A Little Sun

Sunbreaks are beautiful and happy so we have a little fun with the camera on our way back into US waters.

Trying to set the timer.

Back in the USA

Tugging Logs

It's probably hard to make out in the picture but this is a tug boat pulling logs.  We first saw this from a great distance and it looked like a low island that was perhaps exposed by the tide.  As we approached we could tell it was moving albeit very slowly; the tug and his load were moving at about 1.5kts (we're slowly crusing by him at 7kts).  The log raft was massive; it was probably 120yards long and about 60ft wide. 

Late the following day we heard him call in his approach to Vancouver Marine Traffic.

Skipping Salmon

We are being shadowed by a porpoise.  It is hard to tell if he/she is a dull Dall's or a dark Harbour porpoise but she appears to be alone and has proven to be camera shy.

We've seen lots of creatures on this trip.  Eagles and hundreds of sea birds, last night we stayed close to a huge Cormorant colony.  We've seen scores of harbor seals and sea lions; a pod of Orcas and a good many porpoises.

Yesterday, the salmon were running outside of the Frasier River and Point Roberts.  And I do mean running - as in across the water.  They were hurtling themselves out of the water several times over like they were running upstream (but for the most part they were headed offshore).  It was almost like someone was skipping salmon instead of stones.  I don't know if it is strange behavior or if I just have never seen it in open water.

The hurtling fish were hard to catch on camera.

Got Out of Town on a Boat

Today we are motoring out of Semiahmoo and Blaine on the border of Washington State and Canada headed toward Anacortes and the end of this part of our sailing adventures.  We can see the Peace Arch behind us as we cross the bay.  It’s a dark morning the skies heavy with threat and again the horizon isn’t visible.  There isn’t even a hint of wind.  But the temperature is mild and the monotone grey of the fog covered land and the dark sky mirrored in the glassy water is truly beautiful and peaceful.

Platform Nine and Three Quarters

My eyesight is good.  My eyesight is even great.  But water, sky and land together can play tricks on your sight.  I have two (sometimes 3) books that I like to check before we go to a new place.  One of the books has cartoon-ish but accurate drawings of the entries to the bay or marina the other has precise directions and outlines; between them I get a pretty good image of what to expect (okay, plus I check a nautical chart and our GPS has photos).  Still, when it is a rock seawall or some sort of breakwater I can never see the entrance!  I just have to trust that it is where it is supposed to be and boldly point the boat at that place in the very solid looking wall hoping when we are close enough an opening will be revealed.

Is Anyone Out There?

If you write blog will your friends look at it?

If anyone reads this please leave me a note in the comments even if it is just, Hi!

We are in Vancouver today. Or more exactly we are sailing by the mouth of Burrard Inlet from our stop last night in Howe Sound. It is beautiful herewith layers and layers of mountains. Snow, granite and forests creating an appealing contrast.

As we pass Point Atkinson and head back out to the Strait of Georgia looking forward I see no horizon; only water for miles and miles. Just enough low fog lies in the distance to completely blur the line between sky and sea.

King of the Hill

Did you ever play that board game when you were a kid?  The board was a plastic hill and you played with marbles.  I never had the game myself but I loved to play at my friends. 

We are spending a beautiful sunny and mild day in Pender Harbor (the Venice of BC) today; doing some minor repairs, exploring and provisioning.  There is an island at the entrance to the bay here that reminds me of the hill in the board game everytime I see it.

We'll search for tomorrow on every shore

Looking up at water falling down.

Exploring on the dinghy.

A bit of sunshine in our day

Getting wet, together.

Inukshuk

"Who so removeth stones shall be hurt therewith"

At the base of Chatterbox Falls folks have taken to leaving cairns.  There are hundreds of them scattered all over the rocks in the water and balanced on other rocks or on fallen trees.

Jelly

The water here is dark, almost black and deep, really, really deep. Five feet from the side (there isn’t really a shoreline in most places) it can be 100’ deep or more. Someone said this place has a “Lord of the Rings” feel to it -otherwordly, and it seems so to me as well. Still the water makes me want to swim! If it was 10 or 20 degrees warmer outside I would be in there already. Then I see this and I think I want to swim a little less. This is a massive Jelly; he must have been over 6ft and about 12” in diameter.

Chatterbox

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Through Malibu Rapids is Princess Louisa Inlet carved out of stone mountains by glaciers.  It is beautiful and imposing.  At the back of the inlet and surrounded by at least 100 smaller waterfalls is Chatterbox Falls. It is much more impressive than it looks in the photo.  That's Solstice in the photos at anchor at the base of the Falls.

Malibu

We’ve been out of civilization for a few days. We followed Jervis Inlet to Prince of Wales Reach to Royal Princess Reach to Queens Reach and finally to Malibu Rapids, about 45 miles inland. As beautiful as the journey was to get here this is the part of the day I was most excited about. It is a narrow “S” shaped passage and the current can run through there at 9 knots (for reference, Solstice cruises at just over 7 knots); it is therefore recommended that you wait for slack tide/current to cross.

Batten the Hatches! We're Crossing the Strait of Georgia!

We set off Thursday morning from Silva Bay headed toward Agamemnon Channel and Jervis Inlet. The challenge today is crossing the Strait of Georgia. It is large and fast moving with alot of traffic and is usually very windy. Today was not usually. We spent part of the crossing looking for wind, any wind.

Tied up for the evening at Back Eddy Pub. That is Jervis Inlet you can see off the bow of Solstice; we'll be heading up Jervis bright (hopefully) and early in the morning.

There it is! Wind at last. Just in time to help push us up Agememnon Channel.

I don't know my birds that well but it is hard to believe that this is a seabird. This guy was several miles from shore and pretty tired when he touched down. He stayed with us until his friends arrived about an hour or so later.

Leaving Silva Bay at about 8am.   "No. Really. We have to pass both of these buoys on our right. I know! It is REALLY close to that island".

Gulf Islands

We're here: Silva Bay, Gabriola Island, BC and there is bread baking in our oven and tandori chicken on the grill.  It's a good night and it is still sunny and warm.

Silva Bay was named for John Silva an early settler from Portugal; coincidentally, my great great grandfather was a John Silva from Portugal.

Take a close look at this green buoy (it is at the east end of Active Pass).  That is a big bell just there in the center and the thing is loud!  Now, just imagine living in that house you on shore.  This big brass bell ringing all day and all night every day and every night.

Getting ready to transit Active Pass at just before slack tide.  It is amazingly calm here this morning and so beautiful that you want to stop and spend the day.  But, alas, it is too dangereous to consider so we keep on course for the Strait of Georgia looking forward to some serious sailing.

We overnighted at North Pender Island, Port Browning and woke up to a spectacular sunny warm morning.

Ahhh.  The comforts of home.

Plotting a Course

Figuring out the best route can be challenging; tide, current, distance.  We check all these books, plus...

Any current weather we can get online - if we can get online.

Flagged

Flying the colors of a country that is not ours; what a strange thing.  But it does look beautiful and happy up there on the spreaders in the sun.

Yo Canada!

Lighthouse, San Juan Island, West Coast

Great Blue, Port Browning

Checking out the new neighbors, Pender Island, Canada

Rainy Days

Shark!   not.

Greeted off southside of San Juan Island.

Wet but happy.

It was a perfect northwest summer day today - wet! Good sailing though. We had a speedy (up to 10.7 kts) sail across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We're drying off and warming up in Roche Harbor.

Setting sail in Seattle

Wishing us well as we leave the marina - Sept 5

Starting Out

Even though the skies are grey we have sunbreaks as we depart on our salt water adventure.  We were surprised by the impressive committee out to bid us farewell at the mouth of the harbor.

Solstice is ready to go and we are all happy to be on the water. The winds are fair and at our back causing an odd calm and still effect on board. It's a great morning.

On our way!