I love our big tandem Jackson DT Kayak. It is stable and fun whether it’s one or two of us using it, but it is HEAVY, weighing in around a hundred pounds. We have a set of Hullivators, which is a hydraulic lift setup that comes down on the side of the Flex to allow us to load it at about shoulder level, then the hydraulics help lift it up onto the roof. Still, it’s a dicey maneuver for two folks with old back injuries, and, I guess, old backs! Worse, there is no way to take it out by myself. I always have to have Dave help me launch it, and come pick me up.
So in my continuing effort to get out on the water easily, I finally located a single jetski trailer, and got it setup for the kayak. I’m hoping this will allow us to get it out more, easily launching and retrieving it without hurting ourselves. Of course, just like the last boat I bought and never used, I’m buying this at the end of the season so I probably won’t get to try it until next spring unless we get some spectacular November weather. Maybe. A couple years ago I spent the most wonderful fall day on Battle Ground Lake. Maybe I’ll get lucky yet this year.
So far, because of Covid, fishing being suspended, lockdown rules, and toxic algae at the local lakes, I have only got the kayak out ONCE this year! And they are talking about doing another lockdown because the covid numbers are getting worse. Might as well just write off 2020 and hope for a better 2021.
I’ve put off writing this for a few weeks, because I’d like it not to be true. As mentioned in the last post, we cut our vacation short to rush home because Barclay was ill. He had pancreatitis. He spent three days in the hospital, and then got to come home with lots of medicine to take, and we were able to care and love on him for a couple days, but it got worse, and we had to rush him back to the emergency vet in the middle of the night. The next day they gave us bad news, it had gotten much worse, and we had to let him go.
Barclay was such a good boy. He was mellow and easy going, so clever, and sweet, and loving. He was also a real pest, a prankster, and had a sense of humor. He loved to do bad stuff to get attention, but it was never too bad, and he got lots of attention either way. He just loved to interact. He was confident, and carefree, and loved everybody he met. He gave big slurpy kisses. He slept in the tub, but he liked to sneak up on the bed before I came to bed and lay on my pillow, where he would get cuddles before retiring to the tub.
Barclay was our ‘back up eskimo’ to help soften the blow of losing our sweet Alki. They overlapped a couple years, and he did indeed soften the blow. He was really a special boy. We loved him lots. We met Sherry at a training class where I was so surprised to find someone else who had two eskimos! We became a big happy pack, doggie sitting for each other and going to the dog park, or just hanging out. I know Scott and Sherry loved him lots too. He was a lucky dog to have so many friends.
Our ‘backup eskimo’ With his buddy ChesterSheepherding lessons!Keeping me company at the toy store. At the indoor puppy parkGrowing up fast next to AlkiWith his buddy, JackHiking!With Sherry, and Sake and SitkaAt a friend’s birthday party!Roughhousing with his new sister, NaviAirstream CampingHelping work the wrinkles out of my first backdropPlaying with baby KiwiAcrobatic Stickball!Not usually a lap dogJust chillin’ on my deskThe PackThat time he ate my new Fluxx DeckSnuggly on my pillowHikingStickball!Mr Smudgy FaceStepped away for a second, came back to find him taking over the sewing machineIn Stevenson, on the riverSlurpy kissesWalked in to find him sitting on the kitchen table, like that’s just a normal thing you doHaving a man to man talkRecovering from his ‘summer of seizures’Snow day!Standing on the end table, totally not up to something…Busted stealing a napkinMy sweet, happy boy
Barclay was super smart, and while I was training him, he was often training me! Usually he would have us well trained before I even realized it. He had stretched out his bedtime cookie (originally a reward for coming inside) into 3-4 cookies at bedtime!
For almost 13 years he was my Best Boy. The house seems so empty without him causing trouble and stealing things out of the recycling bin, or getting up in places he’s not supposed to be up on. Life with him was a constant surprise. He made us laugh all the time. Sweet Navi now has to get used to going for walks without him to give her confidence and take all the petting from the neighborhood kids.
Barclay was truly amazing, so full of joy and life and laughter and love. His passing has left a huge hole in our lives. Rest in peace, sweet Mr Barclay.
In October we decided we needed a vacation from this miserable year of lockdowns and Covid, and scheduled a spot that was recommended to us at Deception Pass. It is an area we haven’t explored, and thought it would make a nice getaway. We arranged for Scott and Sherry to watch the dogs, and made our escape.
After all the wildfires, the trailer needed a good scrub.
We had reserved a spot that was supposed to have a great view, but t the last minute I realized that we might be hard pressed to last a whole week on one battery, even with LED lights! So I asked the ranger when we checked in if we could upgrade to a spot with electricity, and she found us one. It turned out to be a super tight back-in, on a corner and downhill, but Dave managed it perfectly as always.
Cell Service required some contortions…
Although you can’t tell through the trees, there was a bit of a view of the lake, though it was so foggy it didn’t really matter.
It was too foggy to even see the bridge everyone is always on about
It was a very ‘boaty’ place, which I was quite enjoying, because I have a thing for boats right now. It’s a phase I’m going through.
Saw this neat toy on the street in LaConner I thinkCleared up a bit by afternoonMaking faces 🙂
We were having a pretty good trip. I had actually packed well and we had food for breakfasts and dinners without having to go hunting around, so we could enjoy lunches out and about.
The next day we went to Port Townsend, which involved a Ferry ride.
Port Townsend was also BoatyWe had a nice lunch with a view of the water
We were waiting in line at the Ferry dock to go home, when we got a call from Sherry that Barclay was not feeling well. He had been throwing up, and looked shaky. We discussed it and decided to wait and see. But by the time we got back to the trailer we decided he should go to the emergency vet. So they tried to do that, while we packed up the trailer, thank goodness for having a simple setup, cut our vacay short, and headed home.
Steff Does Stuff! 