Photos: http://gallery.me.com/sundogjoe/100620
Up at 4:30 a.m. this morning for our crossing from Nanaimo and across the strait of Georgia. We were up early to beat the wind but it did not help much as we had gusts of up to 45kts and even though the sunrise was beautiful the seas quickly rose to 3-4 feet and lightly blowing off the tops. The boat handled really well and since Whiskey Gulf – or whatever you call the active torpedo area was not active we could make a straight course across saving some time and 3-4 hours later of pounding into the seas we came around the corner of Tuxedo island – a pot growing hotspot according to a local. We then went another 20 miles or so to Saltery Bay where we are tied up right now to the docks right alongside where the BC ferries come in which seems strange as this is barely an outpost and maybe only holds 40 boats. Tomorrow the goal is Squirrel Cove in Desolation Sound and It will be good to anchor up for the night.
The last two days in Nanaimo were productive with some of the following tasks completed.
- Wired up the Pot Puller to the Starboard stern – I had to hack the Penn Base that was there to make it work but after burning through one fuse I managed to properly get it all wired correctly.
- Purchased a really nice USA flag and it flew proudly today so now I have the USA flag and our Sundog Flag and a small canadian courtesy flag – all that I need now is a nice Alaskan Flag to fly off the bow flag pole and we will be set.
- Took the boys to the Aquatics center – really great and we had a blast but I tried a 1 and 1/2 off the diving board and really jammed my knees which really hurt bad today – hard to except I am getting older – oh well, one positive side is that it is a new pain that helps me forget about my back – have to look at the positive side after all and honestly so many people have it so much worse and I am thankful for each day that I have.
There are so many other highlights that come to my mind and I wish I was more eloquent in expressing them. I have decided though with my journaling for this trip to not try and write some amazing novel but simply share what is happening from the heart and also in a way that might encourage other folks to venture out on adventures as a family. One of my favorite authors Jack London made himself write 1,000 words a day – I imagine this discipline and practice is why he has so many great books today. Well back to our trip, problally the most striking moment today was as we nosed into the Strait of Georgia and the sunset bursting with orange and reds and starting to flicker across the choppy sea.
The boat is doing really well, I was impressed with the seaworthiness of how it handled the seas but was also surprised at how much we were still tossed around. I try to think about it from the perspective of my years with our C-Dory and this definitely feels much more safe although the downside that comes with such a big boat is that it is slow and it takes much longer to get out of a blow into a safe harbor. Although I have learned once the seas are 4 plus feet and getting steam most all boats have to slow down to 6-7kts and then it is awfully nice to sit back in a heated cabin drinking hot coffee from the inverter.
Cathy and I have both been stressing about the money aspect of this trip, honestly I did not realize how much it would all add up to. We both also realize that this is a trip of a lifetime and it will be worth the extra effort once we return to get the bills paid down.
Well the babies are down for the night and letting us know that they are not happy about it. Joshua is watching a Bernstien Bears move and Caleb is reading a book called “Sara and the clue in the roll-top desk” written from a GB owner family that I met online. We are all sun burned and salt stained and generally starting to get into a groove. Caleb and I set a crab pot with some really nasty old chicken that was in the fridge and hope to pull up our first canadian dungeness crabs in the morning. A local guy told us that the way that you can tell a female is that even if you grab them from the behind they can still get you with their pinchers. I guess being a man I find that a little funny. Well I hate to end on a note like that but the sun is starting to set and and I am exhausted.
Love to all our friends and family – you are missed and a huge thanks to my team that are staying on top of Sundog Media work while we are gone – we are blessed.
Sundog Crew.
We Are Social