8/4/2014

8/4/2014

Fisherman's Wharf to Codfish bay

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8/3/2014

8/3/2014 Musket Island to Fisherman's Marina

12:00 sail
3:15 arrive

I haven't been mentioning the scenery. It's too awesome to describe and i don't want you all to come make it more crowded before I get back up here on my own boat!

Ice cream cones at the general store. Mmmmm. Met the photo radar guy of BC icbi. Not sure I quite like the idea!

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8/2/2014

8/2/2012 Van Anda to Musket Island

Water $5
Breakfast $15
Then we actually sailed to Musket Island, swam around it and hiked the trails.

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8/1/2014

8/1/2014

Stayed a day at Van Anda $34 Patched the dinghy. Shower at the hotel $4. Groceries $154. Socialized on the patio with neighbor boats. Grilled steak and french onion potatoes.

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7/31/2014

7/31/2014

Copelands to Van Anda

Almost ran aground at Alan reef. The fishing gear got hung up on the bottom. Jim was making grilled cheese sandwiches. I was too close to the marker. The whole canon ball and down rigger came off into the dinghy then into the drink. Capt Jim said I might want to note for future reference that i should leave land based marks a cable off (600 feet)! Jim cut the other line and we saved the boat.

Docked at Van Anda boat club. $34 with garbage, electric and water. Groceries $51 (25) and scotch and lime a rita $63

Walked around town. Pork chops greek salad and corn on the cob. Dinghied into cove. Saw 2 wrecks, great blue herons, dragon flies. Talked with Playwright. Former owner of fraser 41 hull #3.

Broke the sink plug. Windy. Tied halyards.

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7/30/2014

7/30/2014

Motored from Susan Islet to the Copeland Islands. I studied the radar and watched for boats on the screen. Beautiful sunny day again. Sad goodbye to Desolation sound and entered Georgia Strait west. There's a short trail with an awesome view at a bench. Dinghied around the islands. Saw harbor seals with a pup up close. Mottled merlett ducks. Starfish, Purple starfish, and orange bat starfish. Floated around in my red lifejacket just watching the bottom float by. A sea cucumber plantation. Kingfishers, raven, seagulls of course. This is a kayaker heaven. But a sailboat is better.

Ceasar with vodka and clamato.

Jim made a killer pasta and meatballs in tomatoe sauce. The vegetables are about done.

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7/29/2014

7/29/2014

Had to get up early and skip breakfast to get out of Roscoe bay on a high tide. Sun on the water made it hard to see the bottom. Headed up Humphrey channel and it is smooth calm. The mountains reflect in the water. I took a hundred photos. Eased into Forbes bay and looked for bear on the mainland. Saw marbled merganzers and bonapart gulls. Harbor seals pop their heads up every now and then. The valleys are green and steep. Tiny patches of logged brush near the creeks and a couple cabins. A lodge with a dock and a lot of kayaks. We went up another mile to see the "swiss alps". There are just tiny little hanging glaciers. Looks like a gorgeous ridge walk but getting there would be a challenge. A bowl shaped valley below. Hard to turn back but we did.

The wind picked up in the sound but of course it was right on the nose. The boat should be named " Wind on the Nose Maiden". Its still sunny and now hot. I have to keep my bare feet on a towel to steer. I prepare to swim as soon as we drop anchor. We tried a couple nitches and finally found a home behind Susan Islet. I dive in with the moon jellies. There are really big ones here as well as small acorn size ones. I scooped up a little one. Firm yet slippery. I swam near the mainland and saw a martin poke his head out of the rocks. He ran across the edge, dove in and came up with something in its mouth. Swam along the rocks back to his hole and disapeared. Soon he came back out. Studied me a bit and repeated his dive. This time he came up only a few feet away from me. Then dove down for another treat. I couldnt tell what he was eating. I studied the water beneath me. Bright orange starfish, urchins and other strange orange plant like things. Hard to see without a mask. Must bring mask next time. By now Capt Jim and the dog Sailor are on shore and Sailor chased the martin into the woods. I swam around to the other beach. Thousands of red rock crab everywhere i stepped. Tiny crabs of all colors at the waters edge in the sea asparagus. Clams mussels litter the beach. Muddy when the tide is out. Finished off the greek salad.

We went back later after re anchoring to get out of the exhaust of a bayliner with electric everything. Kids everywhere and lots of float toys. An old homestead with apple trees. They were green. I poked around a bit and found the stinging nettle annoying so back to the beach. The blackberries are all but ripe. I found a couple though! The evening sunlight is so beautiful on the islet. Jim cooked chicken and potatoes and I cleaned up the dishes. This is the life.

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7/28/2014

7/28/2014

Stayed in Roscoe Bay. Climbed mountain. Met Emily camping by kayak. Deer. Met captain of Arcturis and new zealand g
uest at summit. Saw the whole sound. Hard climb. Out of shape. Used vhf to get back to boat. Swam in saltwater. Then in lake. Watched guy anchor ten tries. Beautiful sunny calm.

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7/27/2014

7/27/2014

Squirrel Cove to Roscoe Bay by way of Mink Island

Swam in salt water. Under a waterfall then in Black lake which is fresh water. Chose to re anchor because a boat nearby had a long rode. Capt Jim made a killer ceaser salad which we ate on deck with chicken.

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7/26/2014 Squirrel Cove

7/26/2014 Elworthy Is to Squirrel Cove Bay on Cortes Is

10:00 deprt

12:00 Refuge Cove dock fuel, gas, water (93)

1:00 Squirrel Cove dock $10
Garbage $6
Shower $3
Laundry $3 (2)
Salmon burger lunch $40
Groceries $15 (20)
Propane ()

4:30 anchor down

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7/25/2014

Jellybean's Log 7/25/2014
Elworthy Island

Stayed anchored today. Peaceful, calm.

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Met Leslie from Vancouver, BC on "Tris" a Vancouver 27. Showed me her boat and invited me to stay in contact. Its small but seaworthy.

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There's a campsite on shore. Interesting set up. Must have a kid. There's small girl shoes and a swing. Jim tried it out.

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7/24/2014

Jellybean's Log 7/24/2014
Handfield Bay to Elworthy Island

12:20p Depart Handfield bay
Male Orca. A 27
3:15p enter Dent Rapids
Guillard Rapids
Yucaltah Rapids. Strong hydraulics
Bald eagle

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Partly sunny. Almost warm. No rain.

Spent morning cleaning up from last night. But the Red Lobster muffins were so worth it! The clouds are higher than the mountains today. A small heron on the nearby island.

Underway Sailor pointed out a whale. I just saw what looked like a black log sticking up out of the water. Then some mist. It was the fin of a male orca. We circled round and watched it for a while. So calm. The whole encounter so low key yet awesome.

Jim is incredibly trusting as I steer through the narrow rapids at 11 knots. Rode an eddyline through the Guillard rapids where we can see Bill Gates' golf course and home. Another guy has a big mansion there too, I forget who, and helicopters came and went.

The last rapid, Yaculta, was the most fun as the ebb had begun and we were being pushed back. Now only able to do 5.4 knots in a boat that can do 7.2 knots. It looked like a foot high wall of water coming at me! I really enjoyed navigating the rapids and feeling the powerful hydraulics play with the boat. Capt. Jim was understandably nervous, but was real good about not taking the wheel.

Now in a channel with steep mountains on all sides. Fjords. Very little snow visible on the tallest ones.

We called ahead to try and get a dock at the Wilderness marina but it was full. The cove around the corner was also packed with powerboats and a few sailboats. We anchored, but then left when the atmosphere just didn't feel right. We found a perfect anchorage at Elworthy Island near a small salty sailboat with a very elderly salty couple nearby.

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7/23/2014

Jellybean's Log 7/23/2014
Waiatt Bay to Handfield Bay

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Warm with a few drops of rain last night. We went for a hike across the isthmus to another harbor. Its so refreshing all the ferns and firs and cedars of the west coast.

Pulled up anchor to move to Cameleon Harbor. Rainy and cold. My bare feet were numb. My rain jacket is less than ideal. But it is so cool to be navigating these waters.

Two Pacific Whiteside dolphins and an Osprey light up the grey day. A really good book and hot plate of Red Lobster biscuits goes a long way to making a Recovery.

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7/22/2014

Jellybean's Log 7/22/2014
Drew Harbor to Waiatt Bay

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Another boat's anchor was under our boat so we pulled up and re anchored so he could leave.

We took the dinghy to the marina for meat. Emptied the garbage. Left the eggs on the dock. Had to return. Wet going, the wind was just enough to put spray over the bow of the dinghy.

12:45 Departed Drew Harbor

Good weather, mostly sunny, got to the Surge Narrow rapids early. Practiced docking around a log in the tide line. Watched as a sailboat came out of the rapids and went in early following three power boats. Lots of other boats waited for slack. Current was going against us 1.7 to 2 knots. Like running rapids backwards in a kayak, trying to avoid back eddies. Jim said I am the only person he has let steer through the rapids. I thought it was great. Can't wait for the next one!

Kind of tricky getting into Waiatt Bay. A narrow channel with a rock off to one side. Used the Navionics. Its quite crowded. Maybe 30 boats. A mix of sail and power. Loons calling, a harbor seal, pink salmon practicing for the rivers jumping along out of the water. I jumped in the water with a lifejacket on for insulation. It was cold alright. We figure about 52 F.

Found middens and an old native canoe launch while walking Sailor.

Such a beautiful bay. Its like we sailed from one lake to another. The water was glass smooth so I rowed the dinghy out for photos of the boat. I think Drew Harbor is now my second favorite so far!

Even tried fishing for a Pink for dinner. I dont think they are interested and I really didnt feel like cleaning one anyway.

Ate a dressed up greek salad and corn on the cob on deck. It really is perfect weather. What a life!

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7/21/2014

Jellybean's Log 7/21/2014
Campbell River to Drew Harbor.

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I made a last minute trip to the mall for a light sleeping bag, socks, and a waterproof notebook.

Jim steered us out of the marina and we sailed, or tried to, closehauled at 9 knots out with the flood tide. Did a couple tacks. Its a great boat to sail, but the bimini is just at my eye level so I am on tippy toe or off to the side. Going north, the wind died down till we were only doing 2 knots so we motor sailed into Drew Harbor.

The anchor rode is 200' of chain and 100' of nylon. Anchored in 30' with 120' of rode. Electric windlass with a clutch operated by a winch handle.

Walked the wide trail on Rebecca Spit. Nice pine trees with soft pine needle foot path. Benches, picnic tables, outhouse, a pretty idealic spot really. I think its my favorite harbor so far.

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Capt. Jim and Sailor and I don't know who the wooden guy is.

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Jellybean at the helm

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Capt. Jim's Famous Greek Salad

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With Copper Moon

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Moving from "Mon Soleil" to "Wind Maiden"

Jellybean's Log 7/19/2014

Tim gave me a ride to the "wrong marriott" where I caught the Supershuttle to LAX. Flew from LAX to YVR (Vancouver, BC). From there I took the Canada Line lightrail to City Center and the 257 express to Horseshoe Bay. Then the BC Ferry to Discovery Bay in Nanaimo and Rosemarie picked me up. I spent the night at their home in Parksville.

An interesting exchange while waiting for the bus...I pulled out the sat phone to let Rosemarie know when and where to pick me up. It had poor signal strength due to all the skyscrapers in downtown Vancouver, but I was able to get the message out. Then I was asked by a teenager what kind of cell phone I was using. They thought it was a really cool retro cell phone and wanted to know where i got it! I think it is bulky and no frills but it does work where cell phones do not.