Sunday, June 27, 2021

Let's Think of Cooler Days

 


You may have heard that western Canada (and parts of the US) are undergoing an extreme heat wave. Records are falling all over and this system is not predicted to ease until Wednesday. We returned from a wonderful visit with my parents on the 11 am ferry today. Where they live is even hotter, and I am happy that they are staying with my sister and her husband for a few days, as they have air conditioning. 

I'm writing this sitting in our travel trailer with the AC blasting. Most homes here do not have air conditioning. We came home to a very warm house. Tim went up on the roof and covered the skylight with a canvas dropcloth. I have the start of a gazpacho chilling in the fridge for our supper. Appetites decrease in the heat as we drink more and more water. So, let's think of cool things, like boating!

One morning on our trip we woke up to fog enveloping us. It was so beautiful, and I saw a "fog-bow" - like a rainbow - but with very little colour. The photo above was taken when the fog had just about disappeared. It was a perfect bow, and even more amazing, was reflected in the water. 


Here is a photo of the earlier fogbow. The islands are very faintly visible, and you can see a tiny bit of colour on each end of the bow. It was a unique sight for us. 


That same morning one of these swallows flew into the boat for breakfast. He quickly flew out again and joined his mate on the pulpit (bow railing). They sat there for the longest time, chattering to each other in the dissipating fog. 


Some have asked how we live on the boat. Here you can see yours truly, writing in my journal. This area is our "living area" and can be fully opened on each side, with a fixed roof. We eat at the little table and have the best views of wherever we are. I spend time reading, writing, and sketching on the boat. We go for at least one good hike each day, depending where we are, and travel to different anchorages according to our itinerary. Or according to the whim of the moment. 

The door behind the table leads to a small cabin that can be used for sleeping, but we use it as a closet, a pantry, and general storage. 

In the above photo the dinghy is still on the back of the boat, but it's usually in the water, towed behind. It's what we use to get to shore, unless we are tied up to a dock, which is rare. 


Our lunches are casual affairs as seen above. We have a fridge/freezer. On trips more than a few days we use it as a freezer for storing food, and for making ice for an insulated cooler to keep produce and other groceries refrigerated. We eat well. There is a small gas barbecue on the railing where Tim grills meat, and in the galley I have a two-burner gas stove with an oven. I made muffins, soups, pancakes, and even a stovetop pizza on this trip. 


Isn't this columbine a pretty colour? Tim's nephew lives on a small island, away from any towns or villages. We stopped in for a visit. He and his girlfriend have a garden and I was charmed by the delicate pink of this blossom. 


More foggy beauty. Still morning water, an old dock with trees growing in it, layers of mist between the mountain folds and everywhere the tall green trees reach for the sky. 

Do you feel cooler? I do, but it's because of the noisy air conditioner, not the photos. Still, it was a beautiful morning with many marvels. 

Stay cool (or warm) wherever you are. 

28 comments:

  1. We're coming into a heat wave too, here in west central Idaho ~ over 100* for at least the next 7 days; with highs up to 111*!! YUCK ~
    Thanks for the cool thoughts ~ stay safe!

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  2. It is so hot! Your at sea photos are interesting and distracting. We’re definitely not hungry in this weather. It’s nice that your parents can stay with your sister. I heard that it was 40 in Sardis where my brother lives. We certainly live in changing times.

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  3. That is a lovely color pink on that columbine. Yes, I have been hearing about the terrible heat...mostly from a vlog I watch from Oregon. I dread its coming this way as I am already plenty warm at 90 degrees plus F, of course. I had to give up and turn on the AC as I know that I would not sleep well tonight. I am glad that your parents have found a cool place with your sister. And I am glad that you and Tim had such a nice getaway on the boat in the past week or so. That's another thing, I lose all track of time in the summer.

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  4. What a wonderful way to travel, Lorrie, and with all the comforts of home and with ever-changing views! It must be so relaxing as well as exciting.
    We've also had unusually hot weather so far in June, although the past few days here have been rainy and cool--very much appreciated by me! I hope the weather gets back to normal where you are very soon!

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  6. Always lovely to see your boating pictures around your islands. The trip looked so atmospheric with the mists. I can imagine you in your cabin looking out at all the beauty. Hope it cools for you soon. B x

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  7. So lovely to be away from everything, with watery ripples the only sounds. Many years ago we had a boat that was big enough to pile the family into and go off for a weekend. Feeding five of us meant some manipulating of galley areas!

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  8. I have never seen a fog bow before. I use to live on a floating home. It did not have an engine and needed to be towed to move. It was docked at a marina. I love it. You have some great adventures on your boat. I hope your weather gets cooler soon.

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  9. Absolutely envy your boating trips. When inwas young i wanted to live on a boat. No longer. I think I am too lazy. I won t admit to being too old. Ha... I have never seen a fog bow. Most interesting. I enjoy all of your outdoor photos. You go where I haven't been before. It is a real treat to see all through your lens. Keep cool.

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  10. We are having hot weather but it’s not unusual for us here in the summer.

    Your boating trips sound fun, and I’m sure they are delightful!

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  11. Beautiful boat, the living space looks so cozy. The landscapes are gorgeous.
    The heat here in Vermont is about the humidity. Overcast skies are a blessing because the sun is so hot, it stings the skin being out for more than a few minutes.

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  12. Such lovely photos!

    Yes, heat here too.....Upper NE of US.

    We need to remember the cold of winter. -smile-

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  13. All your photos are cooling for sure. We are so thankful for our A/C during this heat wave! Love that sweet columbine. It's fun to see how you use your boat on your trips.

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  14. I'm sitting here in the bedroom where there's an A/C and looking at your lovely photos.
    Your life on the boat sounds delightful. I was interested in those Swallows. Could they be Cliff Swallows?

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  15. Love the fogbow. Yes, I do feel cooler just looking at your pictures. How wonderful to have the boat to float away on. I think I could be quite happy there. Your food is planned so nicely and makes for nice treats as you float.
    Stay cool now. So glad you could finally come to the states to see your parents too.

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  16. What lovely photos - I enjoy these little "visits" with you! Would be happy to see more of the boat - but happy to see where you spend a lot of the time when you're out on it!

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  17. Spectacular photos. The fog bow is amazing and mystical. Thanks for sharing the beauty you saw. i love that pink columbine. Never seen one in that color.

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  18. What lovely photos - I enjoy these little "visits" with you! Love that pink columbine. My garden certainly loves the heat - one of my dahlias has begun blooming. Would be happy to see more of the boat - but glad to see where you spend a lot of the time when you're out on it!

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  19. I was thinking of you when I heard about the record-breaking heat wave on the west coast. Glad to hear that you're managing to stay cool.

    Thanks for the sharing the lovely images and what it's like to live on a boat.

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  20. We spend so much time longing for warmer weather, but to experience such heat as you are doing currently is beyond my imagination.
    Your boating trip looked lovely - very calm, very blue, and very peaceful.
    Take things easy and stay in the shade.

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  21. Love those shots of the fog and the swallows. How lucky for them to drop by like that.

    Your time on the boat sounds wonderful. It just goes to show we don’t need a lot of space!

    I hope you come through this heat wave unscathed. Take care.

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  22. I know you enjoy boating. My son has a sailboat that he enjoys greatly. It's always so peaceful on the water!

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  23. The boat outing looks wonderful; and that really is great fogbow! -- Nowadays, boating is a Winter activity for us (in normal winters). But ours has now spent over a year in its storage space in Florida. I hope next winter it will be happy to come out and play with us! Your "casual" lunch looks pretty enough to serve to company. .... We've cooled down here some, thankfully. The A/C here in our Oregon apartment is as noisy as the one in our small RV. I am glad we don't have to use it often, but grateful to have it as needed!

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  24. What a lovely time that you and Tim have on your boat. Thank you for sharing how you live on the boat, Lorrie. I checked out your previous posts and am always amazed at your beautiful photos. The fog-bow was an amazing sight.
    I have heard of your unusually high temperatures. It’s good to know that your parents are being kept cool.

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  25. These pictures are beautiful! I wish I could go away from here.
    We will try to go away in September, but the new virus is coming and not sure to be protected against this new one.
    Here we are cold and it rains a lot, but I prefer rain than too much heat.
    I hope you will soon have cooler weather soon. Take care!

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  26. What a great post, Lorrie. I have never heard of a fog bow either, and what a sight it must have been. I can see the little bits of colour at the ends. I am wondering how hot it is - we go to the high 30s during our Summers, but rarely hit 40. It can be hard to keep cool, and your boating trip looks the perfect solution. You are well organised, and your dinner looks perfectly delicious. Hope it cools off soon.

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  27. The fogbow looks stunning reflecting on the water. Pretty photos all. It has been hot in Finland, too and the heat continues. We are fortunate to have an air heating pump with cooling possibility. Less torture and makes sleeping in the night possible. Wishing lovely summer days.

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  28. After reading you comment on my blog post about summer cruises I came over to read about yours. Sounds like we went to a few common places. Wayne really wants to go up to the Broughtons but going up Johnstone Strait sounds scary to me. I'm such a flat water mariner. Your boat is larger than ours, but we can get around pretty quick. - Margy

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