Halloween Cruise 2015 and Sea Hawks

Spook Cruise 2015

Warning Picture heavy

Spook (Halloween ) cruise is the last big cruise for all the Columbia River yacht clubs.  This year it was hosted by the Dolphins and St. Helens yacht clubs.  Kay and I started early and made it to Sand Island as we knew the docks would fill fast later in the week.  When we arrived, there were already boats at the docks.  Ron volunteered to help with docking boats, but ended up doing the job almost by himself.  Why is this important?  There are more boats than dock space, so while the outer docks would be for the big boats, the inside was stern tie only, commonly known as party row.

Folks decorate their boats for the coveted first prize trophy.  There are also costume contest, haunted house/walks and this year the Dolphins had karaoke night on Friday with a big camp fire.  The weather cooperated and the kids most of all had a great time.

I on the other hand screwed up as last spring I told my son, Jeff that attending a Sea Hawks game this weekend was ok as the spook cruise was the following weekend.  Wish I would have checked the calendar.  No worries though as I drove up to Seattle on Saturday morning and pick him up and we had a great time walking the streets and checking out the bars.  The next morning we met up with Dave and Loraine Creek at their tail gate party.  Great food and folks in the middle of a downtown parking lot.  Tailgate parties are not allowed on the stadium grounds.  We did learn one thing.  A lady in our group offered a plate of food to a street person walking by and she was promptly shut down. “They are like sea gulls!, she was told.  You feed one, then they bring their friends and the next thing you know you have a bunch of homeless folks in your tailgate party and things start coming up missing.  Don’t feed the wildlife!”  It was true!  Within 15 minutes we had 4 or 5 folks show up and they had to be run off.  Sad but that is the reputation of the downtown Seattle homeless.

Jeff and I had a great time at the game, even though the Hawks gave it away.  Kay on the other hand had a boat full of guys on game day!  Kinda like the gulls too!  LOL  One showed up and asked if they could watch the game on our new satellite TV.  Kay said yes and the next thing she knew there was pizza, chicken wings and beer.  She had a great time!

Made it back to the boat around 10 PM Sunday and it had poured rain earlier that day.  I had a good 6” of water in my dinghy!  That took a while to pump out.  We headed back to home port the following day to nice sunny skies and a great weekend by all.  Another spook cruise in the books.

I have tried to place the pictures in order of the trip.  I know when we take our trip north next year we will not be posting this many pictures, just too much work!

You can also see more pics on FB (Copy and paste to your browser):

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.529253860485298.1073741826.122902064453815&type=3&comment_id=893605717383442&ref=notif&notif_t=like

Leaving the home dock

Heading up river.  What a beautiful day.

The back of ASD.  We have become a pickup truck hauling dock equipment.

The Lewis and Clark bridge

This guy is running his dog on the beach

Look at the trail in the water ASD leaves

Just got our new window back with a window wiper.  Also a picture of the command bridge.

One of many grain elevators on the great Columbia River

Fishing from the beach

This is showing a chart plotter and radar.  It also shows position, speed, time and depth.

Same as above but the 1st back up.

If the wind comes up, do you think this will push the boat?  We put these on the railing at our dock to keep the birds from roosting on the railing and crapping all over the deck.  Seems funny until you have to try and clean blackberry bird poop off the fiberglass and many times it stains the deck.  Cheap bird protection.

Kay saw this coyote on Goat Island

This kayaker was fishing then came along my wake.  Opps

Kay likes this house on the Washington side of the river near Columbia City. You can tell which way the wind blows most the time by looking at the trees.

Riverboat coming up our stern to avoid our wake

Almost the St. Helens. nice shine job

Arriving at the Sand Island Docks

Almost empty.

Starting to get crowded.

This was funny.  A tour boat company attempted to save 80 ft of dock to bring tourist to the docks. There is no saving spots at the dock.  First come first served.

The tape and signs were taken down, reportedly taken down by two bikini blondes.  Too bad I missed it....

Karaoke time!!

Nice big camp fire.  Thanks Dolphins and St. Helens Yacht clubs

Hey Shaun

Jon

Jon and Cindy

This was my dance partner

Ron and Jerry

Miss Kay.  She's hot huh!!!  I think so.....

Miss Kay and her want to be boyfriend Dan!!!  LOL

Sunset at St. Helens

Late arrival

This was the beginning of party row.  Any boat at 40 ft or under had to stern tie on both sides of the dock to make room for the other boats arriving.

Stern tie

This is what it looks like when you first start stern tie.  Later the right side will also be full, all stern tied.

Even 100ft boats stern tie

Shaun assisting in stern tyeing

Rock barge going up river

The dock setup

Boats boats everywhere

Reminds me of tail gating at a football game.

We are here!  Where are the doggie treats and grass...

What?  Over there????

Pumpkin carving contest

Midnight Sun always puts on a great display

Ron!  What happen to you?  LOL

Costume Contest

Miss Elisabeth on the left

Batman here?  At this party?  Must be his evil twin...

Wow!  The best"

Even dogs get into the act.

The ferry from St. Helens to the Island

Nice Picture Kay took of the lower docks

So on Saturday while the spook party was happening, I was up in Seattle with my son to attend Sunday's Sea Hawk and Carolina game.

Waterfall in the middle of Seattle

This building was interesting.  Skinny and tall.

This actress was doing a stone route.  She was very still then would move and scare the crap outta folks.  I was fun to watch.

This was weird and kinda gross.  This was in an ally way and it is all chewed gum stuck to the wall.... Yep gross

The ally way

My son getting ready to eat

The Fremont Hotel where we stayed the night.

Dave and Loraine's tail gate party

Miss Loraine 

Showing Hawk pride

The hawk band "The Thunder"

Inside the stadium. Yes we are in the nose bleed section and look how steep it is!  70 long steps.

Broke an attendance record, over 69 thousand folks in one place

Looking toward town and a crane showing off Hawk Pride

Sea Gals

Sea Gals on the big screen

My boy and I with thousands.....

Gives you an idea of what we were in.  Lots of people and $9 beers...

The Hawks gave it away.