A First Cruise, Years in the Making

Our very first trip around Port Townsend aboard Frances Mae today carried a feeling I didn’t expect — something beautifully full circle, as if the day itself understood where the story began.

We weren’t alone out there. Liam, our long‑time friend, sat with us in the cockpit, and his presence shifted the outing into something quieter and more meaningful. It felt less like a casual cruise and more like an acknowledgment of the long, winding path that brought us here.

Liam has been part of our Port Townsend story from the start. Long before the boat, the move, or this chapter truly began, he planted the seed back in Idaho. Through his stories, his affection for this place, and his steady encouragement, Port Townsend became more than a destination we admired — it became a place we could imagine calling home.

So of course it felt right that he join us on this first local loop. As we eased through familiar waters and looked back toward the shoreline, gratitude threaded itself through the day. Gratitude for friendships that span decades, for the people who unknowingly shape our life decisions, and for the moments when you suddenly see how the pieces connect.

Some journeys begin long before you recognize them as journeys. Ours may have officially started with a boat leaving the dock, but in truth, it began years ago with conversations, friendship, and Liam quietly showing us what life here could look like.

There was no ceremony to mark the moment — just sunshine, easy laughter, and the comfort of sharing another meaningful first with someone who helped make it possible. Sometimes the best beginnings honor the place where the story truly began.

— Harbor to Harbour