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| The dreaded Johnstone Strait |
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| Tour boat stops at Lagoon Cove for fuel and potty break |
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| Lady Lynn at Lagoon Cove |
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| Beautiful day |
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| Some of the yacht club flags donated by visiting boaters |
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| Lagoon Cove is famous for bears and bear stories |
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Lagoon Cove
July 30th - Lagoon Cove
We left Blind Channel about 9am heading to Lagoon Cove - blue sky & sun all around! We went through 2 sets of rapids & Johnstone Strait which was flat the whole way. We saw 2 schools of dolphins - one by the first rapids & the other right before we entered the Strait. Right before we got to the Strait we had many dolphins playing & running back & forth in front of the bow.
We got to Lagoon Cove about 2:30 & boats were waiting in the bay to dock. They have a fuel dock & some boats were coming & going there & others were leaving the marina so we all waited until we were given our spots & then there was a flood of incoming boats! The people working here are truly amazing at fitting as many boats as possible into the little marina
Lagoon Cove is famous for its happy hour at 5:00. They provide as much shrimp as you can eat & everyone brings appetizers & their beverage of choice. It's sad to be here this time because Bill Barber, the owner for many years, passed away earlier this year. His wife, Jean, is still running the marina with 2 friends who have been helping out every summer for quite awhile but she would like to sell. We had the opportunity to visit with her for awhile towards the end of happy hour & thought her attitude was amazing. She said that so many friends & boaters have come to help her with everything from provisioning for the summer to helping her figure out tax payments, other bills and just the running of the marina, since she was never really part of running the marina - that was all Bill.
We got to Lagoon Cove about 2:30 & boats were waiting in the bay to dock. They have a fuel dock & some boats were coming & going there & others were leaving the marina so we all waited until we were given our spots & then there was a flood of incoming boats! The people working here are truly amazing at fitting as many boats as possible into the little marina
Lagoon Cove is famous for its happy hour at 5:00. They provide as much shrimp as you can eat & everyone brings appetizers & their beverage of choice. It's sad to be here this time because Bill Barber, the owner for many years, passed away earlier this year. His wife, Jean, is still running the marina with 2 friends who have been helping out every summer for quite awhile but she would like to sell. We had the opportunity to visit with her for awhile towards the end of happy hour & thought her attitude was amazing. She said that so many friends & boaters have come to help her with everything from provisioning for the summer to helping her figure out tax payments, other bills and just the running of the marina, since she was never really part of running the marina - that was all Bill.
Monday, July 29, 2013
July 29th - Cruising to Blind Channel
We left Cortez at 7:30, a little later than originally planned as Rod had Prideaux Haven instead of Cortez in his cruise plan by mistake. We hit the rapids slightly ahead of slack but our boat has 1/2 hour leeway on either side of slack. Lots of boats going through in both directions - sail & motor. It already seems like there are more smaller boats here than we've seen so far on our journey.
Just before we came to the rapids, we saw at least 4-5 Orca whales off Stuart Island in Gillard Passage. There were several whale watching boats viewing them which caught our attention. Then, right after that we had a group of dolphins running along side the boat. A perfect reminder of why we love to come up north! It really is beautiful - even more so than Desolation, I think (which is hard to believe). Going through the rapids, we were accompanied by a lovely 2 masted schooner called The Pacific Grace. It had a lot of young people on it - maybe learning how to sail?
We got to Blind Channel about 12:30. They have a nice store & restaurant, as well as a little outside shack that serves lunch until 1:30 (new this year). I ended up having halibut fish tacos & Rod had a braut - we ate outside with 2 other SYC couples who got in today from the Broughtons. They said the weather prediction is good for the next 30 days...at least no rain forecast.
We picked up a few things at the store & will go to the restaurant for dinner tonight. No weight loss going on in this boat ): & (: The little marina here is full but they keep packing them in (21 boats moored) & 8 of them are SYC members.
We are docked next to a 42' Grand Banks with a dog on board - Chardonnay poked his head out the door on their side & the dog started barking, the cat ran downstairs. That started a conversation & we ended up having dinner together. It turns out that they live in Tacoma & are art collectors - both glass & native american art so we had a great conversation.
Just before we came to the rapids, we saw at least 4-5 Orca whales off Stuart Island in Gillard Passage. There were several whale watching boats viewing them which caught our attention. Then, right after that we had a group of dolphins running along side the boat. A perfect reminder of why we love to come up north! It really is beautiful - even more so than Desolation, I think (which is hard to believe). Going through the rapids, we were accompanied by a lovely 2 masted schooner called The Pacific Grace. It had a lot of young people on it - maybe learning how to sail?
We got to Blind Channel about 12:30. They have a nice store & restaurant, as well as a little outside shack that serves lunch until 1:30 (new this year). I ended up having halibut fish tacos & Rod had a braut - we ate outside with 2 other SYC couples who got in today from the Broughtons. They said the weather prediction is good for the next 30 days...at least no rain forecast.
We picked up a few things at the store & will go to the restaurant for dinner tonight. No weight loss going on in this boat ): & (: The little marina here is full but they keep packing them in (21 boats moored) & 8 of them are SYC members.
We are docked next to a 42' Grand Banks with a dog on board - Chardonnay poked his head out the door on their side & the dog started barking, the cat ran downstairs. That started a conversation & we ended up having dinner together. It turns out that they live in Tacoma & are art collectors - both glass & native american art so we had a great conversation.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
July 28th - Cortez
More jockeying on the dock this morning as boats slowly decided to move on. We moved twice & are now at the outer end of the dock - perfectly positioned to move out easily tomorrow morning when we head to Blind Channel. Much better than our spot on the U of the dock where everyone around us would have to get up to fend us off when we leave tomorrow at 6:30am. We need to get thru the Yuculta Rapids at slack water so that drives when we leave.
The inside of the boat is now clean & the frig is reorganized - freed of some bad lettuce & honey dew rinds. The water tank is full. Another beautiful day - in the high 70's & the wind died down in the afternoon. We had pasta with tuna tonight - trying to save the freezer food for later. Last night was barbequed chicken & brown rice with quinoa & garlic.
There are 13 boats here tonight. The caretaker for the outstation told me yesterday that it usually gets full here with 15-16 boats as the boats are much bigger this year & last. A lot more boats fit in when smaller boats come to Cortez.
The inside of the boat is now clean & the frig is reorganized - freed of some bad lettuce & honey dew rinds. The water tank is full. Another beautiful day - in the high 70's & the wind died down in the afternoon. We had pasta with tuna tonight - trying to save the freezer food for later. Last night was barbequed chicken & brown rice with quinoa & garlic.
There are 13 boats here tonight. The caretaker for the outstation told me yesterday that it usually gets full here with 15-16 boats as the boats are much bigger this year & last. A lot more boats fit in when smaller boats come to Cortez.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
It's time for the Steer's to go home
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| Boss, deplane, deplane! |
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| Dylan, Heather and the kids get ready to board the plane |
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| Oh please, Daddy |
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| All aboard |
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| Goodbye! |
July 26-27th - Cortez
26th: The family flew out 1:30 today. H&D took a walk in the morning & the girls helped me do some laundry. Then they had lunch as it would be around 9pm before they got back to San Diego. Then the clean up & reorg started: 6 loads of laundry, 2 more to go, vacuuming & cat room reinstated where the kids were sleeping. Now we are trying to retrain Chardonnay so he knows where everything is! It was very warm but with a lot of wind - up to 15 knots with gale warnings on most of the waterways so most people stayed here. A couple more boats came in so now boats will be rafting - there are already 2 boats rafted.
27th: Last 2 loads of laundry done! Several boats coming & going today, with rafting required again. As soon as 1 leaves, then the rafted boats move into open spots so there is a lot of activity as people shift around. Winds are still up so most people who are going any distance are staying put. The boats that move are giving the guys a lot to do as much help is needed on the docks because of the winds. Everyone has extra fenders out so their boats don't get bumped as the boats move around. Pantry is reorganized - frig tomorrow as I'm sure there are some vegies ready to move to the trash. Looks like we'll be here until Monday as the wind hasn't slowed down at all.
One of the boat captains was putting up his dinghy today & his lifting cable broke. There was a loud crash as the boat hit the water. Everyone ran to make sure no one was hurt - everything was fine except for the cable.
27th: Last 2 loads of laundry done! Several boats coming & going today, with rafting required again. As soon as 1 leaves, then the rafted boats move into open spots so there is a lot of activity as people shift around. Winds are still up so most people who are going any distance are staying put. The boats that move are giving the guys a lot to do as much help is needed on the docks because of the winds. Everyone has extra fenders out so their boats don't get bumped as the boats move around. Pantry is reorganized - frig tomorrow as I'm sure there are some vegies ready to move to the trash. Looks like we'll be here until Monday as the wind hasn't slowed down at all.
One of the boat captains was putting up his dinghy today & his lifting cable broke. There was a loud crash as the boat hit the water. Everyone ran to make sure no one was hurt - everything was fine except for the cable.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Rebecca Spit and the girls birthday party
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| Sundown at Rebecca Spit |
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| Tree trunk on Rebecca Spit |
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| Sienna and Talia in the Princess Castle |
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| The Steer's on a beach walk |
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| Heather, Talia & Sienna are ornaments on a tree |
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| Sieanna in the rocks |
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| Dylan and Sienna in the tide pool |
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| Talia looks for treasures in the tide pool |
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| Sienna makes a wish |
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| Talia in an artful pose |
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| Sign at the SYC Outstation |
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| Lady Lynn at the SYC Cortes Outstation |
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| Sienna and Talia celebrate their 7th and 5th birthdays |
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| Chocolate birthday cake |
Thursday, July 25, 2013
July 25th - Rebecca Spit/SYC Cortez Outstation
This morning Rod took us over to the spit to explore. We walked along the beach & the kids built a castle/fort and then we walked back along the path - about a two hour outing. Then we left to go back to Cortez as the family flies out tomorrow.
Tonight was our now (perhaps) traditional birthday celebration for both Sienna (who will be 7) & Talia (who will be 5). Their birthdays are in August & September. Barbara (the baker who sells goodies on the dock) made a wonderful chocolate cake for us - same as last year. The girls made posters for each other & we decorated the salon. The girls took slices of cake to the caretakers tonight & we'll see how much is left tomorrow & may deliver some slices to other boats. The outstation is full this visit so we didn't try to visit the other boats as there isn't enough to go around.
Tonight was our now (perhaps) traditional birthday celebration for both Sienna (who will be 7) & Talia (who will be 5). Their birthdays are in August & September. Barbara (the baker who sells goodies on the dock) made a wonderful chocolate cake for us - same as last year. The girls made posters for each other & we decorated the salon. The girls took slices of cake to the caretakers tonight & we'll see how much is left tomorrow & may deliver some slices to other boats. The outstation is full this visit so we didn't try to visit the other boats as there isn't enough to go around.
July 24th - Rebecca Spit
After a late breakfast Rod dropped H-D-S-T off at Heriot Bay (where we had dinner last night) to rent bikes from a shop that Marty told us about before he left. They had a great time - Talia rode behind Heather in a pod & Dylan had a bike with a small bike attached onto the back so she could pedal too.
I took advantage of no one on the boat & did some cleaning. Then Rod & I went for a long dinghy ride around the bay, checking out the area & a couple of the marinas for the Kippers who are thinking of coming here to fish in August. Heather stopped at the grocery store on their way back & picked up steaks & zucchini to barbeque for dinner & some cookies, honey dew & watermelon for dessert.
Before & after dinner we played Carcassonne (a board game that I learned to play at Heather's & then we bought a set) so we could practice up on our skills. This was the first time I played with some of the extension parts so it will definitely take some more practicing! Mexican Train has been getting a lot of use on the boat so we decided to play something else. We have also been playing a LOT of: Go Fish, Uno, Old Maid & a Memory game with the kids (Grandma especially won't miss those)!!!
Today was day 25 (out of 26) of amazing weather for our trip - how lucky are we!!!!
I took advantage of no one on the boat & did some cleaning. Then Rod & I went for a long dinghy ride around the bay, checking out the area & a couple of the marinas for the Kippers who are thinking of coming here to fish in August. Heather stopped at the grocery store on their way back & picked up steaks & zucchini to barbeque for dinner & some cookies, honey dew & watermelon for dessert.
Before & after dinner we played Carcassonne (a board game that I learned to play at Heather's & then we bought a set) so we could practice up on our skills. This was the first time I played with some of the extension parts so it will definitely take some more practicing! Mexican Train has been getting a lot of use on the boat so we decided to play something else. We have also been playing a LOT of: Go Fish, Uno, Old Maid & a Memory game with the kids (Grandma especially won't miss those)!!!
Today was day 25 (out of 26) of amazing weather for our trip - how lucky are we!!!!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
July 22nd-23rd
Yesterday we took the girls to the sea shell gathering beach at low tide. Found some moon shells & other pretty shells - we'll bleach them in a pail to get rid of the sea odor & clean them up & then the girls can decide which ones they want to keep. There also are a lot of beautiful sea stars there so the girls collected them & Heather took pictures. Dylan was out for a kayak ride so he didn't go with us. We borrowed Jon's dinghy as it's bigger/roomier & handles better on the crossing if it's windy (which it wasn't).
The Silhans came back to Prideaux Haven so we had a chance to visit a little with them.
Then back to the raft for an appetizer dinner: oysters, clams, shrimp/sausage skewers, smaller shrimp on cream cheese with cocktail sauce, veggies, brie cheese & crackers & then an apple-rhubarb-blueberry pie with black cherry ice cream!
Today started early with a coffee get together on Jon's boat while Heather et al were still in bed or relaxing. My new found cousins left around 9:00 to head back on their fishing boat to Lund & then Pender Harbor where they leave their boat.
Our plan today was to hang out here for awhile & then leave for Rebecca Spit for a couple of days. Heather & Dylan went for a long kayak ride & then we left for our new place after lunch & goodbyes to Maggie, Lois & Jon. It took about 3 hours to get there & anchor. There were lots of logs in the water along the way & the water in front of Rebecca Spit is covered with logs because there have been very high tides the last few days. We went to a great restaurant by dinghy - we went there last year too.
The Silhans came back to Prideaux Haven so we had a chance to visit a little with them.
Then back to the raft for an appetizer dinner: oysters, clams, shrimp/sausage skewers, smaller shrimp on cream cheese with cocktail sauce, veggies, brie cheese & crackers & then an apple-rhubarb-blueberry pie with black cherry ice cream!
Today started early with a coffee get together on Jon's boat while Heather et al were still in bed or relaxing. My new found cousins left around 9:00 to head back on their fishing boat to Lund & then Pender Harbor where they leave their boat.
Our plan today was to hang out here for awhile & then leave for Rebecca Spit for a couple of days. Heather & Dylan went for a long kayak ride & then we left for our new place after lunch & goodbyes to Maggie, Lois & Jon. It took about 3 hours to get there & anchor. There were lots of logs in the water along the way & the water in front of Rebecca Spit is covered with logs because there have been very high tides the last few days. We went to a great restaurant by dinghy - we went there last year too.
Desolation Sound Expeditions
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| "Skewers" Prawns and sausage are Harvey's specialty. |
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| Oysters ready for the grill |
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| Shrimp and cream cheese |
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| "DSO" Oysters (Desolation Sound Oysters) |
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| Lynn, Sienna and Talia digging clams |
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| Harvey brings up one of his prawn traps |
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| Not a huge catch, but OK |
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| Seal Rock |
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| Harvey, Talia and Sienna on the prawning trip |
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| Lynn, Rod and the girls at the shell beach |
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| Sienna and a sea cuke cumber |
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| Talia looks are sea life at low tide |
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| Closeup view of some sea life |
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| Sienna's starfish collection |
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| Baby starfish on mommy's back |
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| Purple is in |
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| Prawns waiting for processing |
Sunday, July 21, 2013
July 21st
This morning we solved the family tree issue. My brother sent me info from a family history that my mom had written that detailed the history of my grandfather & his siblings coming to Canada & the U.S. Marty's sister talked to his mom who remembered coming to Seattle to visit my parents. It turns out that Marty's granddad & mine were brothers. Marty & I visited about that for quite a while this morning. It took both families to make the final connections.
This morning Dylan & the girls went with Harv to pull his shrimp pots - he got about 150 shrimp. When they got back Maggie cleaned them while they watched. And then the girls watched Harv throw the shrimp heads back into the water & saw all the little fish coming up to dine.
After lunch we took the family over to the "lagoon" again to swim. Then Rod & I went for a ride & found one of our friends who got in a couple days ago & visited with him a little before going to pick the swimmers up.
This morning Dylan & the girls went with Harv to pull his shrimp pots - he got about 150 shrimp. When they got back Maggie cleaned them while they watched. And then the girls watched Harv throw the shrimp heads back into the water & saw all the little fish coming up to dine.
After lunch we took the family over to the "lagoon" again to swim. Then Rod & I went for a ride & found one of our friends who got in a couple days ago & visited with him a little before going to pick the swimmers up.
Another great day in Desolation Sound
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| Dylan enjoys the view from Scobell Island |
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| Jon, Dylan and Harvey sort the clams |
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| White bucket gets the good clams the bad ones go overboard |
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| Steamers ready for cooking |
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| Harvey is the chief clam steamer |
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| Dylan and Penny |
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| Lois shows Sienna how to use clam shell as a tweezer |
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| Talia shows how many clams she has eaten |
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| Lynn and Marty find out they are related |
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| After dinner cool off swim |
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| Jumping off the boat is great fun |
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| Sienna midair |
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