Returning Home with a Check Engine Light

Returning home from our summer in Anacortes, and Port Townsend the dashboard was showing a "Check Engine" light.  It had become an intermittent problem with my Caterpillar 3126 since our May trip to Armitage Park Campground in Eugene, OR.  The light was also accompanied by a noticeable drop in power.

Our SilverLeaf Electronics VMSpc software running on a laptop plugged into the Safari's diagnostic port was reporting:

ENG PID 1 43 UNKNOWN COMPONENT, Unknown Failure

Knowing that diagnosing this problem was beyond my knowledge and tools, I dropped the motorhome off at Peterson Cat in Portland, OR.  Pro Tip:  Always take photos of your rig whenever you bring it in for service just in case something unfortunate happens.

Problem Resolved

Peterson Cat diagnosed and solved the problem.  During the Injector Solenoid Test, all six injectors passed but the #1 connector was found to be very loose. The overall wiring harness checked out OK.  Petersons replaced the injector wiring harness for #1 (a short adapter that connects to the larger harness) and installed a new valve cover gasket.  The Check Engine light has not returned since the service, and the engine's power has been restored.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Creating Space in the Company of Others

Laura wearing her noise canceling headphones.

It's two days before departing for home after nine glorious weeks in the RV.  A Wednesday of working remotely has both of us are looking forward to spending some time together in the afternoon.  Living and working in the 300 square feet of our Safari Sahara motorhome is easy for us because we worked up to it gradually.  My first work-related phone conference while on a "work-vacation" occurred in 2006 when RVing meant trips in our Coleman tent trailer.

Our 1996 Safari Sahara 3530 motorhome versus the 1993 Coleman Pioneer Chesapeake tent trailer it replaced in 2014.

While the size and comfort of our mobile office have improved over time, the challenge of two sharing a space when one is on the phone in conferences remains.  Early efforts had me typically moving to our Honda Oydessey van that towed our tent trailer when I needed to get on a conference call.  As the RV's and the boats got bigger, Laura and I found we could be in separate cabins or rooms with a door providing some level of sound isolation. What we wanted was a solution that allowed us to be in the same space together.

Wireless Noise-Canceling Over-Ear Headphones

Sony WH-CH700N

Technology has a wonderful way of solving problems when it isn't creating new ones.  We purchased Laura a rechargeable, Bluetooth wireless set of headphones with noise-canceling technology.  The headphones mask my talking so Laura can be in the same room watching TV or listening to music. They work so well, that I typically have to tap Laura on the shoulder if I want to get her attention.

Laura has come to enjoy the sound quality of the headphones so much, that she'll frequently switch to them when listening to audio from the Internet.  Being Bluetooth enabled, she can pair the headphones with her computer or with her phone.  The earlier photo of Laura at the grill with the headphones on is an example of the beauty of Bluetooth.  Prior to popping up to check the status of dinner, Laura was sitting in her zero gravity chair listening to a podcast on her phone which is connected to the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort's Wi-Fi, and thus has Laura connect to the Internet.  Isn't technology wonderful.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Bikes on the Tommy Thompson Trail

Heading to the trestle on the Tommy Thompson Trail - Fidalgo Bay

Most of our trips in our Safari Sahara motorhome include bringing our kayaks atop our Honda Fit, and our bikes carried in a bicycle rack mounted on the Fit's trailer hitch.  While the look has a "Grapes of Wrath"-esque quality, it's always fun to have the toys along should the opportunity to use them arise.

During our nine weeks camped out at Fidalgo Bay RV Resort, which we used as a home base to visit the San Juan Islands, Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, La Conner, and every little nook and cranny of Anacortes, we found the Tommy Thompson Trail played a frequent role in our walks and bike rides.

In the waning days of summer, walks, bike rides and kayaking were favorite after work pursuits.  Something about being away from home in the RV tends to draw one outside. 

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Labor Day at Bowman Bay - Fidalgo Island

Bowman Bay.

I associate water with Labor Day.  Years of Sea Scout summer cruises that ended on Labor Day, followed by countless cruises on our own boats has created a strong desire to be on or near the water during this end of summer holiday.  For 2018 we found ourselves on Fidalgo Island enjoying the remaining days of our nine week RV trip to the San Juan Islands.  We loaded up the kayaks and headed over to Bowman Bay for a paddle.

Our clockwise route around Bowman Bay.

A circumnavigation of Bowman Bay is about 1.5 miles, so it's a nice tour at a very leisurely pace.  On this day we decided to include a stop at the isthmus separately Bowman Bay from Lottie Bay.

Dale Mack

Laura Mack on the beach near Lottie Bay.

Standing on top of the isthmus, it is possible to watch boats transiting Deception Pass.  Lottie Bay was idyllic, too bad its depth does promote mooring because it has the look of a sheltered anchorage.

Lottie Bay and Deception Pass beyond.

We acquired our first kayak in 2003 (the blue one), less than a year after getting our Catalina 30 mkIII sailboat.  We were inspired watching others who brought kayaks along on sailing trips.  By 2004, we'd picked up the red model which is nearly identical to the blue model.  These "Critter" kayaks from Wilderness Systems are great for beginners. They are 9'4" in length, 30" wide, 14" in total height, 40 lbs in weight, and can carry a capacity of 250 lbs.  The 30" width translates into a very stable platform for the casual kayaker.  They ran us about $250 each without paddles.  We also carry aboard a sponge, a handheld bilge pump, and a lanyard attached to the bow.  Combined with our inflatable lifejackets that we always wear, and sailing gloves, and you have a pretty nice kayak kit.

Paddling Ready.

Labor Day weekend found a number of boats still anchored in the bay and moored to the floating dock.  We had visited the bay on Friday when there were many more boats anchored.

The floating mooring at Bowman Bay.

Laura Mack enjoying the twilight of summer.

Sharpe Cove is on the northern side of an isthmus that separates Bowman Bay from Rosario Beach.  Laura and I love landing at the cove's beach and enjoying the view.

Sharpe Cove on the north side of Bowman Bay.

When we purchased our kayaks, we never imagined the adventures that lay ahead.  They have traveled aboard both our Catalina 30 mkIII sailboat and our Bayliner 3870 motoryacht, and they've hit the road atop our Honda Fit on many of our RV journeys.  They have allowed us to explore the waters around Beacon Rock State Park, and the saltwater of Ilwaco, WA at the mouth of the Columbia River, and many points in between.  They introduced us to the joys of Newport Bay on Oregon coast, and to the wonders that are the San Juan Islands.  In terms of return on investment, they have paid off handsomely.

Sharpe Cove.

We were so happy to have gotten out on this day.  The paddle around the bay had occurred under a beautiful sky and in comfortable temperatures.  We had discovered a new cool spot in Lottie Bay and revisited a favorite in Sharpe Cove.  Once back at the start of our trip, we hauled the kayaks out on the pebble beach, opened the umbrella, and sat back to enjoy the afternoon sun.

Laura Mack enjoying the sunset.

Looking west across Bowman Bay.

With a cold beverage in hand and the warm sun shining on us, we kicked up our feet on the driftwood and enjoyed the remainders of the day.  We both felt fortunate to be able to enjoy such a wonderful place.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Tommy Thompson Trail at Dusk

Looking back at Fidalgo Bay RV Resort at dusk.

Our last Sunday before heading home on Friday had been wonderful.  The view from atop Mount Erie was awesome, especially after so much forest fire smoke over the summer.  Kayaking on Cranberry Lake reminded us of the hidden gems all around us, and the sunset walk on the Tommy Thompson Trailing brought back a rush of fun memories from a summer well spent.

As we entered the ninth week of our trip to Anacortes and the San Juan Islands, our Safari Sahara motorhome continued to perform well as a tiny house.  While the idea of living in less than 300 square feet might seem daunting to some, we love each other's company, and we know how to create a sense of personal space even when sitting next to each other.

Laura Mack out for a walk.

The previous eight weeks had provided us with a wealth of adventures and new memories to cherish.  We'd hiked, biked, toured, kayaked, sailed, and walked together and in the company of friends.  We fit a lot of living into those eight weeks, and yet the pace was never hurried.  Wonderful meals had been enjoyed, either eaten out or prepared at home.  Cooking had been frequently elevated above the chore of just fixing a meal, by the adventure of finding special ingredients at the farmer's market and then combining them with Laura's artistry to produce a synergy of flavors, colors, and aromas that made the act of cooking less of a job and more a part of the adventure that was our trip.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Kayaking Cranberry Lake

On Cranberry Lake.

Following our visit to Mount Erie earlier in the day, we headed over to Cranberry Lake, not far from the ferry terminal.  After years of visiting Anacortes, we discovered Cranberry Lake in 2016.  We've walked and hiked its shores, but 2018 was our first time kayaking its surface.

Laura Mack underway.

 The light ripple on the surface near the parking lot gave way to flat water at the other end of the lake.

Dale Mack in the southwest corner of the lake in a cove.

Laura heading east across the southern end of the lake.

The southeast corner of the lake.

Laura decides to follow Dale under the tree.

Success in progress.

Laura succeeds.

We had a wonderful time on the water.   The weather was perfect, the company amazing, and the scenery spectacular.  Cranberry Lake is a fun option when we don't want to splash the boats in saltwater.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Mount Erie - Fidalgo Island

Looking northeast toward Fidalgo Bay RV Resort and the oil refinery beyond.

The highest point on Fidalgo Island is the parkland of Mount Erie at 1,273 feet.  Owned and operated by the City of Anacortes, the park is part of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands.  Only two miles as the crow flies from Fidalgo Bay RV Resort, the car trip to the top is an easy drive.  While there was still some haze in the air from all the forest fires, the views were still pretty spectacular.

Lake Erie in the foreground, and the east side of Whidbey Island to the right.

Dale Mack atop Mount Erie.

Looking northwest toward a ferry heading into Thatcher Pass between Blakely Island and Decatur Island.

Looking southwest toward Skyline, Rosario Strait behind.

It was a beautiful warm day when we visited.  Parking at the top was plentiful, and the walk to the various observations spots easy.


 Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Port Townsend

Small in size, but big on variety and quality.  Always worth a visit.

Ferries are to a community the way folks think about bridges when you are surrounded by water, they're just part of life in the islands.  On this first day of September, Laura and I decided to head to Port Townsend to enjoy their statewide acknowledged Farmers Market.  Once again, we'd be traveling south across Fidalgo Island, and Whidbey Island to pick up the Keystone ferry at Fort Casey, just south of Coupeville.

Laura checking out the stalls.

We reached the Farmers Market by 11:40 am., and for the next two hours, we managed to entertain ourselves with the music, window shopping nearby shops that turned into buying, exploring locally produced products from meats and cheeses to fruits and vegetables.  The market has a wonderful buzz to it that leaves you with a sense that locals really enjoy what they have created.

Being the end of summer, we saw lots of locally grown tomatoes and peppers.

While the colors of the market are somewhat muted colors due to the gray skies, I could tell the overcast was burning off and we were in store for some sunshine.

Peppers of every heat range.

The Port Townsend Farmers Market has a great balance of crafts, produce, meat & cheeses, wines, food stalls, art, music, and flowers.

Located on Tyler St, between Clay St. and Lawrence St.

Apples.

Carrots.

Crapes from a converted RV trailer.

Much to Laura's delight, the southeast end of the farmers market was anchored by Mo Chilli BBQ.  We enjoyed an awesome standup BBQ lunch, before continuing our stroll around uptown Port Townsend.

The www.mo-chillibbq.com mobile food trailer.

More tomatoes as the sun starts to break through just after noon.

Sunlit flowers on the first day of September.

Bread is one of the downsides of being low-carb.  While I'm not as low-carb as Laura, I've still greatly reduced my intake, and that includes breads.  Most of my bread comes from dining out, and we don't do much of that.

Should have brought a stick of butter.

While she no longer eats them, Laura still loves looking at the bakery goods.

Designed to be towed behind a bicycle.

Fort Worden State Park

Whether it's a day trip or a camping trip, we never miss an opportunity to visit Fort Worden when we are in Port Townsend.  Situated on the shores of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the park provides breathtaking views, hiking and bicycle trails, and lots of beachcombing.

Looking north into Fort Worden.

The east beach at Fort Worden.

Point Wilson Lighthouse.

By 2:15 pm, we had made our way to Fort Worden, and the beach at the north end.  At low tide, you can walk the shoreline below the bluffs that house the fort's old gun emplacement.

The beach facing the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Point Wilson Lighthouse.

Laura Mack on the beach.

Point Wilson Lighthouse to the left and Battery Kinzie in the center.

Dale Mack at Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA.

Laura Mack at Point Wilson Lighthouse.

As the clouds burned off, the day just got more beautiful.  The air smelled clean and crisp, and the temperature as very comfortable.

Dale and Laura Mack out and about in Port Townsend, WA.

My postcard shot of Point Wilson Lighthouse.

Port Townsend Boat Haven

A longtime lover of wooden boats, I find the urge to visit the boatyard irresistible when in Port Townsend.  With Laura comfortably situated at Pippa's Tea Shop in downtown, I walked around the yard and docks in search of artworks expressed in wood.

Pacific Pioneer was launched in 1951 as the P&T Pioneer into the service of the mill at Port Gamble.  The vessel was designed by Frank Prothero.  In 2017, the Pacific Pioneer attended the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, and at that time the vessel was undergoing conversion into a cruising tug so that it's owner Robert Grant could enjoy local waters.

The tugboat Pacific Pioneer

S/V Maran Atha of Sitka, Alaska.

Launched in 1981, Nevermore was built by Canadian shipwright Ralph Eastland and his wife Debbie from a set of Smithsonian Institute plans of Howard Chapelle’s Chesapeake Bay schooner “Little Cod.”  Ralph selected wood from Quadra and Vancouver Island, as he constructed the vessel on the shore of British Columbia’s Quadra Island, near the village of Herriot Bay.  For six years the Eastlands raised their two daughters about Nevermore until it became evident that the family needed more room.  Billy Wolf purchased the schooner in 1990, and brought it to Port Townsend in 1993.

S/V Nevermore

Details of Nevermore.

Belaying pins aboard Nevermore.

Meeting Extraordinary People

We ended our day back in old town as we waited for the ferry.  On this evening, Port Townsend was featuring an open house with several of the art galleries stay open after hours.  It was in one of these shops that Laura spied a watercolor of the Port Townsend waterfront that she just had to have. Making the moment even more special was that we got to meet the artist Sandra Smith-Poling.

Sandra has paintings in galleries and private collections worldwide, and now has a studio in Port Townsend.  Her father is the renowned Southern California artist, Craig Smith, who told her the only permanent things in the universe were the arts.  Since graduating from medical school, she has balanced a medical practice while pursuing her interest in painting.

Historic wooden ships are favorite subjects. An avid sailor, she was the artist, doctor and a member of the Youth Adventures sail training crew aboard the 101’ schooner Adventuress in Puget Sound. The Baltic Sea Tall Ship race aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Tall Ship, the barque Eagle was also an inspiration for her paintings. She was the Eagle ship surgeon in 1996 and ship's artist in 1997. Her painting of the Eagle is on display in the officer’s wardroom on board the ship and prints are given to visiting dignitaries on this America’s Ambassador Tall ship.

She retired as a Colonel from the Air Force in August 2009, after serving more than twenty years.  At the time of her retirement, she was the Medical Squadron Commander of the 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at McChord Air Force Base. As a Flight Surgeon, she had deployed to many parts of the world.

Laura Mack with artist Sandra Smith-Poling.

The art gallery where we met Sandra Smith-Poling.

Walking the waterfront waiting for our ferry departure time.

Magically is the feeling that most expresses the sense of wonder after a visit to Port Townsend.  It had been a busy day filled with walks, food, beautiful scenery, and shops to tempt even the most thrifty amongst us.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much