Headed South

John and Deb catch our lines and help us get around into our slip.  It takes no time to decide on dinner at the Garden Bay Pub at 1800 hours.  They are on their way north, we're headed south....but, there's always time for dinner!  After all...you've gotta eat!

Sign on the back path to the pub

John and Deb

Weary travelers need...."A Pint!"

We stay another day to run the dinghy into Maderia Park and the Government Wharf.  The grocery is only a few blocks away and great.  Plus, there's a liquor store and a hole in the wall where money comes out. (ATM described by a grandchild to a friend)  The fish boat is  "in" with flash frozen salmon too.

Nice walk to the grocery

Yum!  We go fishing with a $20 bill.

We plan Happy Hour for 1700 hours on Kairos.  Deb texts me to say that Irene and Dave just pulled in for the night on their way home from up north....more Fisher boat friends...it's going to be fun!

Sparky works his magic on Irene!

We are off early the next morning.  It's just a hop, skip and motor across Georgia Strait.  Although 10 - 15k are forecasted, we find 5k.  It's five hours to Nanaimo as Whiskey Golf (military torpedo test range) is active and we must "go around."  Arriving at noon we find the last spot at the Nanaimo Yacht Club dock and Steve masterfully squeezes Kairos (40 ft. overall) into a 42 foot space....with the wind blowing us off.  Yikes!

Our afternoon entertainment is watching the yacht club sailing school do capsizing drills with their youngest sailors!  I'm betting these kids range in age from 7 to 10.  (hint: they were playing a mix of Musical Chairs and Simon Says with sailing terms in the parking lot)

Yes, that's 12 kids and an instructor in the skiff!

Step #1...dump the boat over

Step #2 stand on the center board and tip 'er up!

#3 now swim around to the stern and climb in!

The young man who is the instructor has these kids eating out of the palm of his hand..."Go!...now, Jump!...now Climb and tip up....now Swim!...now Get In!....You can do it!"  And the encouraging words flowed over the water and with laughter all afternoon.  Then..."Ok everyone!  Swim back to the dock!"  And away they paddle like ducks in bobbing life jackets...all 12 of them. And yes, the water was cold and the distance far!


The next morning we are off for Dodd Narrows one hour before slack water, arriving only 15 minutes early.  We slide through with favorable current and a good thing we went early, as on the other side are more than 20 boats getting ready to charge the narrows on the slack!

A few swirls at Dodd Narrows

The front of the group headed toward us as we exit

We make it to Galliano Island and Montegue Harbour by 3:00 p.m.  It's hot.  There are lots of boats.  We put up the sun awning AND an umbrella for cool shade.  Sparky and Skipper meet another sheltie ashore and his name is....Skipper!  I am seeing double...no, triple!

Sparky says hello to another Skipper!

The sunset is spectacular!!!

The next morning it's off for Genoa Bay on the Vancouver Island side of the Gulf Islands.  We arrive in time for a fabulous lunch at the Genoa Bay Cafe.  A post on Facebook alerts friends Glenna and Wayne that we are nearby.  They arrive to take us to Cowichan Bay for dinner and a little land tour!!

What a Happy Appy Hour with Wayne and Glenna!

Steve and Wayne chat down on the beach below the house.

What a treat it is to spend an evening with more Coyote Beach buddies....but not on the beach in Mexico...on the beach at their home in "Cow Bay."

We are close to home now, and the next leg takes across Haro Strait and down San Juan Channel.  Another four and 1/2 hour trip, clearing Customs over the phone...and tied to our slip by 2:00 p.m.

Asleep at the helm?  Almost home!

I don't think I've ever had a summer sailing trip with 1 day of rain and 29 days of warm, beautiful sunshine.  It's one for the books for sure.  The amazing Pacific high stayed centered over us the whole time.  What a gift!

Now, the job of re-entry.  Steve walks home and gets the car.  I start stuffing the bags with ....well...everything.  It takes two days, but we're home.