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 8th 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 10th 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.
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| Leaving Montague |
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| Sunset Montaque Harbor |
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| This looks fun! here comes my wake boys and girls. |
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| Dodd Narrows |
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| Dodd Narrows |
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| Nanaimo |
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| Dinghy Pub!! |
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| New Castle Anchorage |
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| Straits of Georgia |
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| Not paying attention |
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| Our route. WG is in the lower left |
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| Still snow on the peaks |
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| Smooth as a babies behind...... |
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| Pulling into Pender Harbor |
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| Careful of the rocks |
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| The Pub at Garden Bay |
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| Dock all to ourselves |
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| Power washing the slat off the boat |
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| Our route today from Nanaimo to Pender Harbor |
