Day 8, Thursday June 30, Princess Harbour

Today was the best day ever! We got up early to hit low tide and set off in our skiff to follow Jerre and Uti to the secret oyster and clam grounds. OMG, I have never dug clams OR hunted oysters, it was so much freeking fun! I am an oyster cleaner extraordinaire. The oysters were everywhere just laying in the sand, it took no time to gather up a bucket. Then we sat on a rock with our trusty hammer and oyster knife and went to town. Sure they were slimy and sprayed goo all over you when you whacked em' with the hammer, but OMG it was fun in the sun. I could have played there all day, our at least till the tide came in. But we got our buckets and pots full of oysters and clams in about an hour and a half and were back in the boat and in the shower by 9:30.
The day was once again beautiful. In the upper 70s, not to hot not to cold, a nice breeze on the water. Uti and I took the dogs for a nice walk around the island. There are some old cabins still standing that we checked out. One has been turned into a kind of shrine to all the boaters who have visited Wallace Island over the past years. They all make some sort of sign with their boat name and hang out in and on the shack. There must be hundreds! Very cool! I MUST make one for Lucky Lady to mark our epic voyage through the BC coastal islands.
Tomorrow we pull up anchor and head for Ladysmith Harbour on Vancouver island. There is a small town there where we can do laundry, pick up supplies and a few goodies. Every day is something new!

Day 7, Montagu Harbour to Wallace Island. Princess Harbour

Day 7, Montague Harbor to Wallace island, Princess Harbour. Today was a very short trip, only 8 miles up the Comali Channel to Princess Harbour. Another first in anchoring out. This time Jerre and Uti set their anchor then aft tied to the bank via chains affixed in the rock In the bank. They we tied up to them and also tied up to the bank. Another Canadian park. No fires, no garbage, no water. Lots of walking trails. Sadie and I will both be down a few sizes when we get home! That Uti is an energize bunny! Add always the scenery is beautiful! There is something about the water here, our is so blue, not brown or green... But ice blue, and they keep the parks all so clean! You never see any garbage and everything is picked up and nice. They respect their lands.
Tomorrow we head out at 8 am to hit low tide for some claims and oysters. I don't care for claims but Ben wants them for crab bait. But I love, LOVE oysters. Yum! I've never been claim or oyster hunting, should be fun. I'm so excited! I haven't had this many firsts since 1972.

Day 6, Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Montague Harbor

Another day in Paradise. Uti and I took a walk around the park today with the dogs, trying to get Little Iti Bitty to shed a few pounds. Today is also Jerres 83^rd Birthday. WOW, I hope I can get around like the two of them when I’m that stinking OLD!

I made a carrot cake for tonight to celebrate. I’m glad we have this opportunity to go north with these amazing people. Who knows how many more years they will be able to make this trip. I love traveling with them, they know all the local history, where to go and what to do. I just love these guys!

Tomorrow we head for Wallace Island, going to hunt for oysters and clams. I have NEVER hunted either, so it should be great fun. I don’t much care for clams but I LOVE oysters! YUM!

Day 5, Monday June 27, 2016

Monday June 27, 2016

Stuart Island to Montague Harbour on Galaino Island

Today we crossed into Canadian waters. The trip across Boundary Pass and up through the Plumper Sound was so beautiful. We passed so many small island, many covered with a variety of sea birds and sun bathing seals.  We pulled into Bedwell Harbour on South Pender Island to check into customs. I was soooooo nervous as EVERYONE on the dock back home had told us all these horror stories about what they had gone through when they crossed through customs! I spent days cleaning out my boat of ANY and ALL improper items.

So we pulled into the harbour and there was NO ONE there! Ben just went up to the check in station and called in. They asked him his documentation number, passport numbers, did we have dogs? Did we have their papers?  Did we have any firearms or weapons?  Then they gave us a crossing number and off we went. SHIT! I could have smuggled all kinds of s=booze and stuff over the border. Of course…. If I had then surly I would have been searched.

So we continued on our way up the Navy Channel to Montague Harbour where we once again anchored out tied up next to Jerre and Uti. Galiano Island’s beautiful Montague Harbour, located in the heart of the Gulf Islands, is one of the most popular cruising destinations.

The marina diesel, fuel oils, washrooms, and a grocery store. In addition to provisions, the store carries fishing and camping accessories, and an excellent selection of books, magazines, quality clothing and gift items. Ice and wonderful ice cream cones are also available.

They have a cute little restaurant overlooking picturesque Montague Harbour and its spectacular sunset views. A Gift Shop features many Gulf Island crafts including pottery and jewelry. Moped, boat and kayak rentals are available. The park offers great walking trails, a sandy swimming beach, and GARBAGE dumpsters. Garbage is a biggie on the boat. As in you try not to generate any! No place to get rid of it. So food stuffs go overboard. Paper gets saved and burned on remote beaches, cans get cleaned and smashed and saved till we can find a place to offload them.

Every day of this trip has been so awesome. I’m having the best time ever!

We are staying one more night here before we head up to Wallace Island to do clamming and oysters. Way cool!

Day 4, Sunday, June 26, 2016

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Reid Harbor, Stuart Island

Our second day at Reid Harbor started out full of sunshine and seals. The weather has been glorious the last few days. We have been exploring the island in the skiff and I even got out my Kayak. (The puppies loved it!)

After brunch, Uti and I and the puppies went for a walk to the Old School House and cemetery on Stuart Island. It was only a few miles to the other end of the island and Light House, an easy walk but pool little Itty Bitty, Sadie, sure slept when we got home!

I loved the old school house and the cemetery was very cool, I even got a souvenir T-shirt from the school. It’s all on the honor system, You  pick out a shirt and then when you get back home, you mail in the $20.00. Very COOL!

After dinner we played some Crib, girls against boys…. They wupped us 3 games outta 3 games!

Next time Boys!!!!!

Day 3, Hope Island to Stuart Island State Park

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Day 3, Hope Island to Stuart Island State Park

I slept like a ROCK last night; I don’t think I even rolled over! Not once did I get up to see if we had floated away.

We started our day bright and early at 6am and headed out of Hope Island around 6:30 with the high tide toward Deception Pass. The weather was perfect, lots of sun and very little wind. Once through the pass we headed across the Rosario Strait and entered Lopez Sound through Lopez Pass, then up the sound towards Shaw Island. We cruised between Orcas and Shaw Island and checked out Blind Bay, which I am told is a great place to anchor out and the ferry terminal at Orcas which has fuel, water, a small store and the BEST ice cream cones this side of…. Well, this side of Shaw Island. Then it was on past all the little chain islands and up to Stuart Island State Park, Reid Harbor where we are spending the next few days.  This time we are tied up next to Jerre & Uti, another first. However this first time maneuver was a piece of cake as there was no wind so we just kinda drifted up next to them and grabbed the lines and *poof* we were tied up. Easy as pie!

We are moored in Reid Harbor and it is soooo beautiful here! We took the dogs over to the island in the dingy to do a little exploring, I think tomorrow Uti and I are going walk up to the old schoolhouse. I even got out my kayak and took BOTH dogs for a ride, we did not tip over. That’s a good thing!

The plan is to stay here until Monday and cross into Canada/customs then.

No cell service here so I will have to send out the ‘blogs’ when we get back into civilization.

Day 2, Port Madison to Hope Island

We survived our first ever night out on ‘the Hook’. Although it was a very sleepless night! Every hour or so I had to get up and look out to make sure we had not drifted off somewhere. Our bed is in the bow and the wave action on the bow and the occasional chunk of wood hitting the boat made it a very exciting night.

Our traveling companions Jerre and Uti turn off their phones when they head north, so we use the VHF radios in the boats. So every time I heard the radio squelch I jumped out of bed because I just knew it was Jerre calling to tell us we had come un-hooked and were drifting away toward the bank or the docks or another boat……

The wind blew and it rained all night long, we were both up early to catch high tide out around 7am. The trip up to Hope Island was uneventful, Chloe and Sadie DO NOT like the idea of using the potty pad on the boat. They are gonna HAVE to go sooner or later…. RIGHT?? I mean, how long can a little dog hold it?

We arrived at Hope Island around 3:30pm. It was a slow easy trip, some sun and some rain. We are just east of Deception Pass. Tonight we are anchored out to a buoy.  Another first! Another learning experience as I’m perched on the bow armed with the hook trying to grab the chain on top of the Buoy. It was a cluster to say the least but I’m sure we will do better next time.

Chloe and Sadie convinced us to take them ashore in the dingy; they really had to go…. After a short walk on the beach we swung by Jerre & Uti’s for a cocktail then back to the boat.

Tomorrow we are heading toward Stuart Island, the sky is clear tonight not much wind and weather is supposed to just get better and better.

Day 1, Port Orchard/ Port Madison

Whew! Short trip, but eventful. Weather and WIND made it exciting but we made it to our first stop on our epic journey. (About 9 miles from Port Orchard) Only 640 more to go.
So this was our first time "anchoring" out. So now we are sitting here watching the shore, and other boats.... We DID get that anchor set... Right???? No chance we will float off during the night... Right????
Gonna be an exciting trip. So much to learn and discover.
Our traveling companions Jerre & Uti, are going to drop by later for a cocktail. (Drive over in the skiff)
This is so cool! Just floating around in the inlet listening to the rain on the roof.
I am a happy HAPPY girl. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Must be Bloody Mary time.

Day 1, Port Orchard to Port Madison

Leaving POYC, dang.... Forgot the dog leashes

Topping off the fuel at Port Orchard Marina.

Got enough food to make it to Moscow, Russia. No Donner party incident for this gal!