Monday, September 3, 2012
Friday, August 31, 2012
Onward and Upward (northward)
Friday, 24 August, Cortes Island, BC
Tuesday: We motored from Nanaimo to Garden Bay SYC outstation (Pender Harbour) and spent one night.
Wednesday: We motored from Garden Bay to Sturt Bay, Texada Island. We've passed Texada Island many times over the years not knowing that is was anything more than a great, hulking, forested rock in the middle of the Georgia Straits. Sturt Bay, near the north end, has a good little anchorage and moorage available at the Texada Boat Club docks. Everyone was so friendly. People driving down the street would often stop to ask if we needed directions. The grocery store was well stocked and reasonably priced.
Thursday dawned breezy out of the north, and we could finally sail. It meant tacking upwind among the many reefs and rocks, but it was a good sail. The wind eventually died (as usual) and we motored a few remaining miles to the SYC Cortes Island outstation.
Posted on the bulletin board is an interesting article about packs of wolves stalking hikers on Cortes Island earlier this summer Yikes! Unfazed, we caught up on a few chores: Bill laid the anchor chain out on the dock and replaced missing length markers. He also inflated the dinghy for upcoming anchorages. Kathi rearranged (again) our clothes and linens for the ambient climate. We're loving the cool, sunny days.
After spending a couple nights tomorrow morning, Saturday, we heading north to Yaculta Rapids, Gillard Rapids and Dent Rapids. This should be interesting. We'll be adding wolves to our wildlife watch list.
Tuesday: We motored from Nanaimo to Garden Bay SYC outstation (Pender Harbour) and spent one night.
Wednesday: We motored from Garden Bay to Sturt Bay, Texada Island. We've passed Texada Island many times over the years not knowing that is was anything more than a great, hulking, forested rock in the middle of the Georgia Straits. Sturt Bay, near the north end, has a good little anchorage and moorage available at the Texada Boat Club docks. Everyone was so friendly. People driving down the street would often stop to ask if we needed directions. The grocery store was well stocked and reasonably priced.
Thursday dawned breezy out of the north, and we could finally sail. It meant tacking upwind among the many reefs and rocks, but it was a good sail. The wind eventually died (as usual) and we motored a few remaining miles to the SYC Cortes Island outstation.
Posted on the bulletin board is an interesting article about packs of wolves stalking hikers on Cortes Island earlier this summer Yikes! Unfazed, we caught up on a few chores: Bill laid the anchor chain out on the dock and replaced missing length markers. He also inflated the dinghy for upcoming anchorages. Kathi rearranged (again) our clothes and linens for the ambient climate. We're loving the cool, sunny days.
After spending a couple nights tomorrow morning, Saturday, we heading north to Yaculta Rapids, Gillard Rapids and Dent Rapids. This should be interesting. We'll be adding wolves to our wildlife watch list.
Cruising Desolation Sound, British Columbia
Time sure flies..., Here's just a quick word while we have brief internet access: After lavish provisioning at Ganges and Nanaimo, we've been cruising in the Desolation Sound area for the past couple weeks, making a loop around Cortes and Sonora Islands and stopping in many beautiful, calm, quiet, sheltered bays. We've seen some wildlife: seals, porpoises, and orcas. The snowy mountain peaks looming in the background in the hazy, cool late summer air. The calm waters make dinghy travel like skimming on a liquid mirror.
So far, our stops have included:
Cortes Bay, SYC Outstation
Refuge Cove for fuel
Dent Island
Chameleon Bay
Octopus Islands
Gorge Harbor.
There hasn't been much wind, so we motor all the time. There are a fair number of boats around, but it's not at all crowded. The powerboats are starting to look pretty good, and we've undressing them with our eyes....
After a quick pause at Cortes again, we're off to Tenedos Bay before starting south again in a few days. Will post some photos later.
So far, our stops have included:
Cortes Bay, SYC Outstation
Refuge Cove for fuel
Dent Island
Chameleon Bay
Octopus Islands
Gorge Harbor.
There hasn't been much wind, so we motor all the time. There are a fair number of boats around, but it's not at all crowded. The powerboats are starting to look pretty good, and we've undressing them with our eyes....
After a quick pause at Cortes again, we're off to Tenedos Bay before starting south again in a few days. Will post some photos later.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Back in Beautiful British Columbia
Wednesday, August 15th, Victoria BC
After a chilly, foggy night motoring we arrived in sunny Victoria and got a berth in front of the Empress Hotel in James Bay. The weather was really hot and sunny. We wandered around looking for our favorite chandlery, but it's gone.
Mary Doherty, Seth's wife, drove up from Seattle to meet us. We all had a beautiful afternoon at Butchart Gardens followed by a terrific dinner in the restaurant there. Bill and I broke out our clown bikes and rode around the Dallas Road shoreline route.
Friday, we moved the boat around to Royal Victoria Yacht Club. It was so pretty and peaceful.
We were able to explore the neighborhood a bit on our bikes.
Our friends the Ellsays, off Stray Kitty, who sold their boat in Brisbane, are now living near RVYC. Now we call them the "Stay Kitties". Chris and Christine picked us up and took us home for a wonderful dinner (and more laundry). Their daughter and Activities Director, Kerry, made sure we had a good game of Charades after dinner. The Ellsays' kids must be very well behaved, because their father did not guess "temper tantrum" in the game. A good time was had by all.
After a couple nights at RVYC, we motored (again) up to Ganges on Saltspring Island. It was the usually sunny, chilly weather we missed so much. Again, were wearing our August fleece ensembles.
Anyhow, we spent the night at Ganges. It was great to see some SYC friends again. It was really handy to have our bikes for quick shopping trips to the village.
After 1 night, we motored (again!) up to Nanaimo via Dodd Narrows. We anchored out overnight. There was an Austrian Amel and a German cruising boat nearby. We would have liked to hear their stories.
After a chilly, foggy night motoring we arrived in sunny Victoria and got a berth in front of the Empress Hotel in James Bay. The weather was really hot and sunny. We wandered around looking for our favorite chandlery, but it's gone.
Mary Doherty, Seth's wife, drove up from Seattle to meet us. We all had a beautiful afternoon at Butchart Gardens followed by a terrific dinner in the restaurant there. Bill and I broke out our clown bikes and rode around the Dallas Road shoreline route.
Friday, we moved the boat around to Royal Victoria Yacht Club. It was so pretty and peaceful.
We were able to explore the neighborhood a bit on our bikes.
Our friends the Ellsays, off Stray Kitty, who sold their boat in Brisbane, are now living near RVYC. Now we call them the "Stay Kitties". Chris and Christine picked us up and took us home for a wonderful dinner (and more laundry). Their daughter and Activities Director, Kerry, made sure we had a good game of Charades after dinner. The Ellsays' kids must be very well behaved, because their father did not guess "temper tantrum" in the game. A good time was had by all.
After a couple nights at RVYC, we motored (again) up to Ganges on Saltspring Island. It was the usually sunny, chilly weather we missed so much. Again, were wearing our August fleece ensembles.
Anyhow, we spent the night at Ganges. It was great to see some SYC friends again. It was really handy to have our bikes for quick shopping trips to the village.
After 1 night, we motored (again!) up to Nanaimo via Dodd Narrows. We anchored out overnight. There was an Austrian Amel and a German cruising boat nearby. We would have liked to hear their stories.
Tasman to Tatoosh: Landfall!
Sunday, August 12th! Landfall at Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada!
Completing our 18 day, 2,471 n mile passage from Kauai reaching under cool, but sunny skies, we watched the snow-capped mountains of Vancouver Island grow taller and taller, we arrived at our destination. We were greeted on the way into the harbour by a whale sounding. [When we get back to the US, it'll be "harbor" again.]
This passage completed our 9,877 mile return voyage from Hobart, Tasmania started on Bill's birthday March 9th. What a relief to have that all behind us. We didn't have any really bad weather or trouble, but what a long tedious trip. After a perfunctory visit from the RCMP for customs, Barbara and Harry Lee took us to their condo for champagne and salmon. Life was truly looking good! What a great welcome! Thanks Barbara and Harry!
And many thanks to Seth Siegal, who sailed with us! His unending thoughtfulness, good humor, resourcefulness and patience made the trip so much easier and enjoyable for us. We are in his debt.
We stayed a couple nights in Ucluelet, showered, shopped, laundered and fueled up. On August 14th headed out again towards Victoria. We made a detour through Barkley Sound and spotted some humpback whales in Imperial Eagle Channel later in the afternoon.
The breeze came up and we hoisted the sails. As the sun set, the fog closed in and the wind died. We motored overnight to Victoria keeping a very close watch on the radar and AIS for the many vessels traveling and fishing in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Sometime in the night, we completed our return rounding of Tatoosh Island, closing the loop on our 3 year, 27,351 n mile Pacific voyage. Now we're off to rediscover southern BC before returning to Seattle for good.
.
Completing our 18 day, 2,471 n mile passage from Kauai reaching under cool, but sunny skies, we watched the snow-capped mountains of Vancouver Island grow taller and taller, we arrived at our destination. We were greeted on the way into the harbour by a whale sounding. [When we get back to the US, it'll be "harbor" again.]
This passage completed our 9,877 mile return voyage from Hobart, Tasmania started on Bill's birthday March 9th. What a relief to have that all behind us. We didn't have any really bad weather or trouble, but what a long tedious trip. After a perfunctory visit from the RCMP for customs, Barbara and Harry Lee took us to their condo for champagne and salmon. Life was truly looking good! What a great welcome! Thanks Barbara and Harry!
And many thanks to Seth Siegal, who sailed with us! His unending thoughtfulness, good humor, resourcefulness and patience made the trip so much easier and enjoyable for us. We are in his debt.
We stayed a couple nights in Ucluelet, showered, shopped, laundered and fueled up. On August 14th headed out again towards Victoria. We made a detour through Barkley Sound and spotted some humpback whales in Imperial Eagle Channel later in the afternoon.The breeze came up and we hoisted the sails. As the sun set, the fog closed in and the wind died. We motored overnight to Victoria keeping a very close watch on the radar and AIS for the many vessels traveling and fishing in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Sometime in the night, we completed our return rounding of Tatoosh Island, closing the loop on our 3 year, 27,351 n mile Pacific voyage. Now we're off to rediscover southern BC before returning to Seattle for good.
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| Whale's Tail |
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Waving at the Folks Back Home
Saturday 10:23 a.m. Seattle time
We're at Seattle's latitude (47° 43'N). We're about 400 miles west at 131 47W,
Wave as we pass by.
*\o/*
()
/\
Back in our Home Latitudes
Thursday, August 9
Lat 47 01N Lon 134 57W Course 50 Motoring 5kts Calm (duh) Overcast (duh)
After a great downwind ride, wing & wing, gliding on the gentle swells, for a couple days and nights, the wind gave out and we're motoring again.
Although we're 450-500 miles offshore, we're cheering as we pass the latitudes of Astoria (46 10N) and Olympia (47 01N). We plan to make landfall at Ukee (Ucluelet BC 48 55N) in 3-4 days (and nights, sigh...)
Bill and Seth saw whales spouting today.
Although, we've had good conditions and no real problems (knock wood), we've had about enough and we're really looking forward to the end of this passage.
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