Mixing It Up| 7.3-6.22

~ From Nate ~

Meeting Ron and his family is going to take some digestion/reflection before the full gravity sets in. So much new, yet familiar. I consider Ron a friend thanks to countless phone calls over the last two years to learn about the Crow. Not everyone gets to ask frequent and varied questions of a previous owner; Ron has always quickly and thoroughly responded with the generally amiable disposition that clearly makes most people want to be Ron’s friend.

I also know Ron in a really unique way; every day I spend hours surrounded by a million pieces of impeccably hand-chosen and -hewn chunks of art he dreamed up and created from real local wood from the most incredible forests on the planet. It’s wild to get specifics from him that can only come from real, in-person time together; my jaw dropped when he said much of the wood came from trees over 1,000 years old. Even accounting for living aboard 24/7 for the better part of two years, I have spent only a fraction of the time with the boat than Ron spent just in her creation, let alone the care and adventures over their ensuing 33 years together.

To see where the Crow was built and lived and loved…

In a hidden corner of a hidden bay on the edge of one of the most magical coastal creations, Desolation Sound…

And so much love. We dropped in on Ron & Helen right as their two daughters and three grandchildren arrived and they made us feel like part of the clan immediately; like pulling up a couple of extra chairs was all part of the plan. Each family member had their own favorite stories, Ron with the most of course. Ron’s as chill as they come – we’re talking The Dude levels of mellow – but at the same time clearly runs hot, or “pinnin’ it” as he says. Projects abound, stories flow, a Canadiasmanian Devil. Themes from his life of creative solutions ring throughout their self-designed and -built house, outbuildings, life; they all deepen my respect and awe of both Ron and the Crow. Through hard work, an overactive and creative mind, and a generous spirit, Ron has carved out what will henceforth represent an ideal for a whole, throwback, incredible life on a small island hidden by small islands – the kind of life I’ve already been dreaming about my whole life.

To get to take care of a monument of this renaissance craftsman’s uncountable list of cool achievements fills me with pride, and to see him proud of how the boat is being cared for took us back to the adage June Burn passed on from the native Alaskans she taught: It’s only a bargain if it is for both.

After several days reveling in the glory of spending time with their incredible family and celebrating everything, today was a big day of change. Our dear friend and former neighbor of 20 years came over via two ferries during a nature vacation up here, checking out the Crow for the first time in person before Julia, Cathy and I Grasshopped to Heriot Bay, a 40-minute glassy ride from which they made their way back to Campbell River for an overnight. A beautiful and fast solo hop back (Grasshopper is going faster than ever thanks to some engine tweaking) gave massive peekaboo views into Desolation Sound, tempting me… we’ll be there soon, with Ron and his family aboard their new boat (to them, a 41’ 1967 C&C fiberglass racer/cruiser!

Then Coop and I got the Crow sea-ready and said goodbye to the family – a good time for everyone to regroup before we reconvene this weekend. It was weird to not have Julia aboard, but we’re glad she’s having fun with our dear friend and getting a nice night in a comfy hotel. And meanwhile, Coop and I finally found the Barefoot Raiders and have had more fantastic reunions, catch-ups, and new meets. Our kind of festival! Grasshopper’s a hit, surprise, but even from the beach the Crow got her share of praise.

So, a new phase begins as we play with the Raiders – though, hilariously, they’re staying right by the Gorge for the rest of the week, so we’re right in the same beautiful little scene and few mile radius, just outside the Gorge instead of hidden away. Julia will rejoin us tomorrow via water taxi, conveniently already scheduled for and generously offered by via some other Raider-family-members.