April 2015 to Current Will Be Posted at Our Next Internet Connection

Thank you everyone for your patience while Mae catches up on the posting.  Now we are going to try to get to the Northern part of Vancouver Island.  It's been difficult getting through Johnstone Strait due to extreme winds, so now we are going to try the backdoor through the Broughtons.

Winter in Nanaimo, False Creek & Gulf Island Adventures ~ December 14, 2014 to April 19, 2015

Winter at Stones Marina, December 14, 2014 to February 28, 2015

On December 14, as we were making our way across the Strait of Georgia, Marty spotted a large pod of killer whales crossing the strait too.   One whale came swimming close behind our boat.

After stopping at Silva Bay Marina on Gabriola Island for the night, we had a great sail over to Nanaimo on December 15^th.

Traveling in the middle of winter was cold and Rose enjoyed being up above but stayed warm under a blanket.

Stones Marina was our home for 2.5 months.  Like Shelter Bay Marina, their moorage rates were very reasonable.  This marina was much quieter than Shelter.  We had a separate slip, storage bin and gated dock.  Sugar was quite adventurous at this marina.

We were able to have our traditional Christmas Eve sail.  This was our first Christmas Eve sail that was not in Prince Rupert. It was a lovely sail outside Nanaimo.

We spent Christmas at Jennifer’s apartment.   We slept over by bringing Rose and Sugar as well.  It was great to have Edward come over from Langley and we spent the first Christmas as a whole family, pets and all for the first time in a long time. 

After several days at Jennifer’s, it was time to return home to our boat.  Since there was a lot to bring back to the boat, Marty had brought Wild Abandon over to the docks at the Nanaimo Port Authority.

During our stay in Nanaimo, Mae had a chance to use her Sailrite Sewing machine she got from Marty for Christmas one year.  Jennifer’s cat, Belle, was trying to be helpful.  Mae found a bunch of Mustang life jacket packaging bags that were thrown away.  She retrieved them and made several different storage pouches for the boat.  Mae also made other storage bags by reusing old sail material.

The best use of our machine was used on the docks to do touch up repairs on our main sail and sail cover.

Exploring and Sailing Around Nanaimo Area

As you know, we don’t like being tied up to the dock all the time so we got out sailing and did some trips to various islands in the area. 

Sailing with Alex & his brother

Sailing with Jennifer

January 10 -12 Sailing Trip to  Conovor Cove on Wallace Island & Montague Harbour on Galiano   

One of the old cabins is being used for people to leave messages about their boat by using items such as driftwood, shells and bottles. 

Who’s taking whom for a walk along the docks at Montague Harbour?

January 20-21 Sailing Trip to Boho Bay on Lasqueti Island

Sailing trip to Jedediah Island February 15-16.  One of the biggest cedar trees we’ve seen in a while exploring on Jediahah Island. 

There were feral sheep as well as goats on Jediah Island as a result of old abandoned homesteads.

Exploring New Castle Island with Jennifer, Rose & Sugar

New Year’s Celebration at the Tabata Home.. Shuji was very happy with the jar of pickled kelp 

Chinese New Year’s dinner at Jennifer’s apartment

One of our highlights in Nanaimo was volunteering at Fishes & Loaves Community Food Bank.  This group utilizes and organizes food donations from many grocery stores.  Much of the fresh produce that was once destined to be thrown away are sorted and provided as part of the food bank.   Many grocery stores have high quality controls that require a whole shipment being rejected even if there are blemishes on only one package.  Fishes & Loaves uses all the rest.

February 26 – March 2

Wild Abandon underwent bottom paint touch up, zinc replacement and interior teak restoration. 

Pretty strong smelling teak cleaners.

Visits from friends all around in Nanaimo

After over three years, we met our good friends Paul Flyr and Lynn Smith from Sequim, WA.  They came over the border to visit us.  We were so happy to spend a few days with them.  

They learned to make shi-ka-bobs, which they quite enjoyed. 

We had a great visit with Brittany Herle who was on her way to Nanoose Bay.   

We had a chance to see Michelle and Trent when they came to visit family in Nanaimo.

Wendy Brooks came by to visit with her friend from Gabriola Island.

  

Ahhh…a protest! Count us in.  Bill C-51 Protest in Nanaimo. Bill C-51 protests were also held throughout our country

The arrival of our new dinghy and Marty did a great job putting it all together.  This is a special dinghy as we also got the sailing kit to go with it.

 

False Creek, Vancouver, B.C., March 15 to April 6

We anchored in False Creek for 21 days during their non-peak time.  Boaters are permitted to anchor free for 21 days within a 40 day period during non-peak time and only 14 days within a 30 day period during peak time.   Many apartments and condos go for millions of dollars because of their water view.  We enjoy our million-dollar view for free at False Creek.  

Dinghy sailing in False Creek

We had some pretty wet times at False Creek.  Rose is under cover to help her stay a bit dry.  Unfortunately, Rose got a haircut just before it got colder with the rain.

While walking along West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver, Marty spotted Gord Rutherford.  It was our turn to spot Gord as he spotted us back in 2010 in Nanaimo.  As you can see, it was a very wet day.  We were in our survival suits after visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery.

We spent many hours at the Vancouver Public Library to access the internet and charge up our electronics and electric dinghy motor.   This is an incredible library with seven floors to explore.

Sometimes, we stopped in at Granville Island Market on our way in or out, to do some grocery shopping. 

Laundry day consists of packing up the bags into the dinghy.  Then walking 1.3 km up Cambie Street to the laundry mat.

Marty giving our new dinghy a good test by sailing with the main sail only.

What a Canadian welcome for our great American friends, Karen Sullivan and Jim Heumann from Port Townsend.  There was quite a hail and thunderstorm that struck as they anchored.

Mae demonstrating to Karen the great new dinghy sailing skills she learned from Marty.

Karen sailed to their new boat, “Raven” to take Jim out sailing.

We enjoyed a walk through Chinatown and snacked on barbeque pork and sausages.  

We also purchased the ingredients for our potluck dinner.  

As Marty brilliantly sailed to Raven, Mae held onto the dinner dishes, as the dinghy was heeling over a bit.    Astern of Raven is the back door garage for a dinghy, which also serves as a dance floor but that night by moving a few planks, it became our dinner table.

Raven is quite a unique, custom built boat by an older man back in Port Townsend.  Every part of the boat is custom crafted to perfection.  Below one of the pilot seats is their galley with a two burner stove and oven.  Door knobs, latches, arm rails, steps, tables, hooks and much more were uniquely shaped throughout their boat.

While dinner was being prepared, Jim took some time to relax and read on top of Raven.

A big cheer for Karen and Jim for coming to False Creek to visit, as the last time we saw each other was back in 2010 when we visited them in Port Townsend.

Visits from Friends & Family at False Creek

We had a great visit with Bob Long, Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain and James McNish at Granville Island Market.

We had tasty beers and appetizers at Granville Island Brewery with Edward and our nieces (Missy & Lanette) and nephew (Spencer).  It’s been a long time since we last saw them.  

Missy enjoyed her ice cream beer float, which was quite shocking for Marty.

Jennifer came over to Vancouver as she spent three days with Edward at Fan Expo at Canada Place.  

       

They were able to enjoy Easter Dinner on our boat. 

We got to see Jet and Miyuki again and went out for dim sum in Chinatown.

We took Edward’s friends Nadia and Ray out for a short sail (lack of wind) in English Bay.

We traveled a few hours over to Howe Sound to witness the sinking of the HMCS Annapolis off Gambier Island, northwest of Vancouver.  The sinking was fast and now it will become an artificial reef for sea creatures and divers.   There were so many boats and hundreds of people watching.  

When it was all over, it was a massive dash of boats of various sizes and speeds.

Good morning and good bye Vancouver ….again as we make way to various stops around the Gulf Islands.

April 7 to 18 ~ Various Stops Around the Gulf Islands

We made a pit stop in Ladysmith to take Rose to the vet as she had a bad rash.   At the docks, we met an old fisherman named Neil who knows our friend Norm in Prince Rupert.

We enjoyed walking around Chemainus for its beautiful murals throughout the town.

Chemainus

On April 9^th, we tied up at a day dock in Preedy Bay on Thesis Island where we enjoyed a nice walk and picnic. While there, we met a man named Ron that was dropping some friends off at the dock.  He loved our “No Place For Tankers” and invited us to come visit his island (the one to the left of this photo.)

We took him up on the offer and we sailed over to Hudson Island.  Ron was actually a caretaker of one doctor’s home and acts as security for the other homes on the island.  Hudson Island also has an airstrip.  Ron is quite an amazing man who taught himself many new skills such as crafting long bows, arrows, various building and wood working techniques.

The home owner has given Ron free rein to build whatever structures required to fuel his hobbies. Ron adds so much to the character of the property such as a wood working shop, stone walkway (using Lee Valley stone making kit), and a forging shop (in construction)

Ron with one of his hand crafted arrows and photos of the bows he’s been working on.  That night we went over to Telegraph Harbour Marina as anchoring in Preedy Harbour was not possible.

Bows Ron created

The workshop he built... notice the supporting beams

We had a chance to locate the Pot of Gold Coffee Roasting Company on Thesis Island and had a small tour of the facility.  This is great coffee that Wendy got us drinking but unfortunately, they did not have any available for us to buy.

They keep one year storage of beans at all times.

This is where they assemble the orders.

On April 10^th, we anchored in Maple Bay but unfortunately, we woke up to strong winds and started an anchor watch.  It wasn’t long until Marty decided it was best to set the second anchor and we were about to deploy the anchor, but we had already dragged.  Facing gusts of over 20 knots at 1:30 a.m. in pitch dark, we decided to tie up to Maple Bay Marina.   

We like the outdoor nautical structures around the marina. 

Cowichan Bay, B.C.

On April 12^th, we headed over to Cowichan Bay. 

We liked the local shops along Cowichan Bay’s version of “Cow Bay.”  The local bakery and specialty cheese shop were tasty.  We toured their wooden boat museum.

On April 14^th, we made a quick pit stop to tour the shops in Fulford Harbour and saw the coolest store that was packed from floor to ceiling with clothes, beads, jewelry, scarves, hats and lots of knick-knacks.  My sister, Ginny, could spend days in there!

One of our favorite places to anchor and provision is Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring island where we stayed for three nights to provision, swim at a pool, sail, visit our friend Anne-Marie at her elementary school and check out a local pub.

From April 17-19, we hung out at Poet’s Cove Marina at Bedford Harbour walking, soaking and relaxing.  We enjoyed the use of their small pool and hot tub.  Marty treated Mae to her first ever ‘SPA’ experience and she enjoyed every minute of it, including the special steam cave.   

Mae had a fabulous sail with Rose and Sugar.  

A beautiful sunset at Poet's Cove, Bedford Harbour on Pender Island

When we were about to leave, we met a neat English couple named John and Barbara on SV Songline.  They invited us over for tea on their boat.  Before we left, they treated Marty with some good old English tea.

SV Songline, England