Thursday, June 30, 2016 Octopus Islands to Port Harvey 6 hours 61.2 miles

Our AIS is acting differently.  Usually there is a black triangle around all vessels with AIS.  Emerald Star does not have this on our screen.  Is this because Fred programmed our MMSI number in the unit?  Fred called the Canadian Coast Guard and they confirmed that we were showing up on their system. Heather still can’t locate us on the AIS site on the web. 

We had to time ourselves to hit Okisollo Rapids at slack tide.  We entered a little early and had a 2 knot push.  Unfortunately we had to fight the current all the way up Johnstone Strait.  The wind was up to 25 kts. and 2 foot chop.  Our destination is Port Harvey Marina.  We are charter members of the Port Harvey Yacht Club.  This is one of the small, family owned marinas in the Broughton Archipelago.  George and Gail have done a lot of work to make this a nice destination.  They had a small store and the Red Shoe Restaurant on a barge adjacent to the docks.  Last winter the barge sank for an unknown reason.  This was a huge loss for them.  Many of the other marina owners came to the rescue.  They now have a huge tent on a barge that serves as their restaurant.  George can only make pizza and awesome cinnamon buns right now but that is OK.  Tonight we had the pizza and visited with other boaters.  The dock is full and George is having to turn boaters away.   Of course we ordered cinnamon buns for morning.  

Sunday, June 26, 2016 Squirrel Cove to Octopus Islands 2 ½ hours 26.9 miles

We had to travel through Hole-in-the-Wall rapids.  We timed our passage at slack tide and had nor turbulence at the narrows.  The Octopus Islands are a B.C. Marine Park.  The anchorage is well protected by many islets.  It is beautiful and peaceful here.

Friday, June 24, 2016 Prideaux Haven to Squirrel Cove 1 1/2 hours 12.7 miles

We need internet service to pay bills.  There is free Wi-Fi at the laundry at Squirrel Cove.  We are anchored in the protected bay beyond the small wharf.  The store here has one of everything.   We took our sputtering dinghy over to the dock. Of course we re-stocked the ice cream.  Fred ordered the spark plugs we need and a spark plug socket.  He spoke to a mechanic who was at the store and he they figured that there might be water in the fuel.  We have encountered an enormous amount of rain.  Fred thought that idea has merit.  He added StaBal (it emulsifies the water so it will mix with the fuel and go through the engine without harming anything) to the fuel tank and then filled up with fresh fuel.  It seems to have worked.  The engine is running much smoothly now. 

Tuesday, July 21, 2016 Prideaux Haven

When we took the dinghy out for exploration the engine was sputtering and running very poorly. Now what?  Fred worked on it and through elimination thought the problem was spark plugs.  We don’t have the tools to fix it. 

Monday, June 20, 2016 Blind Bay to Prideaux Haven 5 ¾ hours 51.3 miles

We finally reach Desolation Sound.  We can see snow topped mountains from the anchorage.  The anchorage is quite large and there are many boats here before us.  Oh well.  We won’t see open spaces without other boats until we are in northern B.C.

Sunday, June 19, 2016 Princess Louisa Inlet to Blind Bay 5 ¾ hours 53 miles

Once one is through Malibu Rapids the trip is pretty straight forward.  The channels here are deep and wide.  Blind Bay is just a stop off until we reach Desolation Sound.  This bay is huge with many small places to anchor. 

Friday, June 17, 2016 Princess Louisa Inlet

We finally have a beautiful sunny day. We put the dinghy down and explored the inlet.  We have seen black bears here in the past, but not today.  However, there are two harbor seals floating about.

We went on the dock to explore the falls.  We have been here several times before but it is always amazing.  We talked to some folks on the dock and they asked if we were from the ghost ship.  Apparently our anchoring without getting off the boat caused discussion. 

Thursday, June 16, 2016 Princess Louisa Inlet

We had a scary surprise this morning at low tide.  The boat was not supposed to swing, but guess what?  No one told Emerald Star.  We are looking from the cockpit (back of the boat) directly at the falls and beach in front of it.  We are still afloat but there was only five feet under the hull.  When we swung back around (bow facing the falls) Fred put down a stern anchor to keep us in place.  Fortunately this worked.  It is a rainy day so we didn’t even try to leave the boat. 

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 Pender Harbour to Princess Louisa Inlet - 5 hours 51.8 miles

We have a long ride today.  The wind was 1-10 kts and the current was on a flood (with us) the whole way up Agamemnon Channel, Prince of Wales Reach, Princess Royal Reach and Queens Reach.  Aren’t those great names?  Sounds very grand.  Indeed these channels are very deep and wide with very few places to anchor.  One must really commit to the entire journey.  We must enter Princess Louisa Inlet via Malibu Rapids.  These are nothing to joke about.  The current can run up to 7 kts through here and there is a blind S curve at the end.  Slack water should be about 5 pm.  We follow 2 sailboats through at 4:45 pm with ½ kt current with us.  We then enter into one of the grandest fiords in British Columbia.  The granite walls are up to 6000’ high and there are dozens of waterfalls dotting the walls.   There is a nice dock at the head of the 4 mile inlet by Chatterbox Falls.  Since we are over 55’ in length we are not allowed on the dock.  We are 57’ in length.  We anchored at the mouth of the waterfall.  The outflow from the falls should keep us from swinging.  Chatterbox Falls are enormous and one can look up at the mile high cliffs and follow the falls from the edge of the cliff all the way to the bottom. 

Tuesday, June 14, 2016 Pender Harbour

The weather has cleared up and we went Madeira Marina.  We like to go into the Java Dock for a latte and free WiFi.  Fred checked emails and paid bills while I went over to the market to pick up a few perishables for the next leg of our journey.  A number of years ago on our previous boat, Aquila, we had trouble with an engine.  We met a fellow named Hugh at the Java Dock who was a mechanic.  He rebuilt the fuel pump for us.  It was a real life-saver.  Fred recognized Hugh at the Java Dock and said hello.  Of course he doesn’t remember us. 

Monday, June 13, 2016 Pender Harbou

We put the dinghy in the water planning a ride but the engine wouldn’t start.  Fred put the charger on the battery hoping that it will solve the problem.  It appeared that the battery was fully charged to upon investigation Fred found a loose wire at the battery.  Fred tightened it and all is well. We were a bit annoyed since we had the dinghy serviced in Anacortes before we left. 

Sunday, June 12, 2016 Montague Harbour to Pender Harbour - 6 ¼ hours 65 miles

Our goal today is to make it comfortably through Dodd Narrows and anchor out in Nanaimo.  Slack at the Narrow is scheduled to be at 11:00 am.  There were quite a few boats going north and south.  We went through at 10:45 am with a 2 kt push.  Practically no turbulence.  It is cloudy but the wind is only 10 kts so we decide to head across the Strait of Georgia.  It is 20 or so miles across a huge water way that can have terrible seas.  We encounter 10-15 kt wind and 2’–3’ chop.  Since the restricted military area ,Whiskey Gulf, is not active we made a straight shot to Pender Harbour. We were very glad because the route around Whiskey Gulf adds time & miles to the trip.  We were glad to enter the calm waters of Pender Harbour. We anchored off of Garden Bay. 

Friday, June 10, 2016 Port of Sidney to Montague Harbour - 2 hours 19.6 miles

The wind was 10 kts in the marina as we left the dock.  Fred had quite a time controlling the boat.  Just as we were prepared to exit the breakwater a sailboat cut us off.  Fred had to stop the boat which allowed the wind to blow us into a piling.  Doesn’t look like there is any damage but Fred is PO’d.  We had a pleasant 2 hour ride back to Montague Harbour on Galiano Island. 

Thursday, June 9, 2016 Port of Sidney

Costco day.  We planned to use our American Express to pay but had a surprise.  In Canada they only take MasterCard.  Guess what card we don’t have?  Fortunately Fred had a check in his wallet.  We stocked up on meat and fish here.  I then had the pleasure of dividing the large portions of meat into two person amounts and using the vacuum sealer before storing them in the freezer.  We planned to purchase less meat this year.  However, when it was time to put the supplies into the freezer we had a problem.  We had to turn on the icemaker as an auxiliary freezer. 

Wednesday, June 8, 2016 Port of Sidney

We had a sad drive to the Victoria Int’l Airport (in Sidney) to drop off Jason, Kelli & Mackenzie.  Back at the boat there was an impressive pile of laundry to do and a boat to clean & vacuum.  We did the laundry on board because it made it easier to multitask.  Have I said before that I love my washer & dryer aboard?  We have to be hooked up to 50 amp power to run the dryer (or the generator) but that was not a problem here.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016 Montague Harbour to Port of Sidney - 2 hours 16.7 miles

We reluctantly return to where we started. Kelli, Mackenzie and I wandered in town.  We met the guys at Fish on 5^th for their farewell dinner. 

Monday, June 6, 2016 Montague Harbour

Mackenzie had her first ride in a kayak. She got into her life vest and anxiously got into the kayak.   She started with Jason but when we caught up with them by the dock, Mackenzie was with mom.  We went back to the beach and cooled down in the water.  When it was time to head back to the boat Mackenzie took grandpa’s hand and she came with us in the dinghy.  Kelli & Jason kayaked back.  We were surprised Mackenzie would leave mommy but she sat on the seat by grandpa and had a wonderful ride. 

Sunday, June 5, 2016 Bedwell Harbour to Montague Harbour - 1 ½ hours 15.2 miles

We anchored in the middle of the bay.  It is in the 80’s today and pretty humid and uncomfortable.  We went over to the marina and the guys had beer while Kelli, Mackenzie & I had ice cream.  Since it was so hot we went over to the beach to cool down after our snack.  Mackenzie & Merlin got right in the water. Soon Mackenzie was pulling everyone into the water too.  It felt wonderful.  The beach is rocky so it’s good we all had on sandals.  Mackenzie has the cutest Croc shoes.  The look like crocodiles. 

Saturday, June 4, 2016 Bedwell Harbour

We took Mackenzie over to the beach.  She and Merlin had great fun digging holes.  When we got back to the boat Merlin & Mackenzie had a wash-down on the swim platform before I would let them back in. 

Friday, June 3, 2016 Port of Sidney to Bedwell Harbour - 1 ¼ hours 11 miles

The weather is gorgeous and practically no wind.  We anchored off of the Poet’s Cove docks.  Kelli & I had a lovely afternoon at the spa.  She had a maternity massage and I had a lovley pedicure.  After our treatments we met Fred, Jason, Mackenzie & Merlin for appetizers at the pub.  It has a beautiful view.

Thursday, June 2, 2016 Port of Sidney

Today we wandered in Sidney.

Thursday, June 1, 2016 Port of Sidney & Victoria

Kelli has never been to Victoria so we spent the afternoon there.  We were surprised to see the marina in front of the Empress Hotel is almost empty.  We wonder why??  We had a lovely, but expensive, lunch at the Empress Hotel.  High tea would have cost us $75/person CAD.  A little too rich for us.  I bought Fred a Cuban cigar and Kelli a tea towel with scone recipe on it at the hotel.  As we were leaving the restaurant the waitress pointed out a $19,000 bottle of wine.  Is this place fancy or what?

Wednesday, June 1, 2016 Port of Sidney

OK, we need to run to the grocery store for last minute items before the family arrives.  Fred led me into the residential area and at 3 different locations he expected to see the van, but we didn’t.  At this point I said I could have been to the market in the amount of time it is taking to find the car.  I walked the rest of the way and he arrived at the same time with the car.  After this fiasco we decided that he can pick me up and drop me off at the marina and then he can park the car anywhere he wants.  Jason, Kelli & Mackenzie (2 years old) finally arrived.  There was a little fuss because Jason’s suitcase did not arrive with the others.  Arrangements were made to have the suitcase delivered to the marina when it does arrive.  The weather is beautiful and our guests are thrilled to be on Emerald Star.