25th: We left Ganges around 10:00 this morning to blue sky & low 60's. Our neighbor across the dock offered to help us get out by holding one of our midship lines & I watched our fenders on the "raft" side. Everything went smoothly as usual as Captain Rod knew exactly how to get us out of there. Our "rafted side" neighbor never did show up so they must moor their boat there.
We arrived at Henry at 12:30. We visited with other boaters, had some lunch & then started getting ready to put the dinghy down before another boat came in next to us (have to drop the dinghy on the starboard side of the boat). Before we got very far, another Grand Banks started coming in next to us. Unfortunately too late to put down the dinghy so we're hoping they'll leave tomorrow so we can go over to Roche tomorrow as we won't be going anywhere now ):
26th: Got up to sunshine so staying 1 more day & then it looks like the weather is changing so we'll head home Tuesday. Unfortunately the people next to us are still here so the dinghy can't come down. No trips to Roche this time. The rain actually came right around dinner time - fortunately Rod had just finished barbequing our burgers. This has been a great boating trip for us with lots of memorable times. Now it's back to Shelter Bay, getting ready for the Sucia end of summer cruise & then finishing up the move from Seattle to La Conner.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Aug. 24th - Ganges
This morning we went to the Farmers Market around 9:00. We ran into both of the "Broughton" couples we saw at dinner last night. As we were visiting, I saw a guy who looked so familiar. It turned out it was Steve Immerman, both a surgeon & a glass artist whom we know through Pilchuk & Steve Klein. We have one of his glass pieces in La Conner. He was on Saltspring Island visiting another artist for a week. He lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin so we did not expect to see him here with his family - 3 generations.
We bought some wonderful flavored goat cheese - 3 varieties from Saltspring Island Cheese which is an amazing company. We got lemon, tapenade & truffle...yum! They kept them in a cooler while we went to Mouats, a wonderful boating & hardware store in Ganges. We ran into some SYC boaters there - it's amazing how many boaters you see repeatedly when you're out for a couple of months. When we went back to the market it was packed with shoppers so we were glad we'd gone earlier in the morning. Then a stop at Sara's Buns - a great bakery & breakfast & lunch spot. We had a late breakfast & then wandered back to the boat, stopping on the way to get some squaw candy (hard smoked salmon) at the fish market by the marina.
Our Broughton friends came by this afternoon to invite us to a gallery opening in town so we met them for the 5:00pm reception. It was interesting but not our type of art - we did enjoy talking to the artist. After that we went with our 2 Broughton couples & another Canadian couple that they knew for a little dinner. Then back to the boat to feed the cat.
Tomorrow we head to Henry Island (by Roche). We'll be back to Shelter Bay Monday or Tuesday, depending on the weather. It's been in the high 50's-low 60's today, with sprinkles on & off although the evening was very nice.
We bought some wonderful flavored goat cheese - 3 varieties from Saltspring Island Cheese which is an amazing company. We got lemon, tapenade & truffle...yum! They kept them in a cooler while we went to Mouats, a wonderful boating & hardware store in Ganges. We ran into some SYC boaters there - it's amazing how many boaters you see repeatedly when you're out for a couple of months. When we went back to the market it was packed with shoppers so we were glad we'd gone earlier in the morning. Then a stop at Sara's Buns - a great bakery & breakfast & lunch spot. We had a late breakfast & then wandered back to the boat, stopping on the way to get some squaw candy (hard smoked salmon) at the fish market by the marina.
Our Broughton friends came by this afternoon to invite us to a gallery opening in town so we met them for the 5:00pm reception. It was interesting but not our type of art - we did enjoy talking to the artist. After that we went with our 2 Broughton couples & another Canadian couple that they knew for a little dinner. Then back to the boat to feed the cat.
Tomorrow we head to Henry Island (by Roche). We'll be back to Shelter Bay Monday or Tuesday, depending on the weather. It's been in the high 50's-low 60's today, with sprinkles on & off although the evening was very nice.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Aug. 23rd - Ganges
We left Ovens Island around 11:30 - lazy morning, Rod visiting with cousin Steve before they took off & then another solo boater. It was in the 70's already, with partial clouds & blue sky. Cruising on the flybridge again - awesome...and then, 22 knot winds! Didn't take long for both of us to head down to the salon!!!
We arrived at Ganges Marina about 2:15. They put us on the breakwater as the boat in our assigned spot decided to stay another day & the office person forgot to tell the dock master. The marina was full as tomorrow is the Farmers' Market which is very popular. That is not a good spot to stay at as any current or wind makes the boat move around a lot.
Fortunately after a short while, they came to say we could move, although into a spot that did not have much room for 2 boats if one is our size. Rod went to check it out & came back to say we would move. The slip is VERY narrow but Rod managed to wedge us in with help from 2 dock hands. Fortunately, the boat next to us left fenders out on our side & were not there. It would have been difficult to watch!!! We added a couple more fenders - can't wait to see the reaction from our neighbors when they return although we're not sure they're actually on the boat.
We went to Calvin's for dinner - not too far from the marina. Ran into 2 couples we met in the Broughton's. They're here for the farmers market too so may see them tomorrow again.
We arrived at Ganges Marina about 2:15. They put us on the breakwater as the boat in our assigned spot decided to stay another day & the office person forgot to tell the dock master. The marina was full as tomorrow is the Farmers' Market which is very popular. That is not a good spot to stay at as any current or wind makes the boat move around a lot.
Fortunately after a short while, they came to say we could move, although into a spot that did not have much room for 2 boats if one is our size. Rod went to check it out & came back to say we would move. The slip is VERY narrow but Rod managed to wedge us in with help from 2 dock hands. Fortunately, the boat next to us left fenders out on our side & were not there. It would have been difficult to watch!!! We added a couple more fenders - can't wait to see the reaction from our neighbors when they return although we're not sure they're actually on the boat.
We went to Calvin's for dinner - not too far from the marina. Ran into 2 couples we met in the Broughton's. They're here for the farmers market too so may see them tomorrow again.
Ganges Marina
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| We are NOT rafted. There just isn't very much room in the slip. |
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| Lady Lynn moored in a slip at the Ganges Marina |
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| View toward the breakwater at Ganges Marina |
Aug. 21st/22nd - Pender Harbor/Ovens Island (SYC outstations)
21st: Left this morning about 6:30am, headed to Pender Harbor. Another beautiful day - very little wind so a very smooth crossing of Malaspina Strait & up on the flybridge driving by 9:30. Arrived at noon. It got up to 84' today - quite warm but lovely!!! By evening it was close to 90' in the boat so we put the air conditioning on for the first time to see if it worked & it did! Used to cool down the salon a little & then off it went.
22nd: We left Pender at 7:00am with 3 boats ahead of us from SYC. The winds are forecasted to pick up tomorrow & change directions so today is definitely a better choice. Sunny again but still in the low 60's when we left. Was smooth in the Georgia Straits to start & then we got into the trough & it got a little bumpier, but not bad - wind from .6-11 knots. It was up in the high 80's again today. Ovens Island (in the Dunsmuir Islands in Sibell Bay, Ladysmith Harbor) is a great spot-no electricity or water but some great walking paths & picnic tables. There were only 5 boats here tonight but we still had a small happy hour with appetizers.
One of them was another cousin of mine (this is my summer for cousin reunions!) - first cousin, his dad was my mother's brother. I grew up with Steve when we lived in Tacoma, although he was 10+ years older than me. Rod actually was one of his sponsors when he joined SYC. His generator stopped working so after happy hour the guys moved his boat back by us in case he needed to use our newly installed "buddy hookup" to our generator (which we did use, by the way, when we were rafted so people could alternate using their generators). However, after much time, supervision from Rod & others, an impellor was replaced & the generator was working again. Dinner turned into cereal for Rod & leftover corned beef for me...way too late to cook!
22nd: We left Pender at 7:00am with 3 boats ahead of us from SYC. The winds are forecasted to pick up tomorrow & change directions so today is definitely a better choice. Sunny again but still in the low 60's when we left. Was smooth in the Georgia Straits to start & then we got into the trough & it got a little bumpier, but not bad - wind from .6-11 knots. It was up in the high 80's again today. Ovens Island (in the Dunsmuir Islands in Sibell Bay, Ladysmith Harbor) is a great spot-no electricity or water but some great walking paths & picnic tables. There were only 5 boats here tonight but we still had a small happy hour with appetizers.
One of them was another cousin of mine (this is my summer for cousin reunions!) - first cousin, his dad was my mother's brother. I grew up with Steve when we lived in Tacoma, although he was 10+ years older than me. Rod actually was one of his sponsors when he joined SYC. His generator stopped working so after happy hour the guys moved his boat back by us in case he needed to use our newly installed "buddy hookup" to our generator (which we did use, by the way, when we were rafted so people could alternate using their generators). However, after much time, supervision from Rod & others, an impellor was replaced & the generator was working again. Dinner turned into cereal for Rod & leftover corned beef for me...way too late to cook!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Aya and Lynn kayaking in Desolation Sound Marine Park
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| Aya poses while Lynn watches |
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| Lynn in her kayak |
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| Entrance to Desolation Sound Marine Park |
Aug. 19-20th: Back to Cortes
19th - Had a leisurely morning after being up late 2 nights in a row. Left Prideaux Haven around 1:30, mid 70's & sun, some clouds but high cumulus. Got to the outstation around 3:00. Definitely fewer boats here now as the summer is winding down. Aya & I walked up to the top of the hill to see the amazing view & then they started getting ready to be picked up by Kenmore Air who came at 5:45. Shortly after they were gone, one of the boaters who had just come in across the dock from us brought out some appetizers & 8 of us stood around visiting for awhile. Then back to the boat for dinner.
20th - Woke up to blue sky & sun (not sure why our guests had to leave for this to happen)! It was cool (in the high 50's) but beautiful. Today was laundry day & clean up before we start heading south. Got up to mid 70's today. Only 5 boats at the outstation by the end of the day. I think 4 planes came in today dropping off & taking people away.
Once it cooled off & the sun started to set, a couple a dock away came out with 2 cats on leashes & walked them along the dock. I talked to them & got the scoop on the leashes & the walking. They were both rescue cats, one is young & the other is almost 16 years old. The halters are designed for cats & the woman told me how she trained them (took about 2-1/2 weeks). They're indoor cats & this is how they get their exercise - quite a sight!
20th - Woke up to blue sky & sun (not sure why our guests had to leave for this to happen)! It was cool (in the high 50's) but beautiful. Today was laundry day & clean up before we start heading south. Got up to mid 70's today. Only 5 boats at the outstation by the end of the day. I think 4 planes came in today dropping off & taking people away.
Once it cooled off & the sun started to set, a couple a dock away came out with 2 cats on leashes & walked them along the dock. I talked to them & got the scoop on the leashes & the walking. They were both rescue cats, one is young & the other is almost 16 years old. The halters are designed for cats & the woman told me how she trained them (took about 2-1/2 weeks). They're indoor cats & this is how they get their exercise - quite a sight!
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