We left Shilshole about 2pm Sunday to much fanfare (thanks guys, for seeing us off). We headed to the fuel dock to add fuel and pump out the holding tank. Everyone joked that they would see us off K dock but we'd get stuck at the fuel dock with a dead engine and not leave.
How did they know? After fueling up, our engine wouldn't start. No spark. No click. Nothing. We eventually figured it out, and got out of the marina, but we left shilshole about 2 hours after we meant to. Oops. The ride to Port Townsend was uneventful. There was no big weather. There was no little weather. So we motored all the way there...
Our Strait of Juan de Fuca crossing was similar. No waves, no wind, no drama. We got into Victoria around lunch time today and started the customs process. It was frustratingly painless. I have spent the last two weeks preparing a whole notebook of paperwork- the LMO, a letter from the lawyers, a signed job offer, John's resume, letters of reference, proof that we are common law partners (no, we haven't gotten married yet), Chaco's rabies vaccination... it was an insane amount of paperwork... And they didn't ask to see a single piece of paper. None of it. We cleared customs and got our work visas and it was totally painless. And then we tried to buy a cell phone...
Anyway, we are here in Victoria- we are officially allowed to be here for the next year, as is chaco, and our boat. We are happy and much less stressed than we have been.
I promise I'll post some pictures soon.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Update
No, pigs have not flown. No, we did not leave you out. No, I have not been to a courthouse recently. No, we did not elope.
Apparently I was not completely clear in our last post... Canada (and Washington state) recognize John and me as common law spouses. When we arrive at the border, we will have to prove this (lease agreements, boat title, joint bank accounts, etc) adding to the stack of paperwork we will present.
And now the update. We have decided to make a quick turn around and take the boat with the dog and everything we own up to Bella Bella next week, crossing the border on Tuesday the 28th. We will then spend about a week trucking up the coast, putting us in our new town around July 5th (Happy birthday John-- I give you the northern coast of BC!)
Did I mention how awesome the VanIsle was? It was awesome. 14 days of hard racing all the way around Vancouver Island, and first place in our division. We will post some pictures as soon as John has processed them (so... maybe 2014?).
In the meantime, if you live in Seattle, come out this Friday to Kiss Cafe to say 'bye'!
Apparently I was not completely clear in our last post... Canada (and Washington state) recognize John and me as common law spouses. When we arrive at the border, we will have to prove this (lease agreements, boat title, joint bank accounts, etc) adding to the stack of paperwork we will present.
And now the update. We have decided to make a quick turn around and take the boat with the dog and everything we own up to Bella Bella next week, crossing the border on Tuesday the 28th. We will then spend about a week trucking up the coast, putting us in our new town around July 5th (Happy birthday John-- I give you the northern coast of BC!)
Did I mention how awesome the VanIsle was? It was awesome. 14 days of hard racing all the way around Vancouver Island, and first place in our division. We will post some pictures as soon as John has processed them (so... maybe 2014?).
In the meantime, if you live in Seattle, come out this Friday to Kiss Cafe to say 'bye'!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
V.ictory I.s S.o A.wesome
That's what VISA stands for right now. Because we got one. We're moving to Canada. We found out in Port Hardy (one of the more remote spots on the Van Isle) that the Canadian immigration approved PacificWILD's request for a work visa for John. Now, we don't actually have the visa yet- it's quite the convoluted process, and nothing is guaranteed but we have gotten through the step that took us over 6 months.
Next step: lots and lots of paperwork, form filling, and scrambling to make sure we have our ducks in a row. PacificWILD is anxious to get us up there, to say the least, so John will probably make a quick turn around next week and head to Bella Bella. My visa is not ready yet (I am applying for a spousal visa, which has to happen after the LMO process), so I may stay behind and finish getting the boat ready. All this is still up in the air, it may make more sense just to throw the boat together and head up all at once. We'll keep you posted.
In other news, the VanIsle has been tons of fun, and we're doing really well! Now, to minimize confusion-- we are doing the VanIsle on a boat called Kotuku, a Farr 1220, which belongs to a good friend of ours and is set up for real racing. We live on Halcyon, a Valiant 40, and that's the boat we will take to Bella Bella. She stayed behind in Seattle for this trip. Check out Vanisle360.com and click on the tracker- you can watch us race! We are in first place for our division right now, but have some really tough competition. We just have one more leg (leg 10), from Victoria to Nanaimo. It's the hardest, one of the longest, and counts for the most in the results, so cheer us on!
We will post pictures and updates when we get back in US waters.
Next step: lots and lots of paperwork, form filling, and scrambling to make sure we have our ducks in a row. PacificWILD is anxious to get us up there, to say the least, so John will probably make a quick turn around next week and head to Bella Bella. My visa is not ready yet (I am applying for a spousal visa, which has to happen after the LMO process), so I may stay behind and finish getting the boat ready. All this is still up in the air, it may make more sense just to throw the boat together and head up all at once. We'll keep you posted.
In other news, the VanIsle has been tons of fun, and we're doing really well! Now, to minimize confusion-- we are doing the VanIsle on a boat called Kotuku, a Farr 1220, which belongs to a good friend of ours and is set up for real racing. We live on Halcyon, a Valiant 40, and that's the boat we will take to Bella Bella. She stayed behind in Seattle for this trip. Check out Vanisle360.com and click on the tracker- you can watch us race! We are in first place for our division right now, but have some really tough competition. We just have one more leg (leg 10), from Victoria to Nanaimo. It's the hardest, one of the longest, and counts for the most in the results, so cheer us on!
We will post pictures and updates when we get back in US waters.
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