Friday Harbor to Garden Bay

We left Friday harbor after 2 days tied to the dock.  The generator gremlin did not show its ugly head.  We love Friday harbor but it was time for a change.  Kay like Sucia, so the plan was to dock up in Fossil Bay.  We figured on a Monday there should be lots of room.  As we passed by it appeared the dock was full.  We found out later that you need to come into the bay to look.  There were two spots open.

Instead, we anchored up in Echo Bay in 26 feet and I added 140 feet of rode.  Good thing we did as the winds came up that evening and we were tight on the rode.  Several other boats were anchored up to include a National Geographic ship.  They are also headed to Sitka.  It would also appear I have done my good deed for this trip.  I was on the bow with my evening cigar and scotch when I saw this nice dinghy float by with no one in it.  I saw the boat it came from, so I lowered my dinghy and rescued it for its owner who was chasing it with a kayak.

The next day we took the dink over to Fossil Bay and hiked the trail to Jones Point.  It was gorgeous.  It so happened that at the dock were some friend we had met from Texas last year.  Al and Susan from the MY Kaos. Their plans had them in the San Jauns most of the summer.

On May 8^th we pulled the anchor and headed to Montague Harbor.  On the way we cleared Canadian Customs with just a phone call and it took less than 5 minutes.  Gotta love Nexus cards.  We anchored out in 20 ft and took the dink to shore so we could find out the bus schedule for the Hummingbird bar.  We were disappointed to learn that it doesn’t start operations until Memorial weekend.  Oh well we had a great early dinner at the restaurant.

The next stop is Nanaimo and the Castle Island anchorage.  Our first current rapids was Dodd Narrows.  We timed it just right to cross over at slack tide.  On the other side there were a ton of crab pots.  One poor guy got his stabilizers wrapped up in one.  The Port sent some folks out to assist him and we saw him a few hours later.  This is one of our favorite places because of the Dinghy Dock restaurant.  The anchorage was calm and lot of room to anchor.  Had a great dinner with beers.  That evening as Nanaimo lite up the evening no better place to be but the bow of ASD with a cigar and scotch watching folks going back and forth. 

Today, the 10^th we are heading across the northern end of the Straits of Georgia to Pender Harbor and Garden Bay.  We will tie up to the dock for a few days and give ASD a nice bath and Kay can get some laundry done.

On our way across there is a military training area called Whiskey Gulf (WG).  Today the area was closed to traffic.  How do I know, I called them and asked.  So I plotted a route around the area as they tend to get a little crabby if you trespass on the area when it is closed.  It amazes me how folks (idiots) seem to think the rules don’t apply to them.   Most of them are sail boats!!  I even passed a sail boat that was headed straight into the area.  I blew my horns and tried to to raise him on the radio.  About 15 minutes later a helicopter buzzed the idiot.  The sail boat finally answered the radio.  The chopper told him to head magnetic north to take him out of the area.  He didn’t know which way was NORTH!!!  Idiots….

The seas are flat and no wind!  We have the dock to ourselves, so far.

Leaving Montague

Sunset Montaque Harbor

This looks fun!  here comes my wake boys and girls.

Dodd Narrows

Dodd Narrows

Nanaimo

Dinghy Pub!!

New Castle Anchorage

Straits of Georgia 

Not paying attention

Our route.  WG is in the lower left

Still snow on the peaks

Smooth as a babies behind......

Pulling into Pender Harbor

Careful of the rocks

The Pub at Garden Bay

Dock all to ourselves

Power washing the slat off the boat

Our route today from Nanaimo to Pender Harbor