08/17 - Gulf Islands, Part Two

Oh boy, need some sunny warm days in the Gulf Islands!!! Getting excited!!!


Rock-C":1twm6in8 said:
Bill/Mike
Could one of you set up a sign-up sheet. The start date is Aug 17, right after the Bellingham gig.
Thanks
Terry
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Rock-C":2o3e26t0 said:
Bill/Mike
Could one of you set up a sign-up sheet. The start date is Aug 17, right after the Bellingham gig.
Thanks
Terry
Click to expand...

OK, we got that done for you.

Are these the Canadian Gulf Islands or the Canadien Gulf Islands?
 
Now that Friday Harbor & Anacortes is over, it's time to get serious about the Gulf Is. trip. (Not too serious).
Ann & I plan on going at a slow pace and hang out around the southern part of the islands. We will be trying to catch some shrimp and crabs. I know some people have other plans & places they may want to see. So I thought we could meet up every couple of days. Or if some wanted to cruise together, that would be cool to. Anyway, we thought it would be convient to meet up at Montigue on Monday the 18th, Conover cove on Wednesday the 20th, and Port Browning on Friday the 22nd. Port Browning might be a good spot for anyone that only get away on the weekend.
If you have suggestions for other locations or times, toss them out there & we'll see what everyone thinks.
Barry & Warren did a great job of organizing the last two gatherings. Please don't expect that kind of planning on this trip. We are just going cruising and would love to have some friends along.
Terry
 
Terry: Looks good to Stacy and I . We are looking forward to seeing the Gulf Islands again and spending a little time exploring. When we stopped at Port Browning during the cruise last year the marina was for sale - so I don't know what the status is on the place. Anyone been there lately?

Jan & Stacy
C-Change
 
Jan & Stacy
Ya, I asked about the for sale sign, I was told it has been for sale for years.
Port Browning is an older, rundown, out of the way marina. Just the way I like it. :wink: There is a pretty good shopping center about a half hour walk from the marina.
They have a large open gress field we could get together for a pot luck.There are showers, but don't get your expectations too high. They work.
Also, it looks to be secure anchorage near by, if you wanted to dinghy in.
I'm glad you guys can make it.
Terry
ps; Pat, I totally agree on Ganges
 
Here is an interesting story about Port Browning, related to me by parties who shall remain nameless (for obvious reasons! :mrgreen: )

Of course....nothing has changed in Port Browning in decades. Breakfast is still greasy, the bar is still run down, the local teenagers are still drinking down on the beach every night and then of course, there's Lou.

The Pt Browning marina is owned by a woman named Lou. Lou is the poster girl for bi-polar disorder, she's hired and fired almost everyone on the island - frequently on the same day. Currently, Lou tells us - she is embroiled with the liquor inspector and the local police over the latest party of local revellers mooning the president of London Drugs - who was dining at her bar. At the request of the local police (tired of being called to her establishment) - she has made a list of the usual suspects and by order of the police and the liquor inspector, she may not serve alcohol to the listees. In her telling, she is relieved to be relieved of responsibility and this may be the best thing that could have happened. It all seemed so serious until one local on the dock asked...."Have you made the list?" Lou can't resist waving the list at people she wants to lord her particular brand of power over and so - it has become, like so many other things "Lou" ...a bit of a joke. When I suggested to this local and his friends that for Halloween, they should all come to the bar dressed as......Lou - they all hissed and hushed at me - "Careful - she'll HEAR you!" So, while they all joke about it - she does own the only locals bar on the island.

Lou has been separated from her husband for over 25 years - she runs the business and he owns the 30 acres uphill that are the primary source of water for the business - he also gets to come do repairs but ONLY if those repairs are needed to quell some clear and present danger - this does NOT extend to the bathrooms or the showers which now resemble some third world archaeological dig. Our friend [deleted] contracted some flesh eating disease from the showers at the marina several years ago but alas - he's not suppose to be using them so he had to rely on Canada's health program for assistance there. Lou absolves herself of any responsibility for upgrading or even taking care of the place by keeping it up for sale - which it has been for as long as anyone can remember. She is rumored to have taken $150K in earnest money from someone who put the money up before they knew that the local conservancy group would be intimately involved in all of their future decisions - a point of interest she craftily offered up after the check was signed.

I was going to buy some serious bath and tile cleaner so that I could safely take a shower but eventually opted to just avoid the showers all together. I was hopeful when we met the new janitor who said that he'd spent 4 days getting the women's showers clean - until I learned that it was 4 hours - a year ago. The kind, hapless janitor doubles as the busboy for the restaurant and the bar. He dutifully empties the overflowing garbage cans then wipes the bathroom counters and the tops of the toilet seats, once a week.

It was our great fortune to arrive on the day that the kitchen had to be closed for a complete cleaning. Seems "an American" complained to the health board. Bless his heart. Fortunately - Lou doesn't hold a grudge - one day you're in, the next day you're out and if you can take the abuse for a return trip - she'll take your money another day. Unfortunately, there are many - most of the yacht clubs in Vancouver and Victoria for example - who will not take the abuse and so these days, the place has a somber air. Gone are the occupancy limit-smashing parties, the rock and roll nights, the weekend long dust ups when wealthy yacht club members greased the skids at the bar - all victims of Lou's ill temper. By now, everyone on the island and indeed anyone with a boat in the Gulf Islands has been the target of at least one of Lou's moments of unbridled disgust in/at humanity. She threw an entire yacht club out of the restaurant once after SHE bumped into a member who asked for some common courtesy. When Lou starts a sentence with: "I OWN this place" the locals know it's time to run. She is as much defined by that statement as she is cursed by it. She calmly confided in us that she thought it almost criminal that she "had" to buy over $10,000.00 worth of food every month to run this place. The fact that she's making a profit on this seems to escape her. "If only it would sell" she lamented to us over breakfast. We know she doesn't want that and deep down, she does too.

Pender Island, one big dysfunctional family. We love them all and we are grateful that Lou provides a funky marina and a beautiful grassy spot on small bluff above a beautiful beach where we could pitch our tent amidst great tall firs. At night, we'd watch the moon skate across the sky through the spectacle of a meteor shower and during the day we'd watch boat after boat skate into the marina below providing the spectacle of frantic skippers and first mates trying to catch a cleat as the wind pushed them through the dock, rock, dinghy obstacle course. In five days - only one woman overboard in the docking process. Not bad.
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Warren
 
I wish we could make it again this year but with my Commodore duties, and my big commitment to the Tall Ships , we just ran out of the time on our schedule. Last year's trip with everyone was one of the best times we have ever had on our C-Dory.
Now we could do it if we could win the big one we could ........
 
It's about time to bring this thread back to the top.
I am SOOOOO ready for some time on the water. We are looking forward to the slower pace of the Gulf Islands. I want to explore some of the out-of-the-way places like Whaler Cove and Horton Bay. I have read about a vineyard on Lylle Cove. How cool would it be to spend an hour or two tasting local wines?
So, even if you don't appreciate the "rustic" Port Browning, there is still a lot to see and do.
Also, I want to give a shout out to all the veterans, past and present, that have made this a better country, and a safer world.
Terry
 
C-Cakes and crew will be in the Gulf Islands below Nanaimo July 10-14. We'll be monitoring 68. If any brats are in the area give us a shout we'd love to meet up.
 
Just read the post on Port Browning. Thanks, Warren. That was our last Canadian stop when we came back from Desolation Sound a couple of years ago. For being in a nice place, it was really run down, the food was bad and when I took a shower I caught some kind of fungus. That was the worst marina and shower we ever met north of the Mexican border, and I always wondered why. Now I know.

We then found out that Bellingham wasn't a Port of Entry, but Customs came there anyway.

Boris
 
If you guys will PM or email me your cell phone numbers, I will update, print and copy the list from last year to hand out on Sunday at Bellingham before departing. I suspect some folks will be going different directions, and it is nice to be able to get in touch to check on spots to meet up or whatever.
 
We will be around the same area (Sucia, Montague and the Winery on Saturna!!) from 17th to about 21st and would be happy to meet with one or all. Our MMSI is on file and we will monitor #68 (and I promise to wear my CD hat !!)

Merv & Kathy

PS. Will also be at Roche and Lopez next week with our Yacht Club so keep an eye open for the big white steroidially challenged "CD" if you are in the area.
 
Merv & Kathy and the rest of the Gulf Is. cast-aways.
We are going to Stewart Is. on Sunday after Bellingham. (Prevost Hbr. I think that is the one on the north side.) We'll check in with custome at Pender on Monday morning.
The original plan was to meet up at Montigue on Monday, but I think that may be too soon after Bellingham. So I'm just throwing this out there for everyone to think about. We could make Montigue on Tuesday or Wednesday. Then meet up at Conover Cove on Friday, and skip Port Browning all together. Any thoughts?
I know some people want to make reservations for Montigue Marina and time is running out.
We can work out the details and exchange travel plans at Bellingham or at Stewart Is.
See ya soon.
Terry
 
Yeah, I like Montague Harbour on Wednesday - middle of the week, we'll be ready for a nice meal out at the Hummingbird Pub.

Rock-C":rxyf1ib9 said:
Merv & Kathy and the rest of the Gulf Is. cast-aways.
We are going to Stewart Is. on Sunday after Bellingham. (Prevost Hbr. I think that is the one on the north side.) We'll check in with custome at Pender on Monday morning.
The original plan was to meet up at Montigue on Monday, but I think that may be too soon after Bellingham. So I'm just throwing this out there for everyone to think about. We could make Montigue on Tuesday or Wednesday. Then meet up at Conover Cove on Friday, and skip Port Browning all together. Any thoughts?
I know some people want to make reservations for Montigue Marina and time is running out.
We can work out the details and exchange travel plans at Bellingham or at Stewart Is.
See ya soon.
Terry
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...when the music stops....

Pub grub is good for us at any time so just let us know what Y'all decide. We are headed out tomorrow for 2 days at Roche (we didn't choose it!!) and one day at Fishermans with the South Whidbey Yacht Club which is just as social as the C-Brats so anyone wishing to join us is welcome.

Merv & Kathy
 
Questions for the Gulf Island Cruisers.........

1) Do we need to phone in reservations for marinas? (Marinas work best for us.)
2) If so, which marinas and what days/nights do we anticipate being there?
3) Does anyone have "up to date" phone numbers for the marinas?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!
 
Dave, I am pretty sure the current Waggoners is the best source for current phone numbers for marinas. Since we do not plan to stay in any marinas, can't help with the when/where others may be planning. I suspect this will be a looser group than some prior group cruises, with people starting out together then going different directions then meeting up at a coupe of pre-arranged spots - count on Montague Harbour and the Hummingbird pub on Wednesday! We can probably chat in Bellingham or Sunday night about who is going where.
 
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