Sunday, July 20, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Home Safely
We are home safely and the Retriever is back at Twin Bridges awaiting the next adventure. In total we traveled 592.7 nautical miles in approximately 90 hours over 31 days. Much of the time was spent at displacement speeds of 5 knots or so for optimum fuel economy and comfort. Throughout this the boat suffered no real breakdowns or problems, save for a burnt out anchor light and a loose dinette. Both of these issues were/are easily correctable.
Now, to recap the last several days. From Porteau Cove we went to Squamish, a short run of 12 nautical miles or so. There we met Mom, Charlie, and Ben for a couple of days at Whistler. Peter, Charlie, and I skied on the glacier one day and explored Whistler the other, while Ben spent both days mountain biking. In Whistler we saw three black bears while riding the chair to the glacier and another along a side road.
After Whistler Ben and I headed towards home, with a stop in Snug Cove for two nights. We had to stop the first night for fuel (we arrived after all the fuel docks closed) and unfortunately the next day (Thursday) brought 40 knot winds in the Strait of Georgia. Not good weather for a 22 foot boat! By Friday morning the wind had calmed and we headed for Fishermans Cove to refuel. Unfortunately their fuel dock had been shut down which was a recent change not reflected in the guide books or chartplotter. Thus, we had to turn around and head for Horseshoe Bay where we filled our tanks 3/4 full. We then had a quick and fairly calm 30-some nautical miles across the Strait of Georgia, through Porlier Pass, and into Wallace Island. Wallace Island was much more crowded than it had been when I was there a month earlier but we still found a space on the dock and tied up for the night. By the early evening the dock was full and there were a half dozen boats anchored throughout the bay and more in Princess Cove.
This morning we left Wallace Island a little before 8:00 AM bound for Roche Harbor to clear customs and then on to Twin Bridges. We arrived in Roche around 9:30, quickly cleared in, got some donuts, and moved onto Twin Bridges where we arrived at noon. Surprisingly the growth on the hull was limited to the aft quarters and transom and it did not require much effort to remove. After an hour and a half of scrubbing, vacuuming, and pressure washing the boat was clean and we headed home after a successful maiden voyage.
I'll post an album of photos in the next few days with pictures from the trip.
Now, to recap the last several days. From Porteau Cove we went to Squamish, a short run of 12 nautical miles or so. There we met Mom, Charlie, and Ben for a couple of days at Whistler. Peter, Charlie, and I skied on the glacier one day and explored Whistler the other, while Ben spent both days mountain biking. In Whistler we saw three black bears while riding the chair to the glacier and another along a side road.
After Whistler Ben and I headed towards home, with a stop in Snug Cove for two nights. We had to stop the first night for fuel (we arrived after all the fuel docks closed) and unfortunately the next day (Thursday) brought 40 knot winds in the Strait of Georgia. Not good weather for a 22 foot boat! By Friday morning the wind had calmed and we headed for Fishermans Cove to refuel. Unfortunately their fuel dock had been shut down which was a recent change not reflected in the guide books or chartplotter. Thus, we had to turn around and head for Horseshoe Bay where we filled our tanks 3/4 full. We then had a quick and fairly calm 30-some nautical miles across the Strait of Georgia, through Porlier Pass, and into Wallace Island. Wallace Island was much more crowded than it had been when I was there a month earlier but we still found a space on the dock and tied up for the night. By the early evening the dock was full and there were a half dozen boats anchored throughout the bay and more in Princess Cove.
This morning we left Wallace Island a little before 8:00 AM bound for Roche Harbor to clear customs and then on to Twin Bridges. We arrived in Roche around 9:30, quickly cleared in, got some donuts, and moved onto Twin Bridges where we arrived at noon. Surprisingly the growth on the hull was limited to the aft quarters and transom and it did not require much effort to remove. After an hour and a half of scrubbing, vacuuming, and pressure washing the boat was clean and we headed home after a successful maiden voyage.
I'll post an album of photos in the next few days with pictures from the trip.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Bears at Blackcomb
bears. Here is a picture of one from my phone. Too bad I didn't have
my camera.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Porteau Cove
We are now on a mooring buoy at Porteau Cove. This is a large
campground (60 sites) located on the Sea to Sky highway before
Squamish. The campground is well maintained and clean and has free
showers.
campground (60 sites) located on the Sea to Sky highway before
Squamish. The campground is well maintained and clean and has free
showers.
Last night we were on a mooring buoy at Plumper Cove on Keats Island.
This was a very busy park, similar to Jones Island, and only about a
mile from Gibsons.
Sent from my iPhone
Friday, July 4, 2008
Gibsons
The weather started to clear around 7:30 and we decided to go out and
see how it was. We left around 8:00 and had fairly calm seas. We made
10-11 knots most of the way and pulled into Gibsons Marina a bit after
9:00.
see how it was. We left around 8:00 and had fairly calm seas. We made
10-11 knots most of the way and pulled into Gibsons Marina a bit after
9:00.
Sent from my iPhone
Waiting near Sechelt
We left Secret Cove about 5:30 this morning and had a fairly
straightforward run to Sechelt before conditions worsened. We turned
around and anchored on the lee of the Trail Islands for the weather to
clear.
straightforward run to Sechelt before conditions worsened. We turned
around and anchored on the lee of the Trail Islands for the weather to
clear.
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Stuck in Secret Cove
After several days of relentless heat, the weather has changed considerably. Last night we were awoken around 1:00 AM by heavy rain and thunder. I got up to shut all of the windows and couldn't go back to sleep for a while because of all the noise.
Today we headed to Secret Cove. There was a strong Southeasterly blowing which created large head seas. I'd guess that the bigger waves were about 4 feet...big enough that I was looking sideways at the crests and not down. The boat handled great and despite the conditions there were quite a few other boats out. Just as we were leaving Pender Harbour we passed a 42 Krogen heading in who was getting pushed all around by the following seas and a 28 foot Protector (the same RIB that the New Zealand and Australian Coast Guards use) passed us. This particular boat was the tender to a large sailboat that had anchored in Garden Bay last night. There were several other boats, mostly sailboats, that we saw heading north.
The forecast is for more Southeasterlies, so we aren't sure when we will leave. The conditions aren't dangerous, just uncomfortable, so we will wait it out.
Today we headed to Secret Cove. There was a strong Southeasterly blowing which created large head seas. I'd guess that the bigger waves were about 4 feet...big enough that I was looking sideways at the crests and not down. The boat handled great and despite the conditions there were quite a few other boats out. Just as we were leaving Pender Harbour we passed a 42 Krogen heading in who was getting pushed all around by the following seas and a 28 foot Protector (the same RIB that the New Zealand and Australian Coast Guards use) passed us. This particular boat was the tender to a large sailboat that had anchored in Garden Bay last night. There were several other boats, mostly sailboats, that we saw heading north.
The forecast is for more Southeasterlies, so we aren't sure when we will leave. The conditions aren't dangerous, just uncomfortable, so we will wait it out.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Southbound
We are back in Lund now after several days in Desolation Sound. We stayed in Melanie Cove, Roscoe Bay, Toba Wildernest, Melanie Cove, and Teakerne Arm, in that order. My favorite anchorage was Teakerne Arm. We were nestled in just in front of a waterfall with a stern tie to a log and another shore tie off the bow in addition to the anchor.
It has been very hot the last few days and there was a great lake for swimming a short distance from our anchorage.
Before getting to Teakerne Arm yesterday we stopped at Refuge Cove and had lunch at a floating restaurant in the harbor. All they really had were burgers and fried food, but it was interesting to have a restaurant on a barge in the harbor and not ashore.
For the most part Desolation Sound has not been as desolate as its name suggests. There have been lots of other cruising boats around, many from the Seattle area. Sadly pretty much the whole area has been logged and the logging continues in areas. It is not uncommon to see large logbooms progressing slowly through the channels. Aquaculture areas are also common. Basically they are large farms in the water for oysters and other shellfish. Not only are aquaculture sites ugly, they also mandate a no wake speed when passing to avoid messing up the area. For the most part we have been traveling at 5 knots anyway, which is easy on fuel and allows us to see more around us.
Today we stopped for several hours at Savary Island which is just a few nautical miles from Lund. Savary Island is unique because it is one of the only islands in the area with sandy beaches. We walked for a while on the beach and ate lunch at a nice restaurant.
Tomorrow we are bound for Pender Harbour so that dad can go home and Peter can get on. We will then make our way to Squamish so we can see Whistler before heading home.
It has been very hot the last few days and there was a great lake for swimming a short distance from our anchorage.
Before getting to Teakerne Arm yesterday we stopped at Refuge Cove and had lunch at a floating restaurant in the harbor. All they really had were burgers and fried food, but it was interesting to have a restaurant on a barge in the harbor and not ashore.
For the most part Desolation Sound has not been as desolate as its name suggests. There have been lots of other cruising boats around, many from the Seattle area. Sadly pretty much the whole area has been logged and the logging continues in areas. It is not uncommon to see large logbooms progressing slowly through the channels. Aquaculture areas are also common. Basically they are large farms in the water for oysters and other shellfish. Not only are aquaculture sites ugly, they also mandate a no wake speed when passing to avoid messing up the area. For the most part we have been traveling at 5 knots anyway, which is easy on fuel and allows us to see more around us.
Today we stopped for several hours at Savary Island which is just a few nautical miles from Lund. Savary Island is unique because it is one of the only islands in the area with sandy beaches. We walked for a while on the beach and ate lunch at a nice restaurant.
Tomorrow we are bound for Pender Harbour so that dad can go home and Peter can get on. We will then make our way to Squamish so we can see Whistler before heading home.
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