St. Helens

Aaron began to fill the water tank, and the bilge pump began going off, pumping water outside. Turns out, the boat yard guys had disconnected the fill pipe and didn't reconnect it, running water into the closet and down into the bilge. Yikes! They came and fixed it, apologetically, and also helped with the sails issue. Too many cooks, methinks! Did laundry and chores and then, TA DA!

TIME TO TAKE OFF!

Aaron Starr had been very nervous about getting out of our slip and not hitting anything, but it went really well. We motored up to the fuel dock to fill the tanks, and then up the Multnomah Channel. The weather was perfect, and the views stunning. Mt. St. Helens and Hood are in sharp focus, between dark blue foothills. We saw a bald eagle and an osprey with a fish in his talons. Gracie was our navigator, and did a great job. Cute little boat houses and cows along the way!

It took us about two hours to reach St. Helens from Rocky Pointe Marina. Two gentlemen helped us dock, one a young ROTC hopeful, and the other a short man who said he had a machine shop. When I asked him what he made in his shop he said "artificial hearts!" I was thinking Harley engines! Turns out, Grandpa Les had owned a bar here just down from the courthouse, so we peeked in. We went to pizza and walked to the theater to watch Get Smart. It is an old theater with cushy rocking seats like the Moreland at home. We played a little soccer in the park above the marina. It reminds me a little of Annapolis here with the old rock buildings.