08/17 - Gulf Islands, Part Two

I just made reservations at Montague Harbor Marina for the night of Wed. 8/20. Their telephone number is 250-539-5733. They monitor 66A (not 68 as my Northwest Boat Travel Guide indicates).
Marilyn, (the lady I spoke with) stated there is currently plenty of room available but she did recommend making reservations ahead of time. (No charge if you cancel 48 hours prior).

After speaking with her, I felt fairly fluent in Canadian...."eh"... :wink

It would sure be great if we were joined on this cruise by our wonderful Canadian C-Brats!
 
Dave
Well I'm glad you and Carol can make it for the relaxed cruise. As Pat said, don't expect too much structure, but there should be lots of fun.
We plan to anchor our most nights and hit the marinas for re-supply and showers.
See ya at Bellingham.
Terry
 
So, we are pondering whether to bring a crab pot or two. Here is the link to get a Canadian Tidal Sport Fishing License (needed for shellfish) online. Anybody else thinking about doing any fishing or crabbing?
 
We are bringing a crab pot and two shrimp pots. Not sure which days we will be crabbing, so plan on picking up a daily license as needed. There is a store by the ferry landing near Lyle (sp) cove where we have got our license in the past.
 
And I'll be bringing the Nat King Cole tapes, books on relationships and psychoillogical development, Cat Fancy magazines and moderately fresh tennis shoes for island trekking.
:cat
 
Hey Gulf Islanders,

Dee and I will be joining you for a few days after B-Ham and will bring crab pots and rings. Mid week we will likely head up to Princess Louisa Inlet and back the following week.

We look forward to spending some time will all of you in the islands. (our first trip to the BC Islands) :D

Don and Dee
 
Hey All,

If any of the Gulf Islanders are checking. We're just leaving Blind Bay on Shaw Island. Got a late start on Suday and decided to anchor there. We're heading to Pender Island to check in and will stay at Poets Cove for a day or two, then on the Montaque on Wednesday.

Don and Dee
 
I just heard from Pat on Daydream this morning on the 2M ham band. They were just pulling anchor at Winter Cove, Saturna Island, BC. There is a forecast of severe winds this morning and they were moving out of there.
 
Weather weasels are out in force. We had a very sloppy crossing of Haro from Prevost to Sidney yesterday with unexpected high wind gusts against the outgoing tide, got up to about 5 ft in a couple of tide rips.
A large number of people leaving Sidney were screaming on the radio to get their moorings back for another night.
Calm this morning but forcast is evil for next two days so we may be forced to read ALL the books in the stores here and try all the restaurants.
Typically, the various forcasts all agree there is a nasty storm for tonight but no-one can agree when it ends.

C-ya,

Merv & Kathy
 
We left B'Ham about 10 am Monday. Crossing B'Ham Bay was sloppy, sloppy, sloppy! 2 - 4 footers! Told Joe not to bother with the windshield wiper on the port side. The next wave will wash off the raindrops.

Arriving at Bedwell, we noticed that another C-Dory was already there. It was Dee and Don (KNOTTY C). They'd planned to stay at Poets Cove but then decided to go to Winter Cove where we were headed. When we arrived at Winter, we found ROCK-C, ANITA MARIE, DAYDREAM, SEA COASTER, SEA SHIFT & ENDURANCE. Add R-MATEY & KNOTTY C...well, it was another great C-Brat gathering. DREAMER & C-CAKES were at nearby Lyall Harbor.

We all left Winter Cove early the next morning to avoid the storm that was coming in...destination Genoa Bay. Because we were a bit to early to check into the Genoa Bay Marina, we decided to go into Cowichan Bay. Interestng place..... The gasoline was $1.59 liter. One C-Brat who was happily filling the gas tank finally asked the attendant just how much was owed..."Oh", she says, " You're at $196.00"....Gasp!

Went looking for a the bakery while in Cowichan. Bakery is closed on Tuesday. Just felt like something sweet so went looking for a solid chocolate candy bar. Couldn't find one so settled for a chocolate covered ice cream bar.

And...you wouldn't believe the experience some of us had with this guy at the Cowichan Government Dock. Some of us thought he was the harbor master. The way he was barking orders and telling us to move our C-Dorys. Not employed there at all. Actually an American that owns a Nordic Tug. We saw him later at Genoa Bay. Jeez!

Spent a delightful afternoon & evening at Genoa Bay Marina. The showers & restrooms are well maintained. Nice little store & marina.

While at Genoa another C-Dory arrived...RAMBLIN' ROSE. The owners names are Cristi & Neil from Portland, Oregon. They love to fish and had met Steve & CatyMae somewhere there in Oregon. Quite a shock for them to find out that our CatyMae has left us. Another case I think of where CatyMae left her mark.

Montaque Harbor is our next stop after Genoa Bay. Having never been up the west side of Saltspring Island, we cruise north and check out Maple Bay. Joe noticed a couple of boats that he thought were interesting but nothing out of the ordinary there. At the north end of Saltspring is Southey Point. Just around the corner on the east side of Saltspring is Wallace Island. So now we know where that one is. ENDURANCE, DAYDREAM & SEA COASTER stayed at Wallace Wednesday night. No time for us to explore though, it's a bit rough in that channel so we want to get to Montague.

Arrive Montague mid afternoon. Anchor out. Another great CBGT at Montague. BAMBINA, DREAMER, C-CHANGE, SEA SHIFT, KNOTTY-C, KINGFISHER II, ROCK-C & R-MATEY. Earlier in the day Joe & I weren't sure if we wanted to go to the Hummingbird Pub but finally decided we'll do it. It was a fun filled evening. Different bus driver this time (but he doesn't back up any better than I do!) As hard as he hit that block wall, we couldn't find any fresh dents in the back of that bus!

This morning we left Montague and crossed the Strait of Georgia to check in at Point Roberts. A good crossing this time. Wasn't that bad going south to Bellingham, either.

Always so much fun to get with our fellow C-Brats but nice to arrive home, too.

Many thanks to ROCK-C for setting up the GI CBGT. We had a wonderful time!

Ruth & Joe
R-MATEY
 
Nice write up, Joe and Ruth (OK, we know Ruth wrote that :wink: ). You don't suppose that jerk with the Nordic Tug used to own a green sailboat that we met up close and personal in Bellingham, do you? :evil:

Sounds like y'all had fun, lumpy conditions and all. Thanks for taking the time to share!

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan
 
Great write up, Ruth --

I really tear up not being there with that pod of Brats. :cry Keep the stories coming, sweet one, and lets meet at Anacortes or some place near by -- have a ton of genealogy books for you.

Or have you given that up?

Sorry for the OT.
 
JamesTXSD":13sjlk73 said:
Nice write up, Joe and Ruth (OK, we know Ruth wrote that :wink: ). You don't suppose that jerk with the Nordic Tug used to own a green sailboat that we met up close and personal in Bellingham, do you? :evil:

Sounds like y'all had fun, lumpy conditions and all. Thanks for taking the time to share!

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan

Jim and Joan,

Thank you for the kind words about the write-up.

Don't know if that Nordic guy ever owned a sailboat but he sure ticked off more than one C-Brat that was in the group.

As lumpy & bumpy as it was out there, felt totally secure in our 19. These C-Dorys are awesome :thup :thup :thup

Ruth (and Joe, too)
R-MATEY
 
Sawdust":2k8r4598 said:
Great write up, Ruth --

I really tear up not being there with that pod of Brats. :cry Keep the stories coming, sweet one, and lets meet at Anacortes or some place near by -- have a ton of genealogy books for you.

Or have you given that up?

Sorry for the OT.

Dusty, It would have just been wonderful if you could have joined us. A bit of shrimping or crabbing would have made your day! Dee & Don (KNOTTY C) set some pots. Don't know if they caught anything before we left but they'll be up there in the GI's for a while so they still have time.

O.T. After 44 years of researching, have not given up the genealogy. One of Joe's favorite quips is that he's been in more graveyards than Dracula. Let's get together in either Anacortes or O.H.

Thanks, too, for the nice compliment. Enjoyed writing about the trip. We haven't been out since the Anacortes CBGT so it was doubly refreshing and fun.

See you soon.

Ruth and Joe
R-MATEY
 
Hello from Ganges
I know, I said I would never go to Ganges again, but here we are.
The weather has been good since Thursday with rain forcaste for Sunday. We are not sure of our plans, we have a few days till we need to head home. It has been fun visiting with the C-Brats along on the cruise. Since I'm soo slow at typing, I'll post more details later(when we get home). I'm off to find a (well needed) shower.
Thanks to every one that came along on this years version of the GI CBGT.
Terry.
 
What a nice week of cruising and rubbing elbows with the C-Brats! We saw a weather window this morning and left montague at 07:15. The Straits had a slight ripple and a few boat wakes. At 10:30, we pulled into John Wayne Marina and loaded Dreamer on her trailer.

We had a nice visit last night with folks from our Sequim Bay Yacht Club. They are also on a cruise and we had been neglecting them.

We saw 2 C-Dories at Montague, the Jennie-O and an unnamed new 22 Angler from Maryland and now in Vancouver BC.

I'll post what photos we have in the next day or so.
 
Hi Folks:

Stacy and I had a nice week meeting new Brats and seeing C-Brat friends. We had some fuel problems during the week but managed to keep the engines running. Well .....at least at high RPMs, but lost one at low RPMs - probably a plugged idle jet in the carb.

Today we left Sidney at 8am and made it to Roche Harbor just as the customs office was opening at 9am. We took advantage of the weather window as well and decided to run down Haro Strait and the cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca for a 93 mile run to Shilshole marina (arrived around 3pm). Almost glassy water all the way. We were tired and decided to spend the night here instead of waiting our turn in the locks.

We had a nice dinner in Ballard and will head home in the morning. Already looking forward to next year.

Thanks everyone for a great week

Jan & Stacy
C-Change
 
What a super trip!!! :D :D :D

C-Brats are the best, and thanks to all for your wisdom and help, especially those who figured out why I was adrift out in the bay near Cowichan, with no power :shock: After being escorted by Jim and Joe (on Endurance) into Genoa Bay the C-Brats team, esp. Fred of Anita Marie and Don of Knotty C (and others) dug in and discovered... more rigging problems :amgry
The fuel line and electric line were rubbing on two large bolts on the transom that are exposed so every time the steering moved, the lines rubbed. By now gasoline was shooting out all over and it was a matter of time until the worn electrical line failed also. I am BEYOND GRATEFUL to all who pitched in with special tape, more special tape and then 2 pieces of garden hose to stop the damage from moving to the next level, which could have been an extremely dangerous fire.
I am learning more and more how important rigging is to power boats, and appreciate all the help with what could be life-saving, and certainly is money saving help due to rigging issues :x

It was great fun :D to gather with others in such beautiful places and enjoy each other. Thanks to C Change for organizing this and also to Terry and Jake for lessons in anchoring and stern tying :D

Thanks to Jim on Endurance for lots of help, including noticing a huge rooster tail behind my engine (indicating a problem, which was a 4 foot stick that had managed to quietly grab on in Skagit Flats.) :roll:

What a great week with wonderful folks! Anne
 
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