Captain's Log

I sailed off my mooring buoy and set about cruising Sidney Spit. Almost immediately I confirmed what I'd feared.  I had almost no helm at all in a light wind.

A massive muscle colony had developed a community on my rudder. It was a diverse community featuring a healthy cross section of marine life including, but not limited to, a kelp forrest, a barnacle range and even a couple of sea cucumbers (according to Barnucka). So I ignited the mighty Yanmar and drove out the bay.

There was a steady Southwesterly blowing so I sailed while it held, then switched to power. I arrived at the spit by nightfall, running the final hour with lights burning.

Cruising Sidney Spit

Click for chart view.

Mostly cloudy. Zero wind. Strong Ebb Tide.

Gina and I spent the day on T2. We had coffee then set the crab trap and continued on to  Chatham Island.

I have to get the bottom done. It took us over an hour to get to Chatham thanks to a very strong ebb tide.

We enjoyed hot soup, cheese sandwiches and iced tea. After lunch we motored through the cut, past my firewood beach and back to the anchorage via Strongtide.

This morning, as predicted the weather has turned for a day on the rainy side. As I write this by the fire on T2, I’m making plans to return home. I’m very disappointed that I came here specifically to see the kids and haven’t. Due to a ‘medical emergency with Clara’ Tania and the kids are in Victoria. I should phone Luther Court to see about her. As soon as the rain stops I'll head for Princess Bay on Portland Island.

No reply from Luther Court.

I left Ganges Harbour right around the time Tom was getting off work at 14:00. Filled up with diesel at the Port of Ganges and then lit out for Portland Island. Three sailboats here in Princess Cove including T2. I went to shore and cut some cedar for my fire.

I finally fried up the oysters from Glenthorne Passage. They were amazing. Nice and firm, no milk. Lovely. I had a bumpy night due to marine traffic. Had better sleeps in Ganges. It’s only 08:22 and I’ve already had breakfast and washed the dishes. Now I’m waiting for the coffee to kick in before saying goodbye to the immaculate pit-toilet on shore.

Princess Bay, Portland Island

Click for chart view.

Left Cadboro Bay 14:35 Friday under sail bound for Glenthorne Passage. Main and jib. Reached North, down Haro Strait. Strong wind warning posted. Steady 15 Knt South Westerly brought me to the South shore of Sidney Island. Started engine at 17:07 but continued with main until just North of Portland Island. Arrived around 20:00.

I didn’t anchor very far into Glenthorne. The first time I came here with T2, I brought along the lads and we drank at anchor in the crotch of Glenthorne’s Passage. So to speak. This is a very quiet, deep and protected place to anchor. I met some guy (Henceforth referred to as S.G.) the last time I was at Princess Cove who mentioned he used to bring his kids here to swim. I’m still unsure if that was meant to be fun or punishment. The waters are still a little too far South for me.

This morning I learned that due to a medical emergency in Victoria, I would not be able to meet with the children today. She suggested perhaps tomorrow. Tom is supposed to be returning to Ganges today from doing laundry at his parents’ yesterday. I think I may hang out here for the rest of the morning until I hear from Mr. T. This is much quieter and zen-like than the busy Ganges Harbour on Saltspring Island.

This morning I drove Skully to the Federal Marine Park a couple of coves over, just before Trincomale Channel. It’s a very nice spot. There are no boats there right now. I saw many Red Rock Crabs on my way in. I paddled out on my way out and was the subject of great fascination by the local seal crew. There were 8 of them checking me out. Swimming underwater in the shallows all around me. Very cool.

 After drooling over the ever increasing number of oysters revealed by the ebb tide, I checked with DFO and found that oysters were open in Glenthorne Passage. I soon had a half dozen shucked and tucked for what would end up being breakfast a few days later.

Time to haul anchor and head for Ganges Harbour on Saltspring Island.

Glenthorne Passage

click for chart view

I left Bedwell Harbour at the crack of 9:45. I had been trying to get a hold of Tania to arrange to see the kids for the past couple of days to no avail. Finally I texted her that if she wouldn't return my texts or phone calls, I'd have to come to the house. Soon after I got a strange email suggesting that she'd filed a police report with RCMP including a description of my car, license plate and photo of Trouper 2. WTF?!

So, I'm heading home with some anxiety about the devolving custodial arrangment when my phone rings. It's the Saanich Police. "Do you own a red Mazda 3?" So I'm like, OMG. They're calling about Tania's police report. 

They weren't.

It turns out, the street where I had parked my car had some heavy construction under way. The cops were just hoping I could move my car so the big trucks would have an easier time negotiating the turn. I told them I was on my way and would move it this afternoon.

I carried on my voyage home, minding my own business when suddently, I became aware of a sinister presence in the form of an RCMP patrol boat just off my port quarter. Startled, I heaved to and prepared to be boarded. In all my time cruising the Gulf Islands, I had never been boarded or even approached by any kind of patrol boat. But, it would seem that today, all of that would change courtessy of my X Wife. I was about to be arrested at sea while flying the Jolly Roger.

I wasn't.

It turns out, I had clipped the American border Northwest of Stuart Island and the RCMP were checking to see what I was up to. I always thought I'd be shot at by a U.S. Homeland Security gunship if I got too close. "You're lucky it was us." said the friendly RCMP officer.

Two police encounters immediately following Tania's false claim that she had filed a police report. I know it was false because the day after I got home, I turned myself in to the West Shore RCMP Detachment. They had never heard of me.

After dropping mom off at Port of Sidney, I carried on to Portland Island for the night. It was such a relief to find only a few other boats at anchor.

The next morning, I was the only boat in Princess Cove! I hiked across the Island and along the coast in search of Morels. Found zero.

Winds calm, Sky clear

I picked up Gina from the Customs Dock at Port Sidney.

She suffered a moment of disorientation until she spotted the Jolly Roger moving along the top of the breakwater as T2 entered the Port.

We went for a long walk, the length of the Spit before returning for lunch aboard T2. I served sliced bar-b-qued port tenderloin on a salad of Spring greens.

After lunch we returned to the beach and lounged in the shade near the campground, overlooking the lagoon.

I dropped G. off at POS, and then returned to the Spit for dinner. What a difference a day makes. The spit was flooded with boaters looking to spend the weekend in the sun.

At one point I counted 75 boats at anchor. INSANE. I have never seen the Spit that busy.

Picking up Gina

Dropping off Gina

Beautiful sunny day. North East 10 Kts. Flood tide.

Sunny. North 5-10 Kts. Ebb tide.

Tara, Kelly and I had a lovely sail as evidenced by the photos below! Having capable crew makes the Skipper's job easy!

Thanks to you both for your participation and expert skills. Looks like we didn't quite hit 7 knotts Tara. Not for lack of trying though.

SE very light. Sunny. Full sails

I finally got rid of the original stove. In it's day, (40 yrs. ago) it was state of the art. The oven was seldom used and hasn't worked since I got the boat. The cooktop worked fine, but there was a leak somewhere. If I didn't turn off the propane at the tank, the tank would drain. Unsettling at the best of times but made worse with the presence of a wood stove.

So, I think I managed to match the stain with dad's original work. It's Minwax, Gunstock. And now I have a shit ton of storage where before it was just wasted space.