Ganges with Andrea

On Sunday Andrea came to visit us, took two attempts due to plane problems and her luggage could not keep up with her. Great to see her! Today we all came out to Ganges to the boat and plan to spend a week together cruising the Southern Gulf Islands.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=48.855478&lon=-123.498857

Gulf Islands with friends

We spent the last few days in the Gulf Islands with friends from Vancouver on the boat and last night had a big dinner with friends from another boat in Fulford Harbour. Sheila and our friends are going back to Vancouver today, and I will follow tomorrow.

Pender and Saturna

We spent the last 2 days going from pub to pub. Yesterday we pulled into Port Browning and enjoyed a nice pub lunch there. Today we anchored in Lyall Harbour on Saturna Island, walked on the island a bit and had another nice pub lunch before Sheila flew off to Vancouver.

Tumbo Island

The watermaker works fine again and yesterday Sheila came back to Ganges. We went out for a nice dinner at House Piccolo. Today we headed South and are now at Tumbo Island for the night. After a cool and misty morning, the sun came out and we walked a couple of hours on Cabbage and Tumbo Islands.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=48.796327&lon=-123.088192

Sidney Spit

Sheila flew back to Vancouver from Ganges yesterday and I went to Philbrooks to get some work done on my water maker. Today I came to Sidney Spit, which is busy but nice as always.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=48.642415&lon=-123.334980

Montague Harbour

We came into Montague Harbour on Galiano Island today. Sheila’s cousin and her husband who live on the island are joining us for dinner. It was only 22 degrees today, which felt quite cool after the heat we have experienced in the last weeks.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=48.895687&lon=-123.403595

Ladysmith

We spent last night at Thetis Island and came into the small historic town of Ladysmith on Vancouver Island today. The Ladysmith Maritime Society runs a marina here with beautiful docks, an interesting maritime museum and a café, where we plan to have dinner. The historic town center from the early 20th century when mining and logging boomed in the area is a short, but steep walk uphill from the water.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=48.997148&lon=-123.812693

Newcastle Island

Sheila and I flew to Nanaimo yesterday, did some shopping and enjoyed a very nice dinner at a restaurant new to us. Today we went the 0.9 nautical miles to Newcastle Island. The temperature hit 35 degrees Celsius today, we both went for a swim, and now we are enjoying the tropical feeling with a rum punch on the aft deck in the shade.

Hot in Vancouver

We are together in Vancouver for a week to celebrate my birthday, enjoy meeting friends and deal with some of the stuff we have to deal with now that I am officially retired. The weather continues to be hot, but tonight we are supposed to get a little bit of rain. Last time it rained was on June 15, so it will be welcome.

 

Hot evening at English Bay

Nanaimo

I came into Nanaimo today, started early as it was a 50 nautical mile trip. I only saw one humpback whale on the way. The afternoon I was busy with boat chores. It is a public holiday today in BC and the waterfront is very busy. Despite this, most restaurants are closed as it is a Monday, and the ones that are open have very long wait times. So I cooked my own seafood risotto and am enjoying a gin and tonic while it cooks away. The weather continues to be hot and sunny.