs aboard for a variety of escapades.

Approaching the Mother Ship

Our son Zach, granddaughter Sophie, and Carl’s brother Jim arrive the next afternoon. Aiden jumps on his kayak and rows ashore to greet his Dad and Sister, explaining to us that he is actually just excited to see his two dogs Lily and Murphy. I’m not convinced of that. Sophie commandeers Aiden’s kayak to paddle out and say hi. Carl ferries folks back to the dock so we can head up for dinner and our boat overnights with 3 kayaks tied up to it.

Zach, Sophie and Aiden with Murph

Sophie a kayakin

With their camps set up we gather around the cook table and Jacob uses our gigantic skillet from Dawson’s Landing, (courtesy of our friend Walt a few years ago) to churn out a bunch of nice tasing, sautéed chicken, marinated in Brittney’s “secret” marinade, the secret being she is not sure what all is in it this time but it sure is good! More s’mores and then the three of us venture back to the boat in the lingering twilight.

Lily and Murphy enjoying the cockpit

Jim also has an inflatable kayak so we are now 4 kayaks, a trusty dinghy, a mothership, 4 grands, six adults, two dogs and a partridge in a pear tree! We ALL end up on ExTerra for more of the same throughout the day.

Sam the fishin fool

Emily pulls to pot while Sam looks on with Papa

Sam somewhere in all of this catches a crab and a dogfish on his small pole and is over the moon excited about that. Emily and Sam help Papa retrieve and reset the crab pot. Sophie and Aiden kayak some and then relax onboard. Zach ferries first Murphy in the dinghy and then comes back for Lily and me. Murphy does just fine on his first boating adventure. Lily is old hat at this and decides to lay down and relax in the dinghy and on the boat. Jacob and Brittney comment that this is how they see themselves enjoying retirement but, in an RV, instead of a boat.

Van full headed to the Game Farm

Most everyone paddles ashore around 2 to get ready to head out to the Olympic Peninsula Game farm, leaving Carl and Jim to enjoy some peace and quiet and an afternoon nap. Zach and the dogs stay in camp to most likely do the same while 7 of us pile into the van for our trip through the Game Farm.

With squeals of delight or disgust depending on what the animals are doing we mosey through, one of about 600 cars to go through that day. In reality, a decent “covid” era activity to get the family out of the house for a few hours, safe in the confines of your own vehicle. The yaks and bison slurp the windows as we pass, sometimes taking an offered piece of bread. One bison tries to bite the rear-view mirror. There is a good variety of animals to see and a good time is had by all.

Breakfast for happy campers

Back at camp the handy skillet again turns out a variety of nicely cooked meat, Jacob’s pork chops and Zach’s steaks. We all share and some also enjoy hotdogs over the fire. We of course round out the evening with s’mores. This evening as we dinghy back to the boat, we see clear skies and stars, find the big dipper but alas the Neowise comet still eludes us.

Breakfast is bacon and 18 eggs, scrambled in the big skillet and enjoyed by all. We then break camp so all can head home. What an awesome time this has been. Five-year-old Sam summed it up nicely. “With all of us here together it feels like we don’t have the virus anymore.” Out of the mouths of babes…Godspeed and safe travels to you all.