Friday, September 10, 2010

Canada!

We are just back from sailing the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia. The weather was great, though we did have some days of rain and low clouds. Bad weather up here means rain and fog and WIND. Sunny days are typically windless. So you take the S*** with the sugar! We cleared Canadian customs at Bedwell Harbor on South Pender Island, then sailed north to the tip of Saltspring Island, then south thru Sansum Narrows. We stopped in Ganges Harbor and Canoe Cove to gas up...and eat lunch in restaurants! Thought of family as the local marinas had their year-end regattas: would have loved to be at the Lake George Club eating steak and lobster. Instead we had vegetable stir-fry topped off with a few shots of Kahlua. On Labor Day weekend, we were on Sidney Spit, an island off Sidney, British Columbia. The rain sent everybody else running for home. We stuck it out another day, waiting for the winds to diminish so we could cross Haro Strait to get back to the US. We did that Sept 7, 30 miles in one day, putt-putting along with the outboard on glass-calm seas. Cleared US customs at Roche Harbor, just as the sun was coming out. Had a bowl of chowder, filled the gas tank, and got back to Peggy and Rolf's cabin after about 8 hours on the water. Pulled the boat out of the water directly and enjoyed hot showers and a fire in the woodstove. Yesterday, took the ferry back to the mainland, with Valdesca in tow. Now we are in Seattle. Now we are off for home--New Mexico. Since the boat is already salty, maybe I can get Tim to stop at the Great Salt Lake and drop her in for a spin. The sailing there is supposed to be fab.

Here are some photos of the Canada part of our trip.


We are setting our right now for New Mexico, towing Valdesca the whole 1500 miles. We should be home by about Sunday August 12.