Odds and Ends on My Cruise

I was gone for 5 weeks starting in May and ending 1 July 2013. I logged in 412 nm starting from the South Sound and going as far as Newcastle Island in BC and returning to Tacoma Wa. I was fortunate  that my timing coincided with an Albineers of BC  Rendezvous in Telegraph Harbor, Thetis Island. I towed Pashmina the whole way. Fuel: 37 gallons @ 412nm = 11.13 miles/gal.

My stops along the way:
1. Gig Harbor, Wa USA
2. Blake Island, Wa
3. Langley, Whidbey Island, Wa
4. La Conner, Wa
5. Bedwell Harbor, Pender Island, BC
6. Annette Cove, Prevost Island
7. Montegue Harbor, Galiano Island
8. Telegraph Harbor, Thetis Island
9. Nanaimo, Vancouver Island
10. Newcastle Island
11. Pirates Cove, De Coursey Island
12. Conover Cove, Wallace Island
13. Winter Cove, Saturna Island
14. Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Wa USA
15. Parks Bay, Shaw Island, Wa
16. Jones Island, Wa
17. Blind Bay, Shaw Island, Wa
18. West Sound, Orcas Island, Wa
19. Spencer Spit, Lopez Island, Wa
20. Cypress Island, Wa
21. Vendovi Island, Wa
22. La Conner, WA
23. Langley, Whidbey Island
24. Kingston Harbor, Wa
25. Blake Island, Wa
26. Gig Harbor, Wa
27. Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma, Wa.

The San Juan Preservation Trust liked my posting on Vendovi Island and posted it to their Facebook Page.

I met so many wonderful people, who have inspired me and I have inspired them, as well. I have received many emails lately thanking me for keeping up the blog and keeping up my travels. I had the best time and thanks to Joyce, my crew who shared in the rowing, the steering, the cooking, the docking, the navigation and the fun. Blog readers have viewed over, 60,000 pages as of this morning. Thank you all for continuing to read, dream and boating.

Winter Cove to Friday Harbor, WA USA

14 June 2013 Friday

We weigh anchor at 0900 hrs and follow the Saturna Island shoreline and then taking Pender Island to Starboard. At 1015 we cross the stern of a Japanese Freighter and enter US waters. At 1235 we tie up to the Customs Dock in Friday Harbor and call in. An Agent takes my information and then comes down to the boat to chat. Well, that was easy.

We shower, walk the docks, and Joyce fixes me a great fish dinner....again.
days run 21nm
my total 263nm
Joyce's total 169nm

While dock walking I spot an Albin 25 coming into the work dock. It is the Tern who lives on a buoy over on Waldron Island. The owners are flower growers and they bring their flowers to the farmers market each week.  I introduce myself and we have a short chat, but they are in a rush to meet the ferry.

I turn around and see another boat at the work dock. It is an old Vashon Tug. Could it be my old Shakti?
I look at the registration # and it looks familiar. I walk back to Shatoosh, look up my photo of her and zoom in on my old reg # and sure nuff it is my old Vashon Tug. I had bought her in 1986. I find out from the
Tern owners that it, too is a work boat for a Waldron Vegetable farmer who  comes to the market as well. It has been repainted some. The memories start flooding in. What a sweet little cruiser she was. I had so much fun with her cruising the San Juan Islands. It is nice to know that she is still in working order and a local boat.

What a great ending to this delightful cruise with Joyce.

Conover Cove to Winter Cove, Saturna Island

13 June 2013 Thursday
We love Conover Cove and Wallace Island so much Joyce and I take off after breakfast and hike to the next Cove which is Princess where larger boats tie up as it is deeper. I have been having trouble with my knee so grab some sticks for balance which works good and I can stride out some. The hike is about 3/8 of a mile each way and only a few up and down hills. There are some boats anchored with stern ties to shore rings.

Scottish flag

                                                                         





















We depart Conover at 1120 hrs with flat seas, blue skies and ebbing tide. It can't get any better, so I talk Joyce into taking a time out from the helm. She goes into Pashmina for some photo opps.

Summer at Last.
She stays 3nm at 7.6 k

At 1340 hrs we cruise thru Horton Bay at Curlew Island and Irish Bay, but decide we like Winter Cove on Saturna best. We anchor easily at 1430 hrs. I clean the waterline and hull of some ugly spots. Later we take Pashmina for a ride to shore to see the Point and the Georgia Strait. I fall getting back to the beach and take a hit to my right hip and buttock area. The broken off limb stubs of a fallen fir tree bites me good, drawing blood. Thanks to Reiki, Essential Oils, and Wobe-N I am tender with minor bruising/swelling the next day.

Shatoosh in distance

Whirlpools at Samuel Island and Saturna Island Passage

An exceptional Reader Board
Looking like Madrona Trees

Days run 19nm
Total 242nm

Newcastle Island to Conover Cove, Wallace Island

12 June 2013 Wednesday

We have to navigate the Dodd Narrows heading south today so a late departure is in order for good timing. We slip the line off the buoy at 1100hrs. and head outbound Northumberland Channel. There is a slight headwind with gentle 1-2 foot waves and no boats in a holding pattern for the narrows. We are early again but this time it doesn't really matter as we are on an ebb. We slip thru easily at 9.1k. On the other side there are about 5 boats headed our way and a squall kicks up with rain and decreased visibility. I turn the radar on and show Joyce where all the approaching vessels are located on the screen as she has the helm. I have been letting her run Shatoosh for the most part so she can soak up the hours of helmananda--the bliss of  being at the helm.

Dodd Narrows

inbound sailboat Narrows

Conover Cove Dock
Arrival 1500 hrs

Conover Cove

Camping Shelter

Matt had told us tht people leave their boat names on  wood at the Conover Cabin
I was prepared with some wood from Montegue Harbor

Wow, this was a surprise. So many boats
All 4 walls inside and outside filled + the ceiling.

Recognize any of your friends?

You Might Know This One

Another Bandito

What is that Bright Light Shining My Way?

An after dinner row in Pashmina to Panther Point
Reveals some beautiful Sandstone Sculpturing

Another wonderful day.
Days run 24 nm
Total 223nm

A Ferry Ride to Gabriola Island to Visit Friends

11 June 2013 Tuesday

We catch the 0930 ferry as walk ons to Gabriola Island to see my Tacoma friend Care and Betty Lou who lives on Gabriola. Betty Lou donated many charts to me which we are using on the way thru the Gulf Islands.
The ride is 20 minutes. We wait for them to meet us and take a few photos of the artwork on the electric panel in the parking lot.

A twin keel hi and dry

Anchored Albin Vega

Care on left, Betty Lou on right
BL a sailor, golfer owns log cabin and has remodeled and added on to it.
She has a great shop to work on projects.
Care, my long time friend since the 60's.

They gave us a wonderful tour of the island, a lovely lunch and a packet full of charts. Thanks for the whirlwind tour. Next time I'll anchor in Silva Bay and visit for a longer time period. We return to Nanaimo and depart our guest dock spot at 1500 hrs. Next stop across the bay to Newcastle Island and we pick up a buoy for the night. This is the farthest north we have gone. 49 degrees, 10 minutes north.

Days run 1nm

Total 199nm

Pirates Cove to Nanaimo

10 June 2013 Monday

Departure is 0900 hrs from Pirates cove and today we are going through Dodd Narrows so we have to time our run on slack tide. The tables here in BC call them turns. Any time there are Narrows and swift currents one hears much about horror stories. There are plenty of them, but as usual if you go thru at the appointed time you should not have trouble. We are going thru after the ebbing turn, so if we are early we would be bucking the current. We are early and decide to wait some more. I scan the chart and find a sweet little indentation on Mudge Island where there is a sandy beach/cove with a private dock. I get out the stern lunch anchor and drop her in about 10 feet of water. With a good set, Joyce decides to make coffee and quesadillas which hit the spot. It is 1015. We weigh anchor at 1100 hrs and are thru the narrows at 1115. A trawler goes ahead of us, we are 2nd and then about 5 sailboats fall in behind us.

we approach our way points from our Mudge island anchorage

Lt. Zachary Mudge was on the HMS Discovery
with Captain Vancouver and Peter Puget.

The winds pick up and throw out a nasty 3-4 foot chop with about 20-25 mph winds as we lumber up Northumberland Channel towards Nanaimo. I stand to steer the whole way as our following fleet takes a beating, as well. Pashmina follows easily behind. We enter the harbor, get fuel and a slip. It is quiet here. We meet 2 Reiki Master friends of Joyce's. and spend an afternoon with them in the beautiful Nanaimo park. It is sunny and we have a nice visit with the Swedish Masters.

Todays run 13nm

Total 198nm.

Telegraph Harbor to Pirates Cove, DeCoursey Island

9 June 2013 Sunday
We depart at 1100 hrs after coffee and muffins with the Albineers. at 1300 we enter Pirates cove and stern tie to a chain and ring from the shore. Joyce does a good job rowing out the line and bringing it back to the boat. We are anchored at low tide so she can just reach the ring while standing in Pashmina. At high tide we are at eye level to the attached chain.
Days run is 12nm
Total is 185 nm

complete with booty

stern tie

We had a nice stop over here

Days run 12nm
Total 185nm

Albineers of BC Rendezvous Telegraph Harbor Marina

8 June 2013 Saturday
After an 0830 departure we head over to Conover Cove where some of the Albins have spent the night. We see them departing as we pull in and take our peek at this delightful cove. There is a dock, trails to hike and a small anchorage. This looks like something we might do on the way home.

We keep the other boats in view as we head for Telegraph. This will be a fun stop over to meet new Albin owners and see lots of boats.

Matt Lewis Mana Kai

Mana Kai loaded with crab pots and a lovely family

Tilting  bench seat- Komkela Marvin Glover

Pam Westhaver takes Pashmina for a spin

Mike Grant of Skol loans me his honda 2hp

this is nice

Peter Boldt will be 90 next month
Happy Birthday Peter
It was an honor getting to meet you and hear some of your stories.
He knew of interesting facts about the Dunsmuir family--my family ancestors
who mined coal on Vancouver Island

He owns Alanje with sliding doors.
Went down the Mississippi  River years ago and
 states it was a trip of a lifetime

An Albin 30---

Sumeru Albin 30

Norm and Jo Lim
Sumeru

2 large berths in aft cabin

Samura departing
Their awaning covers their aft cabin
Nice, there were only 3 on the west coast. A perfect live aboard

Apollo 32: Some Albineers have upgraded to Danish built.

Apollo 32

v berth and salon are all open

Salon downstairs with galley, head

Skol: Mike and Penny Grant have made a by-fold cabin door to give more room to get in and out with refigerator build in.

The gathering was wonderful and Shatoosh and Pashmina were big hits with the group. We were the only American Albin there. We met so many wonderful owners, the dinner was very good which was prepared by the marina staff; bbq hamburgers, Cesar salad, dessert. This was our most expensive stop over; $CA- 43 for moorage, 3 for a shower, 3 for ice, 16 for dinner. The friendships, the wonderful array of people and their boats make an Albin Gathering a must... What fun! I failed to get a photo of 2 important people in the Albineers. Iris and John Down. They plan the events and make certain everyone is welcomed and cared for. Thank you both for all your years of service to the club. You are both dear to my heart and very special people.