Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island

Wolfgang left yesterday morning, Sheila in the evening, and today I headed north. It was a very hot and sunny day, with a fair bit of wind. I stopped at Mitlenach Island, a marine park in the middle of the Strait of Georgia. On the way I saw a small pod of orcas, but did not get a good picture. Very noisy sea lions welcomed me at the island, the park wardens were very friendly and the seagulls worked hard at being noisier than the sea lions. It all smelled a bit fishy too. I walked around the island, which was great. The anchorage there is only good in certain conditions, holds only a boat or two, and this is the first time it all worked out for me. Fantastic!

Welcoming committee of sea lions

The outhouse did not smell

After lunch I continued on to Drew Harbour on Quadra Island and now am anchored behind Rebecca Spit. It is so hot here that quite a few people went swimming, but not me.

Ancient Murrelet behind Rebecca Spit

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Another day, another hike

We went to the Denman dock today and took a long hike around the middle of the island. The weather turned windy and cool, but was good for the hike. In the afternoon we came into Comox, and it will be a pub night!

More sunshine!

I spent two days in Comox and yesterday evening Sheila and Wolfgang, who is in Vancouver for a week, flew in. Today we spent a sunny and hot day on the water at Sandy Island and with a long walk along the beach at low tide.

An active day

The rain turned out to be only a bit of drizzle, but the forecast was for a Qualicum wind, which makes Tribune Bay very uncomfortable or even dangerous.

The UBC website on this describes Qualicum wind as a unique local wind system that forms when a high pressure ridge sits on the west side of Vancouver Island, a southwesterly inflow funnels through Port Alberni Inlet, across the island through a gap in the mountains, finally emerging as strong outflow winds into the Strait of Georgia. These outflow winds have sometimes torn apart the log booms pulled by tugboats down the Georgia Strait, when the tugs travel through the Qualicum outflow winds.

So I left Tribune Bay and docked at the Denman Island Public Dock to go hiking (9km) and enjoy lunch at a quirky bistro there.

Earth Club Factory Bistro

I then anchored for a couple of hours next to Sandy Island, one of the nicest beaches in BC. It was overcast, but paddling around it was still fun, another two hours of exercise. Now I am anchored again at Henry Bay for the night, recovering from the strenuous activities.

Henry Bay, Denman Island

Tribune Bay

The wind slowed down and the rain stopped. Most of the day was nice and sunny and I came into Tribune Bay on Hornby Island to walk on the beach and take the kayak to the sea lions (not too close). Unfortunately, the forecast calls for more rain tonight.

Henry Bay, Denman Island

It is raining, really windy and very cool. Fords Cove was getting a little restless and I came into Henry Bay on Denman Island. Once I dressed for the weather, a trip on the paddle board and the walk along the beach were quite nice.

Ford Cove, Hornby Island

The hot weather left us, and Sheila also flew back to Vancouver yesterday. I came to Hornby Island, passing the scenic Chrome Island Lighthouse on the way. This was first set up in 1891 and is still manned today. I am tied up in Ford Cove now, the weather is very cloudy with a cool southerly wind.

Chrome Island

My route around Denman Island to Hornby Island today

Powell River mit Sheila

Gestern ist Sheila eingeflogen gekommen und wir waren in der Laughing Oyster gut essen. Heute früh sind wir 13 km um den Inland Lake gewandert und waren wieder gut essen. Heute abend haben wir Karten fürs Theater hier, Grant Lawrence and Friends. Morgen fliegt Sheila wieder nach Vancouver um die Renovierung unseres Badezimmers zu beaufsichtigen. Das Wetter ist weiterhin heiss und sonnig.

Inland Lake near Powell River

Unsere Tour ist der gelbe Strich

Powell River

Twenty-five degrees (Celsius!) today. I came to Powell River and worked hard cleaning the boat, inside and out ( Sheila is coming tomorrow). Then a 5 km walk along the Willingdon Beach Trail to the Townsite Brewing Company. The cold beer tasted very good.

Whiskey Slough, Pender Harbour

I came back to Pender Harbour today, but anchored in Gerrans Bay this time, because I wanted to hike out to Francis Point. This bay is also called Whiskey Slough, because of the many empty bottles floating in here when early white settlers (fishermen and loggers) celebrated at the end of the 19th century. There are still quite a few fishermen living here, but I did not encounter any empty whiskey bottles (no full ones either!). The hike was great, 6km in brilliant sunshine and nice views of Malaspina Strait.

Whiskey Slough at the end of Gerrans Bay

Francis Point with view across Malaspina Strait