Friday Harbor-Bellingham

I'm having coffee this morning above the ferry landing in Friday Harbor. Waiting for the fog to lift so I can proceed home to Bellingham.

It looks to be a long morning of fog so I have some time to kill as I await the fogs departure. The San Juan Classic Cab Service.

A Handyman adding a family room,media center following a Home Depot clinic.

On my way home as the fog lifted around 2 PM. Which should give me ample time before it gets dark. Around a 6 hour run. A heavenly scene as the ferry emerges from the pearly gates.

Nanaimo-Friday Harbor

A foggy morning leaving Nanaimo this morning. There was about a mile of visibility as I left  which was enough to give me a point to point navigation aid. The Gabriola ferry in the back ground.

Dodd Narrows, my destination in the foreground. It's the low spot below the halyard attached to the bow rail. The water can run through here pretty fast so I'll arrive there about the same time the current is slack, hopefully.

Just as planned,slack water at the entrance with the fog lifting as the day wore on.

Headed south on Trincomali inlet. It was a long day today as I decided to motor all the way to Friday harbor bypassing the Gulf Islands. I had come down with the flu plus the rain and decided home was looking pretty good.  Friday Harbor, a good place to hold out till I was feeling better and Iwill probably take off tomorrow for home.

Another exciting day of going out fishing with the ol'man.

Princess Louisa-Harmony Islands-Nanaimo

Leaving Princess L. in the weee morning hour. The artwork is Malibu camp lights next to Malibu Rapids which was my beacon as I lifted anchor  from McDonald island. Slack water was around 5am through Malibu Rapids so I got a early start on the day. The lights helped to aid me through the dark morning of navigation by brail.

Having arrived in Hotham sound after leaving Jervis inlet I anchored between Harmony Island Park and the Mainland in the late afternoon and decided to get some kayaking in. It was a rewarding paddle coming across these shear rock wall faces jutting from the sound. I always find natures artwork the best.

The next morning as you can see I was headed across Georgia Strait which is in the foreground and Texada island is to the right. I had planned to keep going north but decided to head south as the weather was changing. The winds died to my chagrin that day for a short sail so I decided to throw some lunch on the barbie before I crossed only to have a wave come along and roll the weeny off the grill into the drink. Yes! It's a floater. So I circled around and was ready to sweep it up and throw it on the grill again to only watch it vanish to the depths below as I watched helplessly replaying that tragic moment and what I could of done differently. I had one left luckily and I made sure to keep a eye on the seas so as not to lose another.

Looking towards the mainland,Vancouver, while crossing Georgia Straits.

Nanaimo Harbor from the promenade. I finally made it in around 8 after a easy crossing. The weather has settled in,rain. So I've been here for a few days waiting for the sky's to clear up which might be awhile,cabin fever. 

My seiner neighbors,unlike home, are getting the ship back in order and anticipating another opening for a record sockeye year. This is the largest run in the history of sockeye on the Frazier. Which seems to go against current trends of  salmon species.

A Hardy Bunch!

Vancouver-Smugglers Cove-Egmont-Princess Louisa

Leaving False Creek early this morning as I seen that the Fuel Dock and Store were boarded up. A must stop as I had a ways to go. What to do next. I got about a 1/4 mile out beyond the bridge and decided to do a u-turn and cruise back to see if there was any other fuel docks on the creek as I was low and I knew it would be marginal if I would make it to Smugglers Cove and I had enough close calls motor sailing to Vancouver. No luck as I called the Fisheries Terminal for information on fuel on the creek. I then decided to go back to my old moorage and hoof it up town with my 2 gas cans. Passing the Bentley,Rolls Royce,Lamborgini,Jaguar,Porshe and Mercedes dealerships on the way and came upon the Esso station. Finally at the pump and reaching for my wallet......bummer................it's not there in my back pocket. Back to the boat again passing the Mercedes,Porshe,Jaguar,Lambhorgini,Rolls Royce and Bentley dealerships again. Little did they know they would be seeing me again. I got the gas finally and on the way back to the boat I stumbled across a excellent French Patisserie next to the Bentley Dealership. I parked the gas cans outside the door and went in a treated myself to a sweet treat, a nice consulation to my morning escapade.

A 10 hour day behind the tiller put me in Smugglers Cove (center) with a stern tie to the rock behind to keep me from swinging into the large neighbors. The following morning I noticed the tide had gone out with a increase of elevation for a strategically challenged stern tie....Ooops...... I forgot my rock climbing gear.

It was into Secret Cove to reprovision and get fuel before my sail up to Princess Louisa.

A random shot cruising north.

Heading up Jervis inlet towards Princess L. About a 30 mile fjord.

The entrance to Princess L. inlet,Malibu Rapids, is to the left of the snow and glacier covered Mt.'s.

A seaplane climbing his way out of P.L.Inlet after dropping off some guests at Malibu camp at the head of the inlet.

I did a perimeter kayak trip of P.L. inlet and came upon Malibu Rapids which is the entrance to Princess Louisa Inlet during a flood current. Needless to say I didn't go any farther.

The Mt. Face above Chatter Box falls.

Chatter Box Falls.