My dream would be to create a storage bin that fits in the back of the van on a roller system as when the back door is up there are two small cupboards on the left and right and then a large rectangular opening that is a T shape, but getting anything into the top of the T, behind the cupboards is pretty hard.  So a roller system that would pull out into a large rectangle with a drop down leg so you could pull it out, pack it, push it in, then when you are the camp, pull it out and unpack it, plus then not have to worry about things getting caught in the guides for the seat (that turns into a bed) which is the problem we had before when we had our sleeping bags stored in the top of the T.  If we also had certain things packed into bins (like our camp kitchen) that fit easily into the pull out system it would make packing the van for a camping trip so much easier.  Now to do some measuring and see how it could easily, inexpensively, and strongly manufactured.  If it was easier to do we might actually do it more often as well, at the moment it is a bit of a chore to pack things up for camping.

We probably could have gotten closer to the falls, but we didn’t move that way soon enough and the current from the falls was pushing us too quickly but that is ok, we could still see them, and it was nice and cool in the shade of the trees.  The old, old Brewery is such a great building to study and look at, it definitely needs a lot of work, but you can still see a lot of the architectural details they put into it so long ago, and it would be a fantastic anything, if someone would just do something with it.  We were trying to figure out how one would get there via land because we know there must be a road of some sort, but we couldn’t see one at all, and for us sitting in the kayak it looks like the easiest way to get there is by water.  I didn’t take the camera so no photos this time, but I think we will take that paddle again so next time I will have some photos to share.

I know this all used to be marsh and wetlands and you can still see plenty of that evidence, especially upstream from the lake, but it is too bad that more can’t be done with the lake, if it was like Greenlake in Seattle with a swimming area, more boats, and more activity I think more people would appreciate it. We enjoyed our paddle, and even though the water is really quite disgusting in some parts (like when we had to back up to go around the algae because we were pushing it instead of going through it), it is such a beautiful spot.  In most of the area the trees come right down to the waterline, and the contrast between the green trees, the water (which sometimes looked blue, but in several places was quite green) the Capitol dome rising out of the treeline, and the wildlife was just stunning.  Today we are going to go try our our new single kayak we picked up a few days ago!  Stay tuned.

Seals however were everywhere and very curious!  There were a couple of times they swam under us and would pop up next to us within paddle reach, but every time they did Sydney was looking the other direction, I don’t think she ever saw them.  In retrospect that was probably a good thing because if she tried to jump out to chase them she probably would have capsized us all!  Good thing she doesn’t like water, or she might have a couple of times, but when she would shift and the boat would rock she would just hunker down in the hatch.  She fit pretty well back there, even with her puppy PFD on.  We didn’t get any pictures of her, it was a bit tough because she was behind us, but someone did come out of one of the buildings downtown to take a photo of us!

As always we got lots of compliments on Nesi’ka, she is a beautiful boat, and if our PFDs were just an inch or two longer it would be even more comfortable to paddle without seats.  Can’t wait to get those seats!

So this is the photo I took of the view from the 5th Avenue bridge.  As you can see the water again was smooth and since it was slightly overcast it was a nice and cool day to paddle!

We put in at the public boat ramp at the Nisqually Reach and paddled around the delta for a couple of hours.  Of course there wasn’t anything in the boat as far as gear, but it was watertight at all the seals and just our bums got a bit wet from when we got in and from sitting on the bottom of the boat.  We couldn’t be happier and it was a great day for a paddle.

So if I were to drive my car into the water would it float with the kayak on the roof?  Lets not find out!  Old VWs might float, but I doubt this one does!

We headed out from the little cove the B&B is on in their kayak.  It is a double, plastic open top.  It isn’t what I would want, but it is very serviceable and it did the job.  We headed north from their inn to the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.  It is a gorgeous place full of well, wildlife!  On this particular trip as it was jut at high tide we could go in and around the little fingers, looking at the different birds, keeping an eye on the immature bald eagle that was circling ahead and looking and hoping to spot harbor seals.  We didn’t see any seals on this trip, but we did see a diverse selection of birds.  If you are a bird lover, this is the place to come.  There are lots of trails on land, but I think traveling via water is even better.  We were getting pushed a bit by wind and current, but it was nice just to float around and watch nature at its best.  You can see the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from here too, although it is farther away than it looks.  

After floating around the Delta, we headed south back past the inn, until we came upon a shipwrecked tugboat.  I don’t know any details on it, other than it looks like it may have caught fire at some point as some of the timbers are charred.  It is a lovely boat though, lots of intrigue, it just makes you want to know more about it.  When we circled it there was a Canadian Goose protecting the wreck, as we circled it turned and turned keeping a watchful eye on us. 

We got back to the inn at about noon, so we were probably gone for a little over two hours or so, and my body was already telling me that I haven’t been in a kayak enough!  Those muscles that you only know they are there when you use them are all telling me they are there.  Just as we were getting in the car to head home it started to sprinkle and this afternoon has been a repeat of yesterdays weather, so I am glad we got out onto the water when we did.

We came home and Nathan showed me my birthday gift, it is going to sound silly but it is a light fixture.  I have always wanted a star light, one of those morovian stars I think is what they call them.  Well I had found one a while ago and I kept telling Nathan I wanted one, and he bought one and had our handyman friend Brian install it in the tower of our house, it is very cool!!

So tonight we are going to visit our good friend Franco at Sorrento for a romantic dinner for two, probably accompanied by an Italian serenading us, as he usually does.  If you are ever in Olympia looking for a good place to eat, Sorrento can’t be beat.  The food is amazing, authentically Italian, Franco is from Sorrento via Sicily and he is a character and just adds to the ambiance.  I am looking forward to some good Italian home cooking, even if I am not Italian!

We have a daylight lock on our front door. We also have a guest that loves to talk and doesn’t listen very well. They booked for one night because her husband had a business meeting in town. Check out is at 11am. She asked if she could use the common area for “a while” while her husband was in her meeting. She then tells us at breakfast that the meeting is until 5pm so she will be hanging out at the house until he’s done!

So this is just the start of the dumbness. When we check guests in we give them a set of keys, one for the front door, one for their room. We tell them, the gold key is for the front door, it is always locked, all you have to do is shut it, to get back in you will need the key, and we tell them exactly how to use it. We even show them! They left last night and had no trouble getting back in, of course that was with the brainpower of two so maybe that had something to do with it.

So since we didn’t have anyone checking in today Nathan and I planned on running errands (going to Tacoma, Fife, etc). As we were standing in line at Costco I ask what time it is and Nathan pulls out the cell phone to see that there is a missed call. No message. So we get home, after being gone for the majority of the day to a voicemail message from the guest (that really should have been gone at 11am) that she is locked out, the key doesn’t work and that she is at the development behind us and leaves us a phone number.

We check that she isn’t really here, nope, not here. We call the number she left, we were told we must have the wrong number, so I call the phone number that showed up on the cell phone, which was completely different to the one she left and found her, only to be told that there is a problem with our front door by a builder and that I didn’t know what I was talking about. Apparently they had managed to get in, and undid the daylight lock and then left the door unlocked!

Really they were very nice guests, it is just frustrating to be told that you don’t know what you are talking about when it comes to your own house!

A week a go on CraigsList I found a Chesapeake Light Craft Double for a few hundred bucks. The wners delivered it from Port Townsend in exchange for a nights stay here (good deal!). It needed some touch up vanish on the top deck due to some poor storage. So I refinished it that week. Really it needs stripping down to bare wood and re-epoxying then revanishing. However that would defeat the purpose of purchasing a boat we could use right now!

So we put in at Swantown Marina and paddled around to Percival Landing. Surprisingly we came across a few seals, a few herrons, seaguls galore and the odd boat. It was a fun paddle. We shall explore the area more.

The downside was Sydney wouldnt sit in the storage hatch by herself. After falling in the water she went and sat with Casey in the rear. Not a huge deal but not what we had planned. Unless we work something else out next time she might stay at home.

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3