Have just returned from the trip. Had a great time and saw some incredible areas. Total trip was 31.6 EHRS. 147 gals of gas which equates to 4.65 gal/hr. overall. 90% of the time I was at 4200 RPMS in the range of 14-17 MPH depending on current and wind. Gas in BC is in the range of $1.05-$1.09/L Canadian. Divide L by 3.785 to convert to US gal.
Sun. Left Guemes and after a quick hello to Fred on Anita Marie headed to S. Pender Is. to clear customes, Then west to Thetis Island where I anchored for the evening at about 1345.
Mon. Left Telegraph Harbor at 0830 and arriving in Nanimo at 1015. Docked at Newcastle Island for several hours and took the ferry across to Nanimo. Picked up a few groceries and back to the boat and headed north up the east coast ov Vancouver Is. arriving in French Creek Marina at 1615. French Creek Marina a primarily a fishing marina but then try to accomodate pleasure boaters as best they can.
Tues. Left FCM at 0545 and arrived at Comox at 0830. Got a dock space and walked around town. Total engine hours traveled at 12.9.
Wed. Friend Jim was to arrive by float plane from Seattle at 1100. The plane dock had been removed and no one had told the airline so after a couple of phone calls we decided that the plane would land outside the marina and I would anchor off the plane and dingy my passenger. Worked fine and now I had company. Had lunch , more groceries, topped of the gas tank and we left at 1345 to head east across the Georgia Straite. Calm water and little wind made for a nice easy crossing heading over the north end of Texada Is. and down to the entrances to get to Jervis Inlet at 1630. From there it is about 35 miles to Malibu Rapids. Made that at 1845. Mailbu Rapids for a C-Dory is really a non issue as far as I can see. Tide was going out and we just skimmed over it and into the last 5 miles or so to Chatterbox Falls. Got the last space at the dock closest to the falls and put our stern towards the show. Engine hrs at 54.1.
The dock here is about 200 feet long and has water to it piped from a stream. Boiling is recommended. Absolutly gorgeous spot with the shear rock mountains and the main falls. There had been 6 inches of rain the day before so the falls was really putting on a show. As well as dozens and dozens of other smaller falls. Lost GPS sattelites while at the dock. It is literally straight up out of there.
Thurs. Just hung out and read. Looked at the beauty and rowed around in the dingy.
Fri. Left at 0630 along with about 6 other boats to make the slack high tide at 0700. I was more interested in leaving on an out going tide for mileage than anything else. Arrived at Jervis Inlet at 0900 and then headed south out to Pender Harbor arriving at 1015. EHRS 57.5. PH is a nice stopping off place with many marinas and easy to get into. Topped of the gas there and then headed to Montaque Harbor on Galiano Island. Docked at the gov docks at 1545. EHRS 62.2. Took the free bus up to the Hummingbird Inn and Pub for a sundowner and appetizer and then back to the boat for dinner.
Sat. Left Monteque Hrbr. at 0915 entering back into US waters at 1015. Got into a school of dolphins of the N end of Stewart Is. Into Roche Harbor at 1100 to clear customs. Haven't a clue why but they won't allow citrus fruit from BC into the US. No beef either. Had lunch and decided to travel down the west side of San Juan Island in search of any Orca pods. Found one about and hour later off Iceburg Point of Lopez Is. about a mile out. Much fun watching them. Then across Rosario Starit and into Guemes Channel and home. Arriving at 1500. EHRS 66.4.
Boat and engine handled perfectly. Had 2 5 gal extra gas and 2 5 gal of water. Honda 2000 gen and dingy on top.
Looking forward to the Desolation trip.
