A wonderful get away

We escaped the news and the trauma and busy-ness of our semi-rural Bainbridge Island lives to the more wild and refreshing respite of Jones Island State Park this weekend. Old friend. We went up Friday night as we like to do, and had deep, deep boat sleep through Saturday morning.

I was excited to use our new icebox for the first real trip and to also use the new Racor 500 for the first outing.

A carpet of color. Perfect. 

Amy and the boys were off to Cafe Demeter in Friday Harbor for the num num run after we managed to rise after 9am, and I got the boat ready. We didn't leave until after 11, and the day was gorgeous. Forecast was for rain and SE winds that night so we headed to the north side of Jones.

We were the only boat at the island. Once again. On what turned out to be a beautiful weekend, people stayed away by the millions. We no sooner had anchored than we were ashore and walking around the West side. Every few moments we would stop and just take it in the stunning views, and enjoy the stillness. The embracing of all things. The intricate poetic detail of nature.

Owen on the edge of the world

The boys spent some time chasing each other among the slopes that rise steeply up from the water. Owen's only real chance is patience, since he has the misfortune to have an older brother who runs sprints and the 5K in state qualifying times. But Owen does have patience, and eventually the tortoise caught the hare. They've been doing that since Owen could run, and this is their last year of living together under the same roof as Elliott is a senior. Getting all choked up about that.

When we returned to the dinghy Elliott had decided to once again swim back to Aeolus. He has this tradition now. It was 48 degree air and probably 46 degree water. He stripped down, plunged in, and did it. Some Wimhoff. It was about 100 meters to the boat. Dude is tough.

It poured rain, hard, all night. Some light winds. But we were snug as bugs. On Sunday morning the rain stopped and we had another beautiful day. We played frisbee, and enjoyed the fall colors of the island.

Toward eternity

I walked for some time in rapture at the beauty of the trees. So profoundly beautiful.

Thank you Aeolus, for another magical family trip.