Life with the Lanzes: June 2016

Sunday, June 12, 2016

The day we became boat owners!

After much deliberation, much looking, offers made and lost, we became boat owners. Yes, the boat was in British Columbia. Yes, that means it had to come to Juneau by ferry, crossing through customs unescorted. But it made it and we could not be happier.

At an obnoxiously early hour of the morning, we waited anxiously as the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry Matanuska pulled into the dock.

With the help of some very kind deckhands, we got the trailer hooked up to our truck and off the ferry we went.

She's a C-Dory, cabin cruiser model 22' in length.

Proudly standing with his new boat.

Now it would not be the full story if I said all was well from the moment we got it off the ferry. The previous owner made a slight boo-boo and left the key in the ignition in the on position for the entire transit from BC to Juneau so upon arrival we could not get the boat to start because the battery was dead. Charged up, Graham and I took it out for a test ride, patting ourselves on the back because we trailed it to the harbor, launched it, took a ride and re-trailered it home. So proud were we that the next night we took the girls out for their first cruise in the boat. Only the battery did not hold the charge and the cruise abruptly ended with our friend having to tow us back into the harbor (thankfully we were not very far out at all). I'll admit, it was not a great start to boat ownership.

But with the help of a mechanic, we got it all diagnosed, fixed, installed a backup battery and away we went again. With much more success.

We took the girls out again. This time living up to what we hoped to get out of our boat - time together as a family, soaking up all that the beautiful water of Southeast Alaska has to offer.

There's a humpback whale in the distance. Not a great whale sighting or picture by much of any standard. But the first one from our boat!

Peeking out the hatch

Sketching wildlife and scenery

"Sea lions ahead, Captain! They're sunbathing!"

The boat as of yet is unnamed. So far in the suggestion box we have: Green Bean (Cora), Eagle Eye (Addy), Megaptera (Jenn), Orca (Graham), 'Thar She Blows (Grandma Carol) and We'll "C" (Grandma Sherry). We're still accepting nominations :)

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Alaskans Afield

Alaskans Afield is a family-oriented series of outdoor education classes offered by the Department of Fish & Game and we took our first one this spring. Lizzie, Addy, Cora and I took "Wild Edibles" with the same instructor I've been lucky enough to have at Becoming an OutdoorsWoman.