The Toughest Race

Every sailor, no matter how young or old at some point in their life, will read/ dream about the former "Whitbread Round the World Race", now the "Volvo Ocean Race". People like me who can not stand huge waves, frozen ocean, extreme sleep deprivation and have no physical endurance whatsoever, can only fantasize over the concept of racing around the world. 

I was invited to a 3 days Team Racing ISAF Umpire Clinic run by the Volvo Ocean Race Academy during their stop in Miami. The clinic has nothing to do with the teams of 70 ft. seagoing sloops. In fact, it has nothing to do with the ocean race. It has something to do with the top 8 teams of smallest but fastest turning boat with young sailor age below 14.

For me, it was an intense learning experience. Learning new language (and non-stop talking), new angle to look at different situations between boats, focus on the present, make instant decision and communicate with the other umpire on the boat. I found making instant decision the toughest.

And I like this new phrase I just learned,"Incident Closed", which means whatever just happened, is passed. Let's focus on the next incident.

Planter

We went to have a look at Mike's and Rusty's (the dog) new planter around the corner, and decided we want to have one too. Here's at the end of week 1.

 I put just about every kind of seeds I got in it.  Tomato, Lettuce, pea, beet, onion, cilantro, sage, chives, gladiolus and cosmos flowers. As of today -end of week 2, everyone has pop up except chives.

The shade cloth will come off next week, as they get bigger and stronger.

Kiln Roof Project

 Most of the building project break ground by digging holes.  Without the post hole digger, it is no way we can dig 8" diameter x 4' deep hole by hand. Lucky that Matt and Brian know what they're doing.

 However, even with the digger, we still couldn't get through some spots. Obstacles like tree root, stump, metal chain..... made the process very difficult and slow.

 With persistence and determination, we managed to avoid some tough spots.

 7 posts in ground with concrete at the end of the frist day.

 I forgot photo in day 2, and absented in day 3.  Here we see what happened today (day 4), after about 15 man day of work.

 Screwing down metal roof panel.

 Justin said he told his kiln "no more rain on", so we got to finish the roof today. Think about no more loading/ unloading under the sun, stoking under the rain.

Final roofing team. Just in time for the down pour. 

Kalaloch, Quinault and such

 These will be the last post of the O.P. trip. I have been taking my time to tell the story, which in fact happened last month. Here's hundred years old (feel that way) Kalaloch Lodge, right on the bluff next to the beach. Rustic is the key word. The only choice within 20 miles radius. It reminded me that we're here to be close to the wild and majestic coast line. Fortunately, their restaurant (also the only choice) does a good job in feeding their guests.

 Sunset Kalaloch beach. I couldn't decide I should shoot on the bluff, or down on the water. So, I end up in the middle.

 Bunch Falls in Quinault. One of the beauties you can catch without hiking. For some time, we were worry about driving on the unpaved road (about 10 miles in Quinault loop), with our borrowed non-4WD. It turned out with no problem and really worth it.

 One of the surprise on the full moon, extreme low tide at 7am. We found hundreds of people digging in Pacific Beach.

 It happened to be their razor clam season (only 2 days permitted, and limited to 15 clam per person). Next season could be months away.

 Very brave men, going to the moon. No, they're going kite boarding in one of the most windy and cold water area - Ocean Shores. They had wet suit under dry suit. First time I saw an Indian kite boarding.

Last town of the trip - Olympia, capital of Washington. Only spent less than a day there, but we can tell; it can easily be on the top of the "best town to live" list. This is their farmer's market logo. Yes, the flying pig.