Thanksgiving dinner up at the Mansion Restaurant last night was really good (a fairly typical, traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet). We hit the spa before dinner (hot tub for a bit and then swam in the indoor saltwater pool after that to cool down). Remember how I said that for our $34/night moorage fee we also got access to the spa facilities, and how great a deal that was (and it is!)? Well, it's a bit different in the summer. I looked, and moorage is $75/night for our size slip at the marina. You can grab a mooring buoy offshore for $25, and then you pay an additional $20 for spa access if on a buoy (but that is access per boat, for up to 4 people). Anyway, turns out the off season here is a SUPER deal. 🙂
We slept in this morning quite late. Last night was windy and therefore the boat rocked a bit, and therefore the lines creaked a bit as they rubbed at the cleat that's on deck right above my head, so I didn't sleep all that well (and when I was sleeping I was having dreams about the boat coming untied and drifting into someone's kitchen).
We headed up around noon for our first meal of the day (lunch) up at the Moran Lounge. After lunch, we headed up the hill for a nice ~6 mile hike up to and around Cascade Lake in Moran State Park.
Gorgeous trails around the lake:
Cascade Lake:
I wish this fern/moss was growing all around our house in Portland. We love it! (Macro shot…it's tiny in real life):
We were going to take the 1.1 mile detour out to Cascade Falls, but realized we didn't leave on our hike until almost 2, and sunset was at 4:20pm or something, so we kept on track to get back to the marina before dark. (Also, we didn't want to be late for the 6:15pm massages we'd scheduled (Happy Birthday Week to Kevin!)
On the way back down the hill, the sun was setting and peeking from beneath the clouds, shining an amazing pink orange light on tiny parts of the hills nearby. Like this:
And this (above the marina):
The massages were great (and welcomed after that hike!) and we're snacking on a little light dinner and a glass of wine (and water, lots of water).
Here's our hike today (with elevation gain beneath):
The marine forecast for the next few days for the Northern Inland Waters including the San Juan Islands is this:
TONIGHT N WIND 15 TO 25 KT BECOMING NE 25 TO 35 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT BUILDING TO 4 TO 6 FT. CHANCE OF RAIN TURNING TO A CHANCE OF SNOW. SAT NE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. WIND WAVES 4 TO 6 FT. SAT NIGHT NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. SUN THROUGH MON NE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. MON NIGHT THROUGH WED N WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT.
Those 4-6 ft wind waves don't sound that fun, really. Walking back to Airship tonight from the spa there was ice on the dock and a little on the top deck of the boat…it'd be fun to see some snow here!
Our plan is to stay put at Rosario until Sunday and then maybe head over to Roche Harbor or somewhere for a few days…and maybe try to revisit some of our good whale spots. Also, tomorrow at 4pm I think we're going to go to this:
Rosario Music Concert and Historical Narrative
Christopher Peacock, accomplished musician, author and Rosario historian, offers a presentation of music and photography that walks guests through the history of the Moran family and the Rosario estate. Highlights of the presentation include the historic Moran Photograph Collection, Phantom of the Opera music performed on the Mansion’s 1,972 pipe Aeolian organ with the silent film, stories of the Mansion’s most colorful residents, and Christopher’s original piano compositions played on the 1900 Steinway Grand Piano. Saturdays only at 4 p.m. Complimentary and open to the public.
Sounds quirky and fun, huh?
This place overall is kind of fun and quirky. There was a guy here in the marina the other day on a really cool wooden two-masted sailboat who looked like he'd been lost at sea for 40 years…gigantic beard, little captain's cap, big coat…the whole deal. We met a friendly marina resident this afternoon out decorating his boat with green and red Christmas lights…all the way up to the mast and back and around the rails…super festive! He said we really need to come back for the Christmas holidays…that the mansion is all decorated and festive. Sounds great! Maybe we'll make it for New Year's Eve (weather permitting!)
