OUR SUMMER VACATION
By Pat Anderson (Patty will have to correct factual errors here, I am sure)
Day 1, Thursday, June 24. This was a work day, went in late so I could leave early! Daydream launches at Twin Bridges (County Park, not the marina) about 5:30 p.m., change of plans due to arriving earlier than expected, we motor to Spencer Spit, Lopez Island, rather than to Cook's Cove. Peaceful evening on the hook, take dinghy ashore in the morning, Oscar duty, walk to Theo Spencer's cabin, this is a NICE spot. No dock, but about 16 mooring buoys, and good anchorage (hint - stay out past the buoys to anchor - too much kelp on the bottom between the buoys and shore).
Day 2, Friday, June 25. David and Kate on Anna Leigh join us at Spencer Spit, and we hook up with Brock on Bambina and Fred on Anita Marie for the run to our next destination, Bedwell Harbor, Pender Island, C-eh-N-eh-D-eh...Bill and El and son Brad and grandkids Ami and Bryce on Halcyon there to greet us! Check in by phone with Canadian customs from Bedwell. We jointly decide to head to Montague Harbor, Galiano Island. Amazingly, we all get dock space at Montague - this is a another GREAT place. Best part for the Beer Guys, da funky bus up to the Hummingbird Pub (see photo album!), your average pub grub, hippy decor, drinks. Did I mention da funky bus? Nice buzz on, Fats Domino tape on the bus, it is 1962 all over again ("I found my three-o [note: probably meant 'thrill'] on Blueberry hee-o [more than likely, 'hill']," etc., etc.) No problem falling asleep that evening! In the morning, nice walk around, David and Kate depart for home, the rest of us depart for Ganges Harbor, Saltspring Island, and Conover Cove, Wallace Island.
Day 3, Saturday, July 26. Ganges is a wonderful little tourist trap! Most useful information: the public restroom is in the Mouat's store, about in the middle, by the stairway! News flash, no beer in the grocery store, you have to go to the liquor store...and I thought our liquor laws were blue...otherwise, this place is mostly about separating you from your money (could be fun, if you enjoy that sort of thing). On to Conover Cove, Wallace Island, a complete change of pace. Wallace Island was owned by Conover, a photographer, who took the first pictures of Norma Jean before she was Marilyn. We are in the 1950s here. He dreamed of making it a resort for the Hollywood set, and evidently there were a few famous visitors to the little cabins and summer lounge, pretty rustic by any standard. Conover sold to a group of 200 Seattle teachers who bought it as an investment, and who were poised to sell it to somebody else (probably a developer?), when Island Trust stepped in about 1997, bought the island or most of it, and gave it to the province of B.C as a marine park. David Conover, the son, still has a house on a small piece that remains as private property on Princess Cove. The evening was special, we all headed out to Sunset Point. See the pix, Fred's one shot is better than my 50...Dinner on the dock, Fred's fine Force 10 BBQ came out, whew those sausages were hot, Fred!
Day 4, Sunday, June 27. GREAT breakfast on the dock at Conover Cove with Bill, El, Brad, Bryce and Ami (fried SPAM [Some Parts Are Meat], canned new potatoes and scrambled eggs). I think Brock was peddling grapefruit! Ha! Plan was to go on to Pirate's Cove, De Courcy Island, but we have a problem starting the starboard engine...if you ever wondered, yes, that little rope really WILL start the engine! Probably due to running down the battery with our Electric Igloo, but why wouldn't it start in the "Both" position? Anyway, she started and we decided to head south instead of north, to Van Isle for fuel and then to Sydney Spit. Boats were leaving left and right, and pretty soon, we had the place to ourselves.
Day 5, Monday, June 28. Bill, El, Brad and Patty locked in a vicious game of Hearts throughout the morning. Pat, Ami and Oscar walk the spit to the light house - 1.75 km each direction. Ami is Oscar's new best friend! About noon, we sadly have to head for home, I have to go to a City Council meeting in Snoqualmie at 7:00 p.m to make the world safe for 2000 more Quadrant homes ("More house. Less money"). We clear U.S. customs by phone while underway - we evidently received about the last PIN number for phone check in that they gave out. Back at Twin Bridges, we pull out and drive home, sad the greatest four days we could imagine had come to an end...
OVER AND OUT
hoto
