Christmas Wrap 2023

 Ever since Jack delegated Christmas card production to the rest of us, being timely has moved into a different continuum. Maybe most of us like spreading the celebration out into the new year. Or, maybe plenty of negotiation must take place between 5 young adults and their parents to choose just the right picture(s) and text. So....here it is. The final Christmas Wrap:

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

New Year's Hike 2024: Lowell Riverfront Trail

 This year's New Year's hike was along the Snohomish River at the Lowell Riverfront trail (https://www.everettwa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Lowell-Riverfront-Park-30)

Here is the group...including Emma's fiancée Carter Grant and the Courter twins Peter and Daniel (...Caleb was taking the picture).

Sailing Trip 2023

 Here was our itinerary for this year's sailing trip.

1.  Everett to Cornet Bay
Via Saratoga Passage in-between Camano and Whidbey Islands.

2. Cornet Bay to Reid Harbor
Through Deception Pass across Rosario Strait up between Lopez and San Juan Island to Reid Harbor on Steward Island.

3. Reid Harbor to Montague Harbor
From Reid Harbor, made a stop at Bedwell for customs and then on to Montague Harbor.

4. Montague Harbor to Nanaimo
From Montague Harbor up Trincomali Channel through Dodd Narrows to Nanaimo
Emma, Colin, & Carter joined up with the boat.

5. Layover in Nanaimo
Dinghy’d over to Newcastle Is. and paddleboarded.

6. Nanaimo to Tod Inlet
Went back through Dodd Narrow, though the Samsun Narrows down to Tod Inlet.
Dinghy’d to Butchart Gardens

7. Layover in Tod Inlet
Dinghy’d to Butchart Gardens

8. Tod Inlet to Sidney to Portland Island to Bedwell Harbor
Dropped Colin & Carter off at a public dock in Sidney. Headed toward Portland Island – which was crowded in Princess Bay and the North inlet. We practiced our stern tie, but in the end decided to head over to Bedwell Harbor.

9. Bedwell Harbor to Roche Harbor to Garrison Bay
Extended customs in Roche Harbor.

10. Garrison Bay to Pt. Townsend
Crossed the Strait of Juan de Fuca into Pt. Townsend

11. Layover in Pt. Townsend

12. Pt. Townsend to Everett

 

Sailing Trip 2022

 Here are the places we stopped for this year's trip.

1.        Everett

2.        Coupeville

3.        Cornet Bay

4.         Port Townsend

5.         Garrison Bay

6.        Anacortes

7.         Coupeville

8.         Everett

 

 

New Year's Hike 2022: Ebey Waterfront Trail

 We haven't had a snow-covered New Year's hike until today!! A 20 minute drive north took us to the trailhead at the Marysville Boat Launch Park for the Ebey Waterfront Trail. There were a few others out braving the elements, but the snow covered walk was mostly to ourselves. Bald eagles overhead, a blue heron standing in the snow, and a wintery view of Mt. Rainier made for an enchanting, if chilly, trek. Colin is missing this year because he is staying warm in Texas for the week!

Sailing Trip 2021

 For our yearly boat trip we skirted Canadian waters. Here are our ports of call and crew:

Day 1  Everett

Day 2   Coupeville

Day 3   Anacortes

Day 4  Blaine

Day 5  Sucia Island

Day 6  Garrison Bay

Day 7  Coupeville

Day 8   Everett

Previous trips: 2020; 2019; 2010; 2009.

Summer Sailing Trip 2021: Day 4 - Cian

After our long journey through Anacortes the day before, we traveled to Blaine, home of the Peace Arch, for a peaceful visit to the border of Canada. On our way to the arch, we stopped to take pictures with some orca statues and of the view. We hung around the Peace Arch for a bit until we decided it was time for some ice cream. We ate our ice cream and wandered back to the boat. After relaxing on the boat for a while we dinghied over to a beach on another island so we could finish off the day playing in the water.   -Cian

                 

                      

               

                      

 

Summer Sailing Trip 2021: Day 5 - Emma

As much as we would have liked to continue up to our favorite destination of Nanaimo, BC from Blaine, we made our way back south. Blaine’s docking situation made for the easiest casting off of the trip and it was smooth, sunny sailing from there to Sucia Island. We dropped anchor in Echo Bay, finding a cozy spot between two small private islands that provided a peaceful, secluded stay. All but Caleb took the dinghy to shore, navigating rocks near the beach and taking a dip in the frigid water. The rest of the afternoon was spent on the boat finding shady places on deck to read, paint, draw, and relax. We didn’t explore much of the island but it was all-in-all a pretty perfect day.

New Year Day's Hike

 A new family tradition is to go hiking on the first day of the year. This year's hike was along the Ebey Slough Dike. After living in Snohomish for almost 20 years we just now discovered this hike...we'll have to return before another 20 years pass.

Sailing Trip 2020

This Summer we cruised around Whidbey Island, the San Juans, and into Hood Canal. Here are the places we stayed at:

Sailing Trip 2020 Day 2: Emma

 July 28th 2020 - James Island 

We departed Coupeville just shy of 8 am on a foggy Tuesday morning, eyes peeled for boats and other obstacles, foghorn at the ready. The fog soon departed, revealing a perfectly sunny day fit for a sail. With our view no longer obstructed, we were able to enjoy the sights as we sailed through Deception Pass. Just clear of the bridge, we were met with rolling waves that I enjoyed for approximately 10 minutes before the cake in my stomach began to show off its acrobatic skills. I’ll let you guess what happened next.

It only took a few more hours to reach our destination for the day, James Island, and it wouldn’t be a stop on a Brenchley Family Sailing Trip without a hike! The entire island, which provided beaches to dip our toes in and forest trails to hike, makes up James Island State Park and is a member of the San Juan Islands. We could just make out the Free Winds from the top!

All-in-all, it was a peaceful stop after an exciting day of bouncing waves and unhappy stomachs.

-Emma                                                                                                                             

Sailing Trip 2020 Day 4: Rilla

Docking at the harbor of Port Townsend on July 30^th We paid for our mooring and headed to the Co-op to get some ice cream bars and restock our food. Later in day we played frisbee and waded in the cold, icy water at a nearby beach. We decided we had not had enough ice cream, so we made our way into downtown Port Townsend and ordered some more at Elevated Ice Cream Shop. After Enjoying our frozen dessert by the sea, and watching a ferry dock, we strolled through some neighborhoods and admired the charming houses. Emma and I woke up the next day around 5:30am because we were determined to get coffee at Sunrise Coffee Shop before we cast off at 7:00am!

Adios!

-Rilla

Sunrise

Emma and me during the morning rain

Ferry and Elevated ice cream

Cool kids

Sailing Trip 2020 Day 5: Cian

July 31st 2020

We left Port Townsend in the morning of our fifth day of adventure. Our destination: The Nevaril’s Cabin on Jackson Cove. After going under the Hood Canal Bridge and around an island, we arrived with plenty of time to play in the water and relax in the sun. Avery (our little cousin) was so excited to see us that she and her dad (Uncle Phil) paddled out in their kayak to greet us. We then motored to the shore using our dinghy, had a tour of the house, and put on our swimsuits to go out in the water. After all that we ate dinner and roasted s'mores around the campfire. We headed back to The Free Winds in the dark to get some rest before an early start for home the next day. -Cian