End of season

I took the boat into Montague Harbour yesterday to start packing up for the end of the season. Today was beautiful and sunny, so I went for lunch to the restaurant at the marina here. It is their last day of the season too. Tomorrow I plan to go into Sidney where Ancient Murrelet will spend the winter. I spent 102 days on the boat this year, the weather was great and we got to see lots of friends and some family. Hopefully next year travel will be back to normal.

Vancouver

We all returned to Vancouver and had a some great days with Andrea here. She has now returned to the UK. The weather is still quite nice, but there is a sense of fall.

Wallace Island

We came to Wallace Island today and hiked 13 km (all the trails on the island). The weather is sunny and warm. Andrea swam around the boat twice, Sheila and I did not as the water temperature is only 15 degrees here.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=48.941947&lon=-123.554242

Hastings House in Ganges on Saltspring Island

Yesterday we went to Galiano Island and visited Sheila’s cousin and the art exhibition of her husband, followed by dinner in the Galiano Inn. Today we returned to Ganges to celebrate Andrea’s birthday with dinner in Hastings House. Sheila and Andrea already enjoyed a massage in their spa, our birthday present.

Winter Cove

We enjoyed walking on Sidney Island but came back to North Pender Island for lunch in Hope Bay today. This evening we are in Winter Cove on Saturna Island and Andrea took the Hobie for a spin (she didn’t want to go swimming).

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=48.810992&lon=-123.195172

Sidney Spit

We hiked up Reginald mountain this morning and then came to Sidney Spit. After a nice walk, Andrea went for a brief swim, the water here is only 16 degrees, so we refrained.

Pender, Russell and Saltspring Islands

Today we took a three island tour with Andrea. First we stopped at Otter Bay on North Pender. Just as we anchored, a group of orcas swam by. We then hiked 9 km up a mountain (280m above sea level, but steep incline) and around Roe Lake (picture). Then we stopped at Russell Island to pick some fruit for our crumble tonight. For the night we are anchored in Fulford Harbour.

http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=48.767173&lon=-123.455533

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.