What Did You Do This Past Memorial Day Weekend?

P

Pat Anderson

New member
Well, PL is wasn't, but we had a great weekend, even if the sun decided to wait until the weekend was over to show herself. Pat, Patty, Austin and 23 year old daughter Lydia on board. Cleared customs by phone at White Rock, ran over to Cabbage Island. Kids set up tent on Cabbage Island, we set the hook - good anchorage. Picked oysters for lunch, the Chinese recipe where the oysters are blanched and tossed with hoisin sauce, cilantro, garlic and sesame oil - life is good! Sundowners on the cockpit, nice dinner, then played Password and Taboo with the kids and laughed ourselves silly. Oyster bed has a sign that says "closed" but we asked the Park Warden, who told us oystering was open until May 31 if I had a Canadian fishing license (I do). Patty asked about the sign, and he said "Who you going to believe, the sign or the enforcement officer?" Now that one is a no brainer! So I picked another bunch on Sunday. Sunday after a leisurely breakfast, ran to Princess Bay at Portland Island at trawler speed just for the heck of it - Navman says mileage doubled. Met up with Brock on Bambina, had the second batch of oysters pan fried with Crystal hot sauce, this is my favorite way to eat these guys! Brock, Oscar and I hiked the heck out of Portland Island (formerly Princess Margaret Marine Park) from one end to the other. Oscar was one tired puppy! Brock decided to head over to Royal Cove on the north end, and we stayed at Princess, kids set up tent again. It is so cool that the kids are now able to run the dinghy, set up the tent, and generally fend for themselves! There is a really neat meadow above Princess Bay, with an apple orchard. Breakfast Monday a.m., back to Blaine to clear customs (WARNING! Blaine customs now say they are NOT a designated boat clearance point, and requested that we clear at Point Roberts in the future). We got back early enough to enjoy half a day a Birch Bay, went clam digging, sundowners on the deck, big pot of steamed clams, all in all, pretty near perfect weekend, but doggone it, it sure would not have hurt our feelings if it had been sunny (TODAY there is a bright blue sky and bright sun).
 
We had great WX here on the Potomac and Chesapeake (hope it's as nice next weekend for Langford!!). In the mid-high 80's all weekend, no rain. Had my two daughters and their families down (4 grandkids, 3 doggies) and another couple of friends of theirs here in a tent, one daughter in our Coachman Trailer and the other in her popup, both with AC. Went out on the C-Dory lots, the canoe some and the inflatable some too. Launched "Sally's Choice" last week and sailed a lot too. It's just across the pier from "Captain's Choice", both 22's, make a nice pair!

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Sea Angel stayed out of the craziness of our 'first' weekend locals and gathered supplies for 200nm treck from VA. Beach, VA to Lankford, MD C-Dory East Coast Gathering. ETD: 0600/ 31 May

I just loaded the car and the shocks said ouch. I bet I gain 6" in draft with all the water, milk, can goods, fruit, vegies, etc, etc.... soap & clothes. BOY, do I/we have a lot to learn on how to travel light for a 10 day outing. Now. what is it I forgot???
 
Pat - that sounds excellent. I'm VERY jealous. My memorial day weekend - flu - sick from Fri at midnight until mid-day mon. I'm glad somebody had a good time though.

Best,
Roger
 
Sounds like some great adventures! (Hope you are feeling better Roger.)

We packed up the van and hauled the Otter down to Westmoreland State Park (Virginia side of the lower Potomac). Met up with four other families for a group campout and spent all day Sunday ferrying groups of kids out to an island where they could hunt for fossil shark teeth. They found a bunch, much to their delight.

Summer is here!
 
Caryn and I enjoyed a wonderful trip in the Gulf Islands. We left Twin Bridges on Friday around noon, Caryn steered us through a wild ride on following seas in Rosario Strait (yippee, ride em cowbow), Boundary Pass was smooth as glass and we cleared customs at Bedwell Harbor on South Pender Island. We decided to head north in Bedwell Harbor and went through the tiny bridge in Pender Canal. Proceeded to Montague Harbour on Galiano Island where we had a great time. We tested out the new Alaska Series Dinghy (green of course), caught the Pub Bus to the Hummingbird Pub (still playing Blueberry Hill) and had a great dinner.

Motored over to Ganges on Saltspring Island on Saturday morning and enjoyed the wonderful Saturday Market. Another C-Dory docked right next to us, Lazlo along with wife and son, very nice folks with a 2001 Blue CD-22. I asked him if he knew of the site and he said that yes, he bought his CD used from a posting on the site. In fact, this is his 2nd C-Dory. Lazlo, If you're reading, feel free to chime in any time. Having another full day to enjoy Ganges on Sunday, we decided to check-out Fulford on the south end of Salt Spring Island. We ran into Dave and Helen of Sailor-D, a 1991 blue CD-22. We had a very nice visit with the both of them, they're both retired and are enjoying anchoring out in all the wonderful places in the beautiful Gulf Islands. Dave is a frequent contributor on the site. Fulford is a funky little hippy village, and the south island BC Ferry stop.

We saw another blue CD-22, a classic I believe, permanently docked in Ganges going by the name of Ooops! Didn't see the boat owner. Sunday afternoon was sunny and beautiful, the return trip on Monday was choppy but uneventful. All and all, a great, enjoyable trip. Pics to follow
 
I frowned a lot due to loosing a friend and knowing I could not get out on C-Byrd due to her being on the racks getting a face lift. But, pics will be inbound soon of her progress, and for sure on her 1st voyage out with face lift and retro work done....a toast to the now late Commander Charles A. Holston will be hoisted. Here...here. :beer

Byrdman doing a little virtual boating.
 
Worked Saturday and Sunday :( but on Monday Patti and I took off to find Orcas at Lime Kiln Park on San Juan Island, put in at Cornet Bay, calm water all the way but no whales! so we went up to Roche Harbor, saw a 16' C-Dory with camper canvas heading out as we were coming in but couldn't see the name. Enjoyed watching the Memorial Day event..a reenactment of a civil war era Memorial Day complete with uniforms, swords, rifles, a tiny cannon, the widow in black, and a great pipe band. Puttered back through Thatcher Pass to Guemes Channel and, since we'd never done it, on to Swinomish Channel. Easier than I expected but added some time. But, a great day and we still love learning about C-Cakes, if only I could learn to dock better, (sigh).
 
Dollars to doughnuts the CD16 with the camperback you saw leaving Roche was Brock on Bambina...that is probably where he cleared customs on his return from Portland Island on his way back to Anacortes, he left us Monday morning, don't recall the time exactly...
colobear":32pheu4d said:
Worked Saturday and Sunday :( but on Monday Patti and I took off to find Orcas at Lime Kiln Park on San Juan Island, put in at Cornet Bay, calm water all the way but no whales! so we went up to Roche Harbor, saw a 16' C-Dory with camper canvas heading out as we were coming in but couldn't see the name. Enjoyed watching the Memorial Day event..a reenactment of a civil war era Memorial Day complete with uniforms, swords, rifles, a tiny cannon, the widow in black, and a great pipe band. Puttered back through Thatcher Pass to Guemes Channel and, since we'd never done it, on to Swinomish Channel. Easier than I expected but added some time. But, a great day and we still love learning about C-Cakes, if only I could learn to dock better, (sigh).
Click to expand...
 
Well susan and I did not get home from work until late friday. we were up until 11pm loading the boat. Saturday we were launched but 10am. the low tide was a big one, the ramp at twin bridges was almost out of the water. We had to get 4 ft past the end of the ramp with the wheels to launch the boat. James had to push and I had to power off to get launched.

We had a smooth ride all the way to roche harbor were we meet up with john and his friend on johns 25 "Clara". man was that place busy. After talking to john we headed for port Sydney to clear customs. after that is was north thru a few small islands and then satellite channel. very pretty going this way. oh as you pass thru the channel between. canoe cove and Goudge island going north ,slow to 5 mph. there is no sign but coming south there is a sign. We ended up in tod inlet for a look around before tying up to the dingy dock at Butchart gardens. the Gardens are worth the entry price and later in the summer, starting in july, they have fire works on saturday nights. its just amazing what they did with that old cement and limestone quarry. We just loved it and will post pics later. We tie to one of the four bouys at the gardens for the night and it was warm, quit, and cozy.

In the morning we had to look a round for a place to get my fishing license. I forgot to get it at sidney. We end up at mill bay. I was afraid to tie up the boat there. i did not want the susan E to get pulled under when it went down. waggoners calls the place "informal" I call it a dump. they had no licenses but said i could walk up to the "pet-can" a mile away and get one. So off I go looking for a "pet-can" . I found the highway and a gas station about a half mile away and asked there. They said the "pet-can was up the highway a ways. 2 miles is a "ways" in canada and it way up hill the whole way. I was really glad the rest of the crew stayed with the boat. I finally found the "petroleum of canada" station on the highway. I got my license and walked back to the boat. Nice little 5 mile hump. After that we were able to go shrimping and did so near some other pots in saanich inlet near mill bay. We got 4 shrimp and 2 crab. then we spent almost a hour trying to figure out how many inches is a 115mm crab??? dam metric system.

After lunch we headed to victoria by going around and past sidney. We had good weather all the way until oakbay, from there on in to victoria was a little rough. We tied up to the wharf street floats. the float in front of the Empress hotel was full of sail boats from the Swift sure races. We ended up with a outside slip and got banged around a little. Float planes, whale boats big and small, and the harbor ferrys are coming and going none stop all day and into the night. We walked town and had dinner at a small mexican place in the market square area. As we got back to the boat all the hotels and the parliament building turned on there lights for the night. What a great sight.

In the morning we visited the Maritine Museum. the first floors is really great. It gives a over view of how this part of the world was discovered and fought over by many countries. the rest of the building is ok but not as interesting to me. its all about the navy, forest dept, coast guard, ferrys, and anything else that floats. I just like the early history the most. After that it was lunch at milestones and then on to the Royal British Columbian Museum. Really like that place alot. except for the global warning section, did you know we are all going to die???? anyway the Royal is worth seeing.

We left about 4pm after getting fuel. We timed it so we would be heading home on the incoming tide with a south west wind. The sea was so flat that we ran straight from victoria to the south end of lopez island. at one point i was running 25 mph over ground but only 18 mph on the turn wheel at 4200rpm. man thats cruising the tide. it was bath tub flat all the way into guemes channel. I had susan call customs to meet us at Cap sante marina. They asked her what are boat registration number was. She started off like this. "W as in umm umm winny the pooh , N as in umm umm nancy" I dont know who was laughing the most me or the customs guy on the phone?? susan has forbidden me from speaking about it. Thats why i am typing it instead. All and all a great trip.
 
Tom - sounds like you guys had a good time too! We also took a couple of crabs from Cabbage Island, before we learned that crabbing inside the park was permanently closed. I called David on the size limit, he looked it up and said it was 165 mm (about 6.5" inches) not 115 mm - but I had recalled from something I read it was smaller - where did you get the info on the size limit? BTW, one inch is 2.54 cm. So, divide mm by 10 to get cm, and divide that by 2.54 to get inches - 115 mm is about 4.5", which sounds pretty small to me. Damn metric system!
 
Last tue another 500+ mile drive to Anacortes. Picked up boat at EQ with
new C-80. WOW I really like it. Spent 6 days in the San Juans. Learned a
new word SUNBRAKES. Saw Tom Susan and son (sorry about PL lets
try again) also meet SOULMATE with a whale watching group on
the west side of San Juan IS. Great trip be back soon.
:smiled john schuler :smiled
 
We picked up our new 25 at Cutter Marine on the Middle River and cruised South on the Chesapeake to C-Story's new home on the Yeocomico River, just off the Potomac in the Northern Neck of Virginia. About a hundred miles under a small craft advisory...a great maiden voyage, with absolutely no buyers regret! The only moment of excitement was when a large (maybe 140') yacht went by at about thirty knots and got us airborne over a 4-6 foot wake. C-Story handled it and we arrived happy, but tired after about eight hours, including a stop for fuel. She's now sitting on a lift in front of our home in Kinsale, waiting for adventures to come.
 
John & Gail – glad you made it safely and welcome to the site. Take lots of pictures then request a photo album and post your pictures. Join in on the discussions and you will find this site a good substitute for you boating, when you can’t get out.
 
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