09/03 - 09/18 - Desolation Sound 2005

Time to chime in here. we are still trailering up to pender harbor and then run to gorge harbor saturday morning. I will be taking rods, downriggers and traps. One crab one shrimp. I have not seen how much a license is and will wait until the last min to avoid the sticker shock. we are still pretty lose on where to go, but prideaux haven is a must for us.Will head that way sunday afternoon and spend the night there. After that I have not planned yet.
 
Thanks, Larry. Compare these weather forecasts. We would cross the southern part of the Strait (Point Roberts is the little oddity of the US that sticks down from Canada, you are in the Strait when you clear Point Roberts going west from Blaine), not sure what to make of the small craft warning from Environment Canada, but crossing to Active Passage to get inside the Gulf Islands should be fine. Here is the link to the US forecast, which is the one we check every time before crossing.
http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtbltn.pl?file=forecasts/marine/coastal/pz/pzz133.txt

US:

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR WASHINGTON
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
301 PM PDT WED AUG 3 2005

INLAND WATERS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON AND THE NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL WASHINGTON COAST

PZZ133-040515-
/X.ROU.KSEW.MA.F.0000.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
NORTHERN INLAND WATERS CAMANO ISLAND TO PT. ROBERTS-
301 PM PDT WED AUG 3 2005

TONIGHT
W WIND 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT.

THU
NW WIND 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 FT.

THU NIGHT
W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT.

Canada:

Environment Canada Weather Forecast
Marine Forecast issued for Strait of Georgia.
Issued: 4 PM PDT Wednesday 3 August 2005 for the period ending 4 PM Thursday with an outlook for the following 24 hours. Synopsis:
A stationary ridge of high pressure from the southwest to fanny island weakening slightly. Also a weak cold front from the southwest to Rose Spit northeastward moving southeast into Hecate strait Thursday morning and onto the central coast in the afternoon.
Over the south moderate to strong northwesterly winds southeast of the ridge will become light near the ridge. Over the central and northern waters moderate to strong southerlies will strengthen to gales as the front advances. Winds will become moderate westerly winds behind the front.
Forecast:
Small craft warning in effect.
Winds northwest 5 to 15 knots with local 25 knots mainly along the East Coast of Vancouver Island. Winds easing to light Thursday afternoon. Clear.
Outlook. Winds moderate northwest rising to strong.
Copyright © 2005 Environment Canada
All Rights Reserved


Nancy H":1qjpxzmd said:
Hi,

Here is a link to the Marine Weather for the Str of Georgia.

http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/marine/marine_e.html?c-sog
Click to expand...
 
Pat,

If I remember correctly, the small craft warnings start at 15 knots in Canada. In the USA its 25 knots.

I have experienced stronger west or northwesterly winds north of Nanaimo than were blowing south of Nanaimo on the same day.
 
This is why we decided to take the ferry. Weather is too dang unpredictable. I just don't want to face the possibility of 160 miles of 3 foot plus wind waves. In our planning, ideally wind speed less than 15 knots = go, more than 15 knots = no go, but the US forecast also predicts the wind wave height, which we like to have some indication of at least. I want less than 2 feet, we have gone when it was 2-3 feet and the trend was calming. The US weather guessers NEVER predict anything less than 5 - 10 knots and 1 foot, and that is the typical condition, although occasionally it has been dead calm and glassy (not often). It is however frequently less severe than the forecast - they predict 2-3 foot waves and it turns out to be 1 foot or less, this happens a lot. I guess they want to err on the side of caution. So I am more inclined to go out and see what it actually is. We did get hammered ourselves on the way out on our last crossing, three foot plus waves, and very confused (trip to Pirate's Cove, GREAT spot).


Nancy H":3cuv63mf said:
Pat,

If I remember correctly, the small craft warnings start at 15 knots in Canada. In the USA its 25 knots.

I have experienced stronger west or northwesterly winds north of Nanaimo than were blowing south of Nanaimo on the same day.
Click to expand...
 
we will be coming up to desolation sound in september, and we will definitely cruise up there. any c-dorys cruising through friday harbor give us a call360-378-0302. not sure when we will leave for DS, but we will be there in sept.
bill & chris
 
Bill and Chris, we'll see you out there. We've got your number. Looks like you're just east or well north of Seattle.

Larry, I didn't know 15 knots constituted small craft warnings in Canada. Thanks.
 
I did a little research on cell phone coverage around Desolation Sound. It sounds like there is pretty good coverage. Obviously, with cell needing a direct line of sight to the tower, the coverage will be spotty in and around the islands. However we should be able to keep in some kind of cell contact.

There is also some coverage in the Broughton area now. We're leaning towards driving to Telegraph Cove on 9/3, launching there and boating in the Broughtons the first week. That way if the weather changes we can come back to Telegraph, load up and drive to Campbell River & launch there for Desolation Sound.
Lyle
 
Sounds like a good plan, Lyle. Thanks for the info on cell phones.

How are we shaping up for the Big Gig? Three weeks from right now Bambina takes a dip.
:rainbow
 
And its four weeks for us, and I can hardly wait...

Catman":14d10lbz said:
Sounds like a good plan, Lyle. Thanks for the info on cell phones.

How are we shaping up for the Big Gig? Three weeks from right now Bambina takes a dip.
:rainbow
Click to expand...
 
From our perspective the Canadian exchange rate isn't what it used to be. I read several weeks ago it was 83 cents to our dollar. Last week my bank claimed 87 cents. Ah, the good ol' days, like the 90's when we might expect our dollar to be worth $1.47 Canadian.

Guess it's their turn now.
 
Catman,
I'm sure most heading to Canada know this, but it might bear repeating. Normally the best exchange rate you will get will be by putting expenses or your credit card. I just returned from this years trip and got about 15%. I was able to charge almost everything, even the ferry. One exception was buying the fishing license-had to be cash! Some of my charges are coming in and new this year, at least for me, is a 1% foreign exchange fee imposed by the card company! I understand that you also get the going rate at an ATM?
 
These fees used to be hidden. If you want to know what your credit card will charge you, you need to ask. My MBNA card said the fee is 3% for foreign purchases. I am not sure if that is 3% total or 4% with the exchange fee.

The exchange fee is charged by the company that does the transaction and there is probably no way around this, but some card issuers charge an additional fee for the privilege of using their card.

My credit union first told me there were no fees then by asking again they said there is the 1% exchange fee. I will be using my credit union visa.
3 or 4% may not be much but it is more than they will pay in interest to use your money.
Steve
 
Just a reminder to the folks heading up to Desolation to hang on to your receipts for any purchases you make in Canada. You are entitled to a refund on the GST which you will pay when you purchase fuel, meals, booze and most other goods except groceries in Canada. This is our favourite tax. :amgry NOT!! I'm not sure exactly how you go about claiming it back as I'm stuck paying it up here, but I do know that the Duty Free stores at some of the border crossing will have the neccessary forms and may even refund the GST on the spot. The GST adds 7% to your purchases so it can add up over the course of a couple of weeks. Maybe some of the recent travellers to Canada would know how the process works.
Ron
 
You can get the form at the ferry terminal or at the money exchanges and save your receipts. You will have to review what purchases are tax refund allowed, then send the receipts in. It says that customs can stamp your refund receipts, but that apparently isn't required because about a month ago when I crossed from victoria to port angeles the customs people said no one does that any more. Just send them in. A word to the wise. Customs folk are a little edgy these days, and not prone to make small talk. I seem to get searched every time I go in or come out. Have no idea why, probably because I used to check in and out a lot when I was living aboard in seattle. But last time into victoria they searched me and then left for the pub with my truck keys. I had to run down the street in the dark and rain to find them and get my keys. Guess there are times when a Guiness Stout has priority over a traveling american.
 
CAVU and all, thanks for sharing your financial exchange and other experiences. I generally like to pay as I go, and not create a bill for my return. But it looks like if I want to realize the actual exchange rate, I better not leave home without my little plastic pelf.
 
Well I have finally decided I can make the Desolation trip. I was reluctant to actually sign up until I was sure it would work out. The fleet Admiral can't make this trip so I finally found a fishing buddy who can get free and is willing. I guess from the sign-up sheet it looks to be all couples except for the leader? Anyway we plan on trying some fishing, crabbing and oysters/clams? The only thing that I am concerned about is anchoring. I have very little experience with it but it looks like there are many places to dock in the area. Do most of the group anticipate a lot of anchoring out? The few times I have tried it I did not sleep very well. Seems like I would wake about once an hour to check if I was still in the same bay. Anyway we are still undecided about when to leave but favor leaving Spokane Thur 1 Sep. to avoid the weekend crowds on the ferry. Will probably do the two ferry thing to Lund spending Thur night camped somewhere near the border. I've read everything in both Waggoners and the Dreamspeaker book and I'm not sure you can see it all in two weeks, but it will be great fun trying.
 
Hey, Ken, that's great you can go. And to all planning to make this trip, I'm happy you can take the time, and are excited to join this journey. This is an event I know I'll remember for a long time. When I'm stuck in traffic in November rain and darkness, during the upcoming Christmas frenzy, and when generally icky stuff happens, I'll drift off to Desolation.

Ken, I'm like you when anchoring. I worry about losing my bite and drifting somewhere unpleasant. But I suspect the places we'll anchor will be nicely protected. Mews like Grace Harbor, Prideaux Haven, Von Donop Marine Park on Cortes island and Roscoe Bay on West Redondo Island. I've never had a problem in DS.
:rainbow
 
Hi all,

Just brief note, seeing all the posts has my mind reeling my DS trip last September.
I anchored at the end of VonDonop Inlet on 12 Sep 04. My log indicates "terrific bottom holding - good anchoring".
Unfortunately it started raining that night and rained all the next day.
One log note was on the "loo" at the Marine Park - it was observed as "grim".

PS - it is a muddy trek to the loo at low water.
 
Only seven more work days till I can leave for DS -- YAHOOO!

I am trying to decide what toys to take and get all my stuff together and I am getting excited.

I have the C80 with the chip that covers the whole area. Can someone that has been there tell me what I would need as backup in the way of charts?

I can get tide info off the web but I am thinking I will need the tide Atlas that shows the current directions and strength around the islands. Is this info available anywhere else for free?

Is anyone else taking a kayak? I am debating about taking mine. I can carry it on the roof.

Thanks,
Steve
 
Back
Top