All we’ve seen on TV for 2 days is the snow storm.  Here is what the biggest storm in 3 years looks like for our boat:

the stairs to our boat

I can’t stop this feeling…………………

Patty on Oogachaka

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These are for those people who complain that I don’t have enough photos in my blog.

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TJ sure likes Aurelia

Thomas was here too

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Seattle Underground Tour

Aurelia showing Uncle Alan a few things

Thanksgiving in Coeur d'Alene

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Patty and I set off to run some errands last Saturday afternoon but I had a pain in my left lower back that hit me each step I took.  I did not hurt sitting in the car  –  only when I walked.  We got our errands out of the way and decided to look for a Doc in the Box to check me out.  The first one was closed (at noon on Saturday) and the second one could get me in next Tuesday (since I was not already a patient).  I asked them what facilities / capabilities they had and learned that if I needed X-RAYS I would have to go back to the same hospital in Seattle that I went to on December 18.

We decided to go back there ourselves so we got in line for the ferry and made the trip over to the hospital easily.  The road up to it from the Ferry Dock is really steep and we missed a lot of lights and had to stop on the steep uphill and then get going again once the light changed.  Patty does a pretty good job with the clutch but I cannot imagine how those roads would be if there were snow on the ground.

The people at the front desk recognized us.  In full disclosure, they recognized Patty since she had to arrange all the paperwork side of our last visit.  But they all knew about the guy who tried to get crushed between two boats.  Unfortunately, them knowing us did not advance our turn into the system.  There were far more serious issues that people walked in with that put them on the triage schedule ahead of me.  After about three hours, we made it back to the doctor.

There was no one there that we recognized and it was or seemed to be about as busy as the last time we were in.  Only this time we were not in the “main” area or quads – which they reserve for the more difficult / needy cases.  It was still interesting to watch all the people, both medical staff and patients.  Everyone said we were too early in the evening for all the crazy excitement.

The doctor and intern worked me over with the regular drill and then ordered more X-rays of my hips and lower back.  They were negative and the diagnosis was that I was experiencing muscle spasms that caused the pain.  I was given a prescription for muscle relaxers and sent home.  It was almost 10:00 p.m. by the time we got back to the boat – chalk up another 5 hours at Harborview Hospital.

by Ken

Yesterday it snowed here for the first time.  Didn’t stick.  Today it is snowing again and looking more serious.  The idea of walking on the docks and hiking up the steep ramp up to the showers and laundry is not inviting and probably won’t get done today.

I can’t stop this feeling………….

Patty on Oogachaka

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… which involved an Attempted Boat Ride; the Washington State Ferry “Kaleetan;” the Human Fender “KEN;” a Puget Sound Plunge; Two Strokes; Missing Emergency Dock Ladders; Heroic, Magnanimous Neighbors; Quick, Able and Compassionate Bainbridge Island Fire Department EMTs; Equally Professional Ambulance Transfer Team; Bainbridge Island to Seattle Ferry Ride (YES, they will wait five minutes for an ambulance); Seven Plus Hours in the Harborview Hospital Emergency Room; Seattle to Bainbridge Island Ferry Ride; Return to Eagle Harbor Marina in Blue Paper Scrubs.

Patty said to keep it short (but didn’t say anything about the title).  We were scheduled to have work done by S3 Maritime Monday morning at their facility on Lake Union.  Our plan was to travel a day early, traverse the Ballard Locks (our first time after three years training on the Columbia River locks) and stay at Salmon Bay Marine Center.  We tried to leave Eagle Harbor Marina shortly after noon on Sunday.  Wind was light and we used a spring line to move the bow of the boat out 45 degrees from the dock to head east passing the boat tied up in front of us.  We were surprised by a strong south current that pushed us towards contact with the boat ahead to starboard.  I moved forward from the aft quarter where I had handled the spring line to fend off as necessary.  I pushed off the railing of the docked boat and we had separation.  As our boat moved forward, I moved backward on our starboard deck but lost my balance at the gate opening near our pilot house door and was pulled out between the boats, hanging on to the rail of the docked boat.  Our boat continued moving forward and the gap between the boats narrowed pulling me loose from the docked boat whereupon I became a human fender until plunging into the 43 degree waters of Puget Sound – just about cold enough to take one’s breath away.  When I popped to the surface, I was near the bow of the docked boat and two quick stokes later, I was hanging on to the dock.  There were no emergency ladders to get back on the dock so I made my way east along the dock to a large cleat and tried to get one leg up on the dock.  Before I could make my move, our neighbor Jake and his son Preston ran up to me and horsed me out of the water onto the dock – no easy task since I weigh 265 pounds without soaking clothes and hiking boots.  Neighbor Dayna, who happens to be a trauma nurse, appeared at my side.  Jake was yelling for someone to call 911 and preventing me from trying to get up since I had a head wound and they wanted to keep me from moving.  Blankets were brought to keep me warm and I asked if someone could help Patty who was on the boat alone.  I learned later that Neighbor Brent took Neighbor Mike out to our boat in his dinghy.  He had quite the time trying to deliver Mike to the boat due to the current.  It turns out that the Washington State Ferry Kaleetin was docked across the bay (880 feet away according to Google Earth) with its stern to us.  For some reason, yet unexplained, it was running its propellers at a high enough speed to cause a significant wake and a 2-3 knot current which pushed our boat towards the dock (and docked boat).  I was lucky not to be swept under our dock (the current explains why I only needed a stroke or two to get to the dock).  Mike called the ferry on VHF 16 and 13 and they never answered.  He had trouble getting the boat (and Patty) back to the dock.

The EMT’s arrived quickly, put the cervical collar on me and strapped me onto the back board before taking me over to the ferry.  They called ahead and got it to wait for us to arrive.  At the ferry, I was transferred to the ambulance transfer service who take patients off the island (and allow the fire department to stay at home for the next emergency).  I was taken to Harborview Hospital which reminded us of TV’s Seattle Grace Hospital.  It is a trauma hospital and fortunately wasn’t that busy.  I was clearly the least needy patient so it took over seven hours for all the examinations, x-rays, consultations, teaching moments, etc.  I got off pretty easy with only three stitches above my left eye (I think the eye glasses I lost must have hit some part of the other boat when I fell but I never felt anything at the time).  My wedding ring had to be cut off so I could have that finger x-rayed and a cast put on.  I ended up having surgery the next morning and pins put in to stabilize the healing of that finger.  I have some great bruises on my left lower back and left front groin.  My ribs, particularly on the right side, are very painful but not broken.  I was a very lucky guy.

When I was finally discharged, I had no clothes to wear so they gave me some blue paper scrubs for the ride home.  It was really interesting walking down the dock to our boat wearing paper clothes.  I’m glad it wasn’t any colder than it was.  Patty got the electricity hooked up and we ran the engine to build back up the battery bank (which really took a hit because the instruments were left on while we were gone).

That’s my short version of the events.  Patty may add something from her perspective and some photos.  We are so slow in posting this because we had electrical and internet problems, medical appointments, and guests for Christmas.  We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year.

Happy Holidays,

Ken

OK, I think I must add the image I had of Ken hanging off a boat while I pulled away.  After he fell into the water, I lost sight of him and didn’t know if he surfaced or not.  I was yelling for help and our neighbors came out of their boats and pulled Ken out of the water and saved his life!

Happy Holidays,

Patty

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I’ll tell you what…………my grandchildren sure do entertain us.  What a couple of cutie patuties!

Thanksgiving was great.  We went to Coeur d’Alene for a few days and had a great meal with our kids and grandkids.  Aurelia even swam in our hotel pool and was a joy to watch.  I sound like a regular grandma, don’t I!  It turns out that what everyone tells you about being a grandparent is true.

Ken and I are back at the boat, cleaning up a little and getting ready for our next trip.  Thursday we are driving up to Port Angeles and taking the ferry over to Victoria, B.C.

Hope you all are planning a great holiday season.

I can’t stop this feeling………………..

Patty on Oogachaka

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We arrived home yesterday from a trip to see Ken’s mom.  We had left the boat a mess since we had just gotten home from picking up our storage “stuff” in Boise and transporting it to Coeur d’Alene, Seattle and the boat.  So now we have our work cut out for us.  I sure hope all this “stuff” will fit somewhere.  (I was reminded on the airplane yesterday about George Carlin’s routine about “stuff” so we’ve been laughing about our “stuff” and what we really need.  Well, Ken doesn’t laugh about what we really need….he thinks we need everything.)

Yesterday I started reading Charlie’s Charts North to Alaska.  I figure that there is no time like the present to start planning our first big trip.

This photo was taken of us on Gary and Jean’s boat at the Krogen Rendevous.

Ken and I at Rendevous

And this photo was taken by Gary of our boat following them through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Oogachaka in the San Juans

I can’t stop this feeling…………………..

Patty on Oogachaka

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Today is Ken’s first day of retirement and I think if I asked him, he wouldn’t like it so much.  He is lifting and loading and getting ready to pick up the UHaul.  But this morning he was very excited about being retired!

Following are some photos from one of the retirement parties that was thrown for him.  People said great things and I was very happy for him.

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