08/22 - 08/24 - Victoria BC Gathering

Thank you everyone for coming. Those that could not come missed a great time. Nothing fancy but the weather and the dock were both top notch.

Susan and I left the cornet bay ramp at 5 on Thursday and headed around the south side of Lopez on completely flat seas. When we got to cattle pass Susan had dinner ready and we just turned off the engine and drifted while eating on bath tube like water. Not a ripple. We decided not to run to Victoria right then because we would have hit the customs dock at 8pm and were afraid they would be closed . We did not want to spend the night on the customs dock waiting for them to show up in the morning. We headed to FH and spent the night. Nice thing about a C dory , even when FH is stacking 30plus ft boats 3 deep on the breakwater you can always find a side tie open down near the bath rooms.

Friday morning , 11:58 is still morning, We headed to victoria on mostly flat sunny seas again. No problems with wind or weather all weekend. Cleared customs and hit the dock around 2. Still have not seen a Canadian custom agent, I don't think they really exist or its been out sourced to Indian. Funny that over dinner the Canadians complained about how bad and mean their customs agents are but how Good and Friendly the U.S. agents are???? I think that the agents of either country just like to mess with their own country men.

Another round of applause to Dorthy for setting up the dinner on Friday night. Susan and I got distracted by several health issues when we should have been calling around for dinner. If Dorthy had not gotten us the tables when we did friday night dinner would have been balcony and and cheese at my boat.

The Chowder!!!!!!!!!!! omfg!!!!!!!!! From here on until the end of time to be know as C-Fury Chowder. Forgot his name just now but the captain of the C-fury started cooking the C-fury Chowder at noon. The stirred the pot for hours as he lovely added one ingredient at a time. This was a 3 to 5 gallon stock pot on a small propane stove on the back of the boat. I got up walked down the dock and he was stirring, I went to lunch and several art shows and when I got back he was stirring, I took a tour of the harbor and when I returned he was stirring. Best chowder every and everyone got two bowels. Oh the food was great. Backed chicken, ribs, two types of baked beans ( which were also great) rice and two types of shrimp. Then the deserts........ I am so fat.. I just want you all to know what you missed.

You missed
1) water taxi dancing to good music
2) sunny warm skys and light breezes.
3) street performers by the dozen.
4)Clean showers. I would like to note that a lot of people that did not come stated that the showers are so far away. Well looking at it I would say that the shower are the same distance from the boat tot he shower at Victoria as then are at FH. Its just that the dock at friday harbor is so long. if you are at the outer pier ( G dock???) at friday you are just as far as the showers at victoria.
5) Lots of shopping and stuff to see. We hit the History museam and a art show for a artist that susan likes. We also took the harbor tour ( I could live with out it)
6) Lots of good food around town no matter what you like to eat. China town is close by with food and shopping.
7) The sights just from the dock are great. I never felt like town was to loud except of the moron that had to blast bad music at 7 am sunday to start a bike race. They could have at least turned off the music once the bikes left , but NOOOOOOOO we have to have that all morning. ( it was not to bad) Oh and is it me of did the DJ for the water taxi music sound like darth vader got a day job??

Weather on our return to U.S. water was just as flat as the ride over. Spent Sunday night with our folks in provost harbor and Monday we were treated to a hump back whale just out side FH as we passed by.

All and All a great weekend until we got to the ramp and I broke the wench on the trailer loading the boat. i had to run the boat to Everett and take the trailer home for repairs. Susan E will be in Everett for a month while I do lot of trailer maintenance around my work scheduled.
 
We did miss you Pat. But in your absence I was able to scoop three bowls of chowder. Blake, you are now the lifetime CBGT chowder maker. If you need any help stirring, I'll see if Andrea is free :lol:

Martin.
 
Thanks, Susan and Tom, for a great idea well-executed. What a beautiful location! We had pretty good seas for our trip back to Nanaimo, except for those pesky 3' waves north of Dodd Narrows...

We will keep you posted regarding a 2015 CBGT.

Bill and Dorothy
Blue Skies
Nanaimo
 
Wow, for our first gathering this set the bar pretty high. Everybody was so nice and helpful and, let's face it, the location couldn't be better. Will all others now be a letdown? :)

After we left Victoria we continued up to the Gulf Islands then over to the San Juan's. I continued to enjoy fond memories of Victoria, however, as Stacy had made her rice crispy squares in our only pot. Every time that thing went on the stove for days afterwards I enjoyed the sweet smell of marshmallow. Life was good...

We spent a night at the Tod Inlet, then went up to Ganges and ran into Doryman on his way up to Princess Louisa with some friends. Real nice guy. Next we went over to Montague and "rode the bus" to the pub - great fun. Then down to Poets Cove then over to Sidney to re-supply.

Then back to the US at Roche to clear customs (we arrived at 7:59 AM and had no wait :)) but stayed on the hook for a couple nights in Garrison Bay. From there to Deer Harbor for a couple nights to explore Orca Island. Ran into a lot of the wooden boats from the gather in Victoria just after we left. From there to Sucia for a couple nights then back to Cap Sante.

Perhaps our best vacation ever - thanks to everyone for the tips and the motivation to get over to Victoria to kick the whole thing off.
 
Really sorry I missed this outing on our own doorstep. I had signed up for the bike race that some of you may have noticed. Our son flew up from SFO to ride with me in what was, for reasons I won't bore you with, a truly memorable event.

Hopefully Victoria has earned a spot on the map for outings and we can be at the next one.

Did anyone get a pint of Fat Tug when they were here?

Cheers from anchor in Winter Cove, Saturna Island.
 
Back
Top