Thursday, September 3, 2015

Well .. That was interesting (!)

The planned trip to Lyall Harbor did not work out because the expected storm arrived early.

We were working our way through the usual morning stuff at 8 am when the wind started to increase.  All hands on deck!

And then it REALLY started blowing.  Like constant 55 mph and gusts to 70 mph.  We were still on our anchor and had a lee shore just 150 feet away.  At one point our boat twisted around broadside to the wind at the very moment that a 70 mph gust hit.  This blew the boat on its side so that the deck was almost in the water (aka Rail down).  Very exciting stuff.  We made ready to take action should that be necessary --- thankfully, our anchor held -- much to our relief.

This Video was taken after the main blast was over but does give some indication of the wave action.  At this point things are pretty much under control.  Understandably, we did not take any pictures when it was blowing us around  -- more interested in not getting thrown overboard! (I'm not sure this video thing is going to work -- kind of a trial effort)



We watched as three boats on anchor drifted onto the beach and called on the VHF to get help for them. Eventually, a volunteer marine rescue group arrived and pulled these boats back to safety -- apparently none of them sustained any damage.  That's the owner standing on the beach and his boat is behind the rescue boat.





Not so for this one which we observed on the rocks as we left the harbor the next day.



We made our way to Jones Island Marine State Park and got a buoy.  Given the weather we decided this would be our final night out and were rewarded with a rainbow over the harbor



So, ...



That's all folks.  Thanks for check-in during the last month -- we've had a wonderful time.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Slowly working our way towards home

We spent 2 days on Portland Island -- got another 4 mile walking the entire perimeter of the island.  Here is an amazing example of the Geodesic dinghy that has a sailcloth skin.




Wow.  It only weighs about 20 pounds. Great craftsmanship.  The guy who built this also had a custom boat based upon a Herresshoff design -- very cool boat.

Then on to Port Browning.  Here's the view of a moon rising over the harbor



The weather is changing. We are heading to Lyle Harbor to sit our the expected 40 mph SW winds.  



Monday, August 24, 2015

The next 6 days - Part III

Then, a short hop across the bay to Cowichen Bay.

They have a really great maritime museum.  Here are some of the highlights







The next 6 days - Part II

Ok -- so then we got into "bumping along the coast" of Vancouver Island.  First stop -- Maple Bay.  Took a place on a run-down public dock ( no picture available) and did a 4 miles walk down the coast to a place I got the dighny painter wrapped around the prop-shaft a couple years ago.  Ah, the fond memories.


The next day we tried to sail through Sansun Narrows.  We had good wind right up to the point that the current would have carried us through -- but then "Nada" so had to cave-in and return to the use of the "Iron Lung" to get us down to Genoa Bay.




We were here once before and wanted to have another meal at the amazing Cafe.  This place was so welcoming we stayed 3 days at anchor.

On day 2 we hiked up a mountain (another 1200 ft up) and got both sore muscles and great photos in the bargain.  Our boats in this picture in the middle at the bottom of the frame.





The next 6 days -- Part I

Wow -- how time flys.  We've really kicked into the cruising lifestyle mode.  I thought I'd posted something about Telegraph Harbor but apparently it did not make it into the blog.

So o o , from Wallace is island we went to Telegraoh Harbor and took a slip at a very nice "resort like" marine.





The next day we jumped a ferry to visit the town of Chemainus.

A town that has mobilized the community to make it into a bit of a tourist attraction ( following the down-turn in the logging industry.  Many public murals depicting local history and this cute private structure at the back of someone's lot



Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Catching up on the last few days

Well, it's taken a few days to get back to "connectivity".  So will give a travel-log summary ( with several pictures).  After Ganges, Saltspring Island) we made a short hop to Prevost Island.  Privately held by one family since 1912, a park has recently been been added so that we could now go ashore.  A new home overlooking Selby Cove suggests the family needed some finances and offered some of the island to the Provence. After two relaxing days we started moving again. The plan was to motor, but a small breeze prompted a change of plans.

Yes, we did sail for five hours . . .no, we did not make any progress in the direction we had planned to go.  It was fun, but also pretty funny to look at the GPS trace as we tacked back and forth showing drawing a line and redrawing our path over the same stretch of ground.



So. . . . We went for Plan B and anchored in Montague Harbor again.  When we left the next morning we also did not go very far because we scored what has to be THE anchorage in the Gulf Islands.



At the Southeast tip of Wallace Island is Panther cove.  We had this one all to ourselves. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.











Wow . . . It is mid-August, the weather is fantastic and we love it!

That day we also took walk to Chivers point.





Thursday, August 13, 2015

Ruckle Provential Park Hike

"Boating in" means no car to get around -- but Saltspring Island has a transit system. We used it today to get to the southern tip of the island and do some hiking in Ruckle Park.




 Here's the family navigator checking the chart -- which trail should we take?


 Along the coast
then through what would normally be a rain forest ( major drought this year ).



Check out this Cedar!  Now that's "Old Growth"!


 Eventually back to the starting point. Originally settled in the late 1800's by the Ruckle family it was eventually donated to B.C. Parks with the proviso that the family could continue to farm the land and they are still at it today.



 Got to check out some of the old farm buildings including this structure from 1887 which was the location of the forge they used to construct farm implements
They have recently reworked the fences around the farm but you still see large sections like this that must date from the same era.


Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Montague Harbor



Ah, Montague Harbor



Our idyllic anchorage



Hanging at the nearby marina



We found a better way to walk to Hummingbird Pub -- more shade, fewer cars, and not as hilly



Hitched a ride back on the Pub Bus -- the driver is as crazy as ever -- featured songs included --"I got my thrill on blueberry hill", and something from Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album.



Evening capped off with this sunset.



Today we transmitted to Ganges, and scored a spot on the public dock.  We'll be here for about three days.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Getting out to experience the sights

Saturday the clouds rolled in so it wasn't as hot.  We walked up to the top of Mt Warburton (ca. 1400 vertical feet).  Of course the clouds limited how much we could see from the top plus the wind was really blowing so we hunkered down behind a hill and had our picnic lunch.




Yesterday we moved to Montague Harbor provincial park.  it was getting be shower time for the kids from Lopez



Lots of action on the beach.  This wooden boat was launched, the kids piled in and they bailed like crazy for about 20 minutes.  Must have been the first time in the water for sometime so that the seams needed to seize up. The kids were bailing a sinking ship and having a great time doing it. All of them thought this was part of the boat fun for the day


More hiking today.  Planning a trip to the "Hummingbird Pub".