5/31/2022 Tuesday CRUISING Bellingham to Port of Sidney
We got up early. Left dock around 7:40AM. Discovered one depth meter not working. Nice cruise with good current behind us a lot of the way. Got to Port of Sidney around 12:30pm. To customs dock: no peoples just called in and got our clearance number. We walked dogs south along the water: good swimming along the way so dogs had fun.
6/1/2022 to 6/4/2022 Port of Sidney F7 and F31
Working on finishing touches on the boat. Alex installed Pepwave cellular router with high gain Husky Antenna which we move back and forth to camper depending on which one we are traveling in. Bob and Claudette arrived and opened up grand QTR they were across from us so nice to be close. Darlene made reservation at the thai place up the street for all of us at 6:30pm for Thai. So we had a nice dinner out together.
On the 2nd we went for a walk at 10:30am ish with all but Bob. Low low tide so not a lot of swimming for the dogs but nice to walk. When we got back we helped Bob with his bimini which we got up but Bob says its not right so will have to work on it. We then met around 5:30pm and walked/drove to the Thursday’s farmer’s market. Mostly crafts, bakery, one vege stand, jam stand etc…. I bought some Jam. Rita and Vaughn showed up at 6pm ish so we could all see each other and then we went to the Dicken’s pub.
On the 3rd-4th: RAIN Rain Rain.
More moving into the boat. Went grocery shopping with Claudette. Then had apps with Claudette and Bob on Water Dog, then dinner on our own.
June 5th Port Sidney to Winter Cove
We got up and leisurely got ready to leave: filled water, got a few groceries for dinner tonight, walked dogs. Shoved off from marina about 10:30 AM. Mostly cloudy cruise, calm, minimal wind, somewhat fighting tide so not fast. Arrived at Winter cove and anchored by 1PM.
Winter Cove is a great spot with a short but nice hike along shore. At the dock is a nice large grass area. Across the road from dock is a well maintained ball field with grass thats fenced in to play ball with the dogs.
Grand QTR arrived about ½ hour later. We went to shore around 3 or 3:30 after deploying dinghy and walked dogs. Short walk in the marine park was nice. Overlooked boat pass which had strong current and view of strait of Georgia. Started raining so back to boats. Claudette and Bob came over around 5:30pm. We watched the Warriors game and had a nice dinner: jambalaya, salmon, salad, focaccia…. Fun had by all.
June 6th Winter Cove to Montague Harbor
We were going to leave with Bob and Claudette around 11am but the salt water washdown pump was not working so it took about an hour to get it going. Never found a blockage, maybe just stuck impeller after removing cover? Anyhow got off noonish and arrived at Montague 2 or so. Grand QTR beat us there and we all walked the island around 3pm. Mana Kai arrived 3pm, boat buddies united! We had a burger dinner with potato salad, cabbage salad and Darlene made cookies!!!! Nice evening.
June 7th Montague Harbor to New Castle Island off Nanaimo
Alex started to plan a route and look at weather and confirmed Thursday is bad for going north along the cost of Vancouver island from Nanaimo to Comox. So he said we should get to Comox Wednesday. So change o’plans leaving Montague today. Got things together, took dogs in, fixed anchor winch jumping thing and then headed out about 12:20pm. Dodd’s narrow slack at 4:05 pm so need to get there near there. We had an easy cruise. The sunny morning turned into a cloudy afternoon but no rain. Had to slow down the last hour to not get there too soon. We saw a sailboat go through no problem so we sped up to our regular 8 knots and got through no problem, likely 2.7 knot current against us. Cruised into Nanaimo harbor and anchored at New Castle island. Hard to know which side of the no anchor signs to land on: many peops inside but on the other hand the park says the sign means don’t anchor inside of park boundary. Well an hour later the port authority vessel pulls up and we go out to chat and we were supposed to be inside the markers LOL. The markers were outlining an aerodome they said. Since we were leaving early in the AM they did not make us move.
We hiked 3.7 miles around the island, Terra was tired but got to swim at the end so was rejuvenated. Got back to boat 7ish. I rinsed Terra, we hung out and the plan is to leave as early as we can: tomorrow(have to take dogs in and bring dinghy up. I previously timed our take dogs in and bring dinghy up eventing and found it to be 45 minutes MAX speed.
June 8th Nanaimo to Comox Harbor
Got out at 7:10 AM! Terra, despite walking her around a lot did not poo…. Cruise was about 5 hours and was nice at times. Terra started to pant and needed to go around 12pm. Took her out on the deck a couple times but nada. She settled down and made it ?. When we got south of Denim island encountered big winds!! 30 knots! Rattled our cage so to speak but no danger. Apparently this is a thing: the Qualicom winds! We think its from a low spot in the mountain range on Vancouver island that we could see when we were feeling the winds… alex thinks similar to oyster point. We did have the tide most of the way so until about this point we were doing 9 to 9.5 knots. Had to go through Dodd’s narrows which we did a bit before slack with 2.7 knot current…not bad. Arrived Comox harbor and fair amount of room. Due to forecasted severe winds tomorrow alex tucked us in futher on D dock (vs breakwater). We hooked up, walked the dogs (terra pooped 4 times!) and then biked to the marine store to pick up our part. It was next to the budget car rental so I went over and asked them about an extra day which we were promised. They will pick us up tomorrow at 4pm.
They have dock sales of fresh fish here. There was a big fishing vessel selling halibut: we had to buy an entire halibut and they would filet. So we did: 135 CAD and got 5-6 meal portions plus YAY (not) crab bait aka fish skeleton and heads. Alex later cooked fish for dinner!
Comox Harbor
June 9th through June 13th Comox Harbor, pick up Charlene and Jim on Sunday the 12th
Thursday the rain did come in. Not too windy til late in afternoon. We were inside mostly, got a couple walks in with the dogs. Friday when we woke up the sun was a shining. We checked weather and it seemed that today would be a better day for the mountains than Saturday. So off we went about 10 am. Drove through Campbell river then up to Strathcona Park. Stopped at Lupin falls first and the sun was out so Terra got to swim and holly play on the beach.
Then we drove on into Gold River and had lunch at a cafe (seafood chowder, reubin and ham and cheese). Drove 7 miles down the road to the west coast of the island (but a branch off Nootka sound, Muchalat inlet. It was Indian territory, there was a ferry dock to somewhere else in the sound (I think “tashis”) but rather industrial otherwise. Not really a destination for the boat but it was pretty. A plaque was there about a Puget sound whale “luna”. She showed up three days after a chief died who had proclaimed he would come back as an orca so the tribe tried to protect her (fish and game at one point tried to take her away). Ultimately after a couple years of her being guarded by tribesman she was “instantly” killed when drawn into a tug boat propeller. Bummer. Stopped at Lady falls on the back. Chilled a bit and then went to dinner at Black Fin pub on the outside balcony overlooking the harbor and our own boat: nice.
Comox BC
Charlene and Jim Arrive Sunday the 12th
Sunday 8:40 am Jim and Charlene arrived. We came back to boat got them settled then went for a hike (about 3 miles) at Nymph Falls provincial park. Nymph falls is on the Puntledge river. Nice walk through woods then along river and looped back. Very fast water, more of a long cascade type falls but powerful and impressive.
Went back home and settled dogs. Had lunch at the food truck (fish and chips, oyster po boys and fish tacos: ALL GOOD).
June 13th Monday Comox to Hardie Island Marine Provincial park.
We left around 8:30 am. 15 knot wind or so for the crossing but not bad. Saw two whales tail and fin slapping near Texada Island.
Nice sunny day!!! Got to hardie island and anchored but as reviews had commented no holding, all rock/pebbles which prover to be true. Alex decided ok with forecasted lite winds. Well protected except from the smallish entrance from the south West.
We tried to take Terra to shore and did but it was one of the worst landings yet. Got the job done then chilled at the boat. Was going to launch a SUP as pretty but the wind kicked up and from an unforecasted direction of SW. We were right in line with a long fetch all the way across Malapsina strait so not the most pleasant and it blew us close to the rock wall which made alex nervous. We moved a little away. Thankfully by 7 or so it calmed down and we had a lovely night on anchor. When took Terra in again we decided to trespass on oyster island resort’s dock since it looked empty. It worked out great.
June 14th Tuesday: Hardie Island to Back Eddy marina
The guys had put out crab traps: Nada. Towed dinghy and had a nice cruise to the marina. Had to do a port tie due to current but no big deal.
Started chatting with some locals on the dock (They live near john henry marina in garden bay) and they informed us of a short but open salmon season right out in the Sechelt inlet. They had caught their limit of 2 each per day for 2 days and kept extending their stay.
The gang decided to stay another night here so they could do salmon fishing. Alex rigged prawn traps. Guys put out crab traps and I rode along for praw trap deploying.
Then around 4:30pm we dinghied over the Bathgate store and did the walk to Sechelt rapids. Nice day to catch them as 16 knot current flowing into the inlet. Impressive amount of water and power.
Prawn traps gone ☹ No crabs and line got stuck had to use motor to get the traps back but fortunately did. A bit depressing to lose traps with all the line and rigging. The rapid peak was 6:20pm so after the return home and trap “retrieval” it was 9 o’clock. I made thai coconut soup with ramen noodles which every one liked. Bedtime!
June 15th Wednesday: Back Eddy marina
I was first up and looked for traps and saw one at head of the south island off the marina (must have dragged a quarter mile). I told Alex but he was sleeping so ignored it. When they got up though him and Jim went out in dinghy and did find one trap (nothing in it and bait not even touched). Good to at least retrieve one trap. Nice big breakfast cooked by Charlene: bacon and eggs and toast. Guys started rigging for Salmon trolling and Charlene and I walked to the Skookimuch bakery and go cinnamon rolls and muffins: YUM. Plan is to eat out tonight. Those guys went fishing and I hung out on the boat with the generator going as no power here. Supposed to rain this PM. No success Salmon fishing. Going to Chatterbox tomorrow.
June 16th-17th Wednesday: Back Eddy Marina To ChatterBox Falls
Took off from BackEddy around 11:00 hours to make Malibu Rapids at the entrance to Princess Luisa Inlet at slack. AyeTides reported slack at 2:00 but it was max ebb current when we got there at 1:30. Had to wait around for 3:15 for ebb current to go down enough to enter. Even then there was a 3 knot current coming out so there was a stress full minute or so hard turning of the wheel to keep Water Dog in the middle in the narrow dog leg. OpenCPn had a much more accurate timing for the current at Malibu Rapids and was spot on for the entry and exit a couple days later.
There has been so much rain lately that there are waterfalls all over the walls in the inlet where ever you looked.
We ended up anchoring right in front of Chatter Box Falls like we did on our last visit in 2018 when we first visited BC.
The next morning we took the dinghy over take a walk over at Mings loop next to Macdonald Island. There is a small dock across from the Island for the mings loop trail.
We then went for a visit to Malibu Landing Youth Camp which is run by a church group and supports visits by kids all over the country. They have tours they give if you show up at the dock which Patty, Jim and Charlenne took while I (Alex) watched the dogs in dinghy. We found out they do not allow dogs so best to leave them home. They actually have a couple people where their only job is to give tours, they approached the dinghy when we pulled up.
June 18th Squirrel Cove Anchorage
Left Chatterbox early at like 7 AM and go to rapids at slack, motored through with no excitement. 80nm day ahead so about 10 hours. Mixed cloudiness for the cruise out to Malaspina strait. Turned north and cruised inside the Copeland islands: looks pretty, no dock, maybe one landing beach, would be good for kayak and SUP maybe (not sure about currents). Passed Lund area ….terra started to show some stress. I took her up front twice and nada. Later determined it was not poo she needed to do but pee pee….she holds that better.
Got to squirrel cove low low tide. Public dock full. We had 6-8 feet water under keel when we entered via the shallow part. Dinghied to store quickly as it closes at 6pm. Got some avocados, crackers, beer and chips 57 dollars to support local economy. The little gallery was closed, the store owner said it would open in a month. Alex remembered and liked the store a lot as its also a hardware store with rom after room of groceries, hardware, garden tools, some gifts… unique place. Nice evening of fish tacos!
Tried going crabbing with Jim but no crabs again! Very bad year for everyone I talk too so far.
June 19 and 20th Dent Island Lodge Dock
Only about 20 nm to go. Got up early enough that we were able to do the walk across the island to Von Dopp inlet. Dogs had a blast: Swam at beginning, stream /trail in the middle to get muddy and then swim at the both ends again !
Got back to boat, pulled up dinghy and set sail. Those guys napped a bit. BEAUTIFUL day: clear sky and mountains with some distant waterfalls. Super beautiful cruise day…all the views to the east are stunning… that’s were toba inlet is and I hope we get there someday.
Got to Yaculta and Girard rapids just about at slack so went through no problem. 3 boats arriving. They tried to put us on A dock (most south, most current push against dock at times) but we asked if we could go in behind estero on C dock and they said ok. We had the end tie at C dock.
I had reserved us for the grill at 6:30 I though but Alex found out I had miscommunicated and had it for Monday the day those guys would be gone. We got switched no problem. We had a lovely evening and dinner at the Rapids grill.
Next morning guys went on a fishing charter 7-11 (again no keepers but did catch a few things).
Got back, packed, showered and we got in a lunch before there 1pm pick up. Guy was a bit late around 1:30pm and then he told those guys stopping at Toba Wilderness dock, Bliss landing and Nanaimo for fuel. Charlene texted they arrived about 4:30 and were waiting for lift to get to the hotel near pikes place (45minutes away apparently)
After they left Alex and I hiked the trail and loop which was sketchy, orange marks are the only way to follow this trail. At least some exercise. Had dinner on board: Steak salad.
They were fun to have on board…lived up to what Charlene had said “easy and helpful”
June 21st Extra day at Dent Lodge as it rained all day
Predicted to rain all day so we decided to stay. It did rain all day then lightened up around 7pm. I went to the gym and did the elliptical, alex hung out. We had dinner at the restaurant (lamb) and my social butterfly. Alex invited “strangers” on the selene Blue Red to join us. So we did have some conversation along with a good dinner: shared a bottle of wine. They are not yet retired so are on a 3 week vacation, back to work after July 4th. She works for city managing projects, he is/was into IT.
Plan to leave tomorrow. May go to Big Bay public dock or on to Octopus islands. We do have to go to Campbell river to get the oil rights signed and notorized and the dinghy has arrived so Alex has to figure out if we are going back to get it or not.
At some point Alex got a text and the missing prawn trap was found, likely near where we put it. Must have been drawn under by current. We will try to retrieve it by car from Madeira park or go back to Egmont.
June 22nd 23rd and 24th Big Bay Public Dock
Left Dent Island around 11 in case we did decide to not stay at Big Bay Dock. 2 or 2.5 nm cruise, pulled right in to the dock starboard side bow in.
FYI this ended up being a slight problem as sun was blocked by the bimini in afternoon so we lost a lot of solar power.
Anyhow, no electric, water is up the dock…but probably not treated much. Dock pretty good…splinters could happen, bull rails. Suggested dock fee/ donation is 1.00 CAD per foot so cheap. Great view and one evening a couple whales were feeding out by the island.
Really like this area. I had heard of one hike to eagle lake (2.5 miles out and back total) which we did but there are other hikes to Basset Bay and Old Cedar and the main road to walk is public. We walked on road to a place called overfall which had nice view of mini rapids and scenary and neat swinging bench as well as picnic table.
Also the “berry patch” fenced in berry bushes. There is a store. Well stocked with beer and some booze but mostly non perishables.
This place is surrounded by fishing resorts: Eagle bay and Big Bay landing and Nootka/Anderson family lodge right around marina and then down the road a couple more: one is: Warm springs lodge which is on a barge. Sonora resort and Dent island across the way.
Many float planes and the Friday before we left a wedding was to had at the Landing place and 5 helicopters flew in. The eagle creek lodge is not even advertised on the internet: I found a fishing forum with a description from 2005 or so and at that point it was owned by Peterbilt trucking company (an another). Lifestyles of the rich and famous.
Alex started the 30 Amp Project (install something that allows us to safely plug into 30 AMP) which was fraught with obstacles he had to figure out since we were at a dock with NADA. Took 3 days but he got it done. We will come back here and walk to bassett bay and I think he should fish.
PJS notes that there was fishing happening at all these lodges and also around Egmont. Alex did not have to fish. Big currents in big bay as need to cross “rapids” on all three sides: Girard, Yaculta and Aaaron. I had a nice SUP one afternoon near slack but at the end current picked up and even at the edge of the bay so I had to paddle hard. Just have to be mindful.
June 25th Octopus Islands Marine Pronvincial park
Left early to get the Hole in the Wall early slack. This meant going through Yaculta befoe slack, likely with 3 knot or so current but no big deal. Cruise was beautiful, only 10-15 nm. Pretty much almost there after the hole in the wall which we did get at near slack so no problem.
Later on when we SUPped out to the channel to circle the islands and look for crabbing spots we heard the rapids and could see a standing wave so as usual with rapids best to go at slack 😊
We settled kind of far out from the islands with views and near a dock on an island which we presumed was going to be private and thought not marked as such it was.
We put down dinghy and took dogs to the park island and terra swam and dog business as done. Then back to the boat, did the SUP trip around the island (a long one) and then deployed crab traps. Took dogs to the dog after deploying crab for a pee pee. Had dinner of halibut salad.
Terra panted all afternoon as it was hot! Got to 80 in the house. She also panted in the evening. We took her in around 9pm and she peed but did not poo (used the illegal dock). Got her back on the dock and I felt she would go there and she did but not much. She proceeded to pant the rest of the evening but did settle down. I am worried about her. She is eating a bit weird again taking breaks and belly looks a little wide again ☹ Supposed to be a benign tumor and not regrow… ☹
Plan to stay 2-3 nights.
Day two: took dogs in to the dock. Had some breakfast then headed out to the hike at head of Waiatt Bay around 9am. Planned to walk over to Small Inlet Marine Provincial Park then up to newton lake. Ran into a couple from Campbell who were anchored in small inlet and heading over to check out Waiatt Bay. I asked about the lake trail and they said it was an obvious left run shortly, through some swampy area then up up up.
Terra did ok but very near the top it was very very rocky and steep so we turned around to not stress her more than we already had. We did get a good dog swim in along the way!
Got back and tide had come in: we had tied to the side and used the anchor buddy, barely able to get to where we tied it without swimming but we did. Back to boat and I read while alex napped. Then picked up crab traps: one blank and one with a halibut, red crab and dungenous crab shell. We figured the halibut at the dungenous crab. Release them all as the red crab although male was small. Leaving tomorrow for Gorge Harbor dock.
I did find that the island behind the one with the sign has a good sloping rock for dog access at medium to high tide. We had to use this as when we went to take dogs in around 8pm someone was at the dock! They later returned to a boat across the bay we think…maybe someone who has visited for years and uses the dock as in the reviews there used to be the habit of boaters going to the cabin and leaving something with their boat name on it. We did find a private sign on other side of the island so I suspect no longer encouraged but maybe people still do as the dock is not labeled private. Who knows.
6/27/2022 Gorge Harbour Dock
Left around 11am. Hit surge narrows a bit before slack, alex said maybe 1 knot current. We were going against the current. Got through fine…it tis narrow and some turning.
Flat when got on other side and then slight wind before the end of the cruise. Got a nice end tie at gorge harbour. Twas hot so used the AC. Went to public dock to see about garbage (sometimes bins may be there, .50 cents a pound for unsorted). The resort charges 15.00 a bag (not sure about bag size). Terra swam at public and gorge boat ramps and we got some fresh fruit and cookies at the store. Cooked out and had cocktails. Tomorrow we shall go for a hike.
6/28/2022 Texada Boat Club
Paid for and had planned to stay two nights at gorge. So I delayed laundry and a hike. Well this AM Steve Guyer called and dinghy to be read Thursday or Friday. So now we are in a hurry. Left dock 10 am (credit at gorge for one night) and headed south. Not sure if we’d make Powell or Texada or a bit further Secret Cove. We ended up against wind and tide and it was BAD once we got out into open water. So much so Alex worried about the dinghy on soft chocks and turned around to back track 5 miles to go inside islands. It was better then. He said he would have kept going if we had real chocks. Oh well. We made it to Texada boat club, walked about town and to store. Plan to leave early in AM as 90 NM to Point Roberts
6/29/2022 Point Roberts Marina
LONG Day!. Left Texada at 5:37 am. Supposed to be with the tide but that did not happen. Ended up going 7 knots all day, maybe average 7.5. Wind and waves not bad so twas a pleasant enough cruise just long. Used CBP roam (required now) to check in and I got interviewed but the nice agent said all good so we did not have to get searched. Diesel was 5.69 which is pretty cheap so we stopped at fuel dock and got fuel. Nice fuel guy Ding gave us 2% off which is cash discount even though we used CC. Moved to slip H9 which was a bad trip for us. Line fell in water, alex ran to get and left boat in gear, everyone got flustered and I gave a wrong direction order so we scratched the boat. We shall see. I fee terrible too as we are a team and we failed.
I made two adds this day: one to sell dinghy and kayaks. Priced dinghy nice and low and we got lots of takers. “good” friend of Kyle at Seaview says he will leave cash with Kyle so it is sold. One interested persion in kayaks too so we may finally get rid of those.