The assorted ramblings of an owner of an old boat…
I just returned from the annual Tollycraft Boating Club Rendezvous at Roche Harbor, a long weekend packed with a lot of fun and fun people.
This was my twelfth rendezvous, and while each event is a little different, they’re all about getting together with boating friends, making new ones, and enjoying some time on the water.
Rather than try to describe it all, I’ll let a short video I put together tell the story!
I was faced with a dilemma: I had a few days off. The weather forecast for those days off was outstanding. I didn’t really have anything I had to do over those days off.
For a fleeting moment, I tried to be rational, and said to myself, “self… you just got back from a nice little trip on the boat. Shouldn’t you stay home and work in the yard, or do spring cleaning around the house left over from springs past?” It was at that point, I ignored that little voice in my head – I certainly don’t need that kind of negativity in my life. Knowing that life was going to get busy in the next few weeks, and I most likely wouldn’t have an opportunity to get out for a bit, I did what any self-respecting boater would do. I threw some clothes in a bag, grabbed a few groceries, and headed for the boat.
Without too much adieu, I was motoring out of the marina, and after a visit to the fuel dock, I was on my way out the Guemes Channel, and across Rosario Strait for a most pleasant cruise to Watmough Bay on the South End of Lopez Island. As I arrived, I stole the solitude of the bay from a lone sailboat. Later, I visited with one of the owners of that sailboat, SV Mom – an interesting woman who I enjoyed sharing stories of travel, cruising, and comparing favorite anchorages. I took the dinghy to shore, for an evening walk before dinner and calling it a night.
Continue reading “What’s Up Lopez? (VIDEO)”
With the recent summer-like spring weather, I was thrilled to finally have an opportunity to get away from the dock for a few days. Between work obligations and boat projects, I simply haven’t had the time to get out when the weather has cooperated. Unlike years in the past, when I’ve done a considerable amount of winter cruising, this time around I haven’t been out since September.
I recently completed installation of new electronics, including a Raymarine C97 chart plotter, Raymarine Quantum Radar, and Si-Tex Class B AIS Transceiver. The radar sits atop a PYI Seaview radar mount on the hardtop. In addition, I had the boat in the yard for bottom paint, a new thru-hull transducer, and a buff and wax of the hull.
With projects done, new toys to play with and learn how to operate, and a few days off, I grasped the opportunity and left Anacortes with a late afternoon start Sunday. I had a wonderful run to Fossil Bay on Sucia, arriving just before sunset.
There were several boats in the bay, but plenty of room at the dock and several vacant buoys. I chose a buoy and enjoyed the quiet night. Continue reading “Early May Getaway (VIDEO)”
I’m currently out on a three week trip to Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands. While, at this point, our little flotilla is making our way slowly in the direction of home, I’ve been away from reliable internet for a good part of the trip.
Rather than provide a day-by-day account of the trip – which takes a bit of work, and is probably not too exciting for the reader – I’ll share some of the highlights of the trip. And there are some!
So far, we’ve visited Nanaimo, Tribune Bay (Hornby Island), Campbell River, Anchorage Lagoon (Sonora Island – unsure of its “official” name, if it has one), Shoal Bay, Toba Inlet, Pendrell Sound, Refuge Cove, Squirrel Cove, Westview (Powell River), and currently at anchor in Garden Bay, Pender Harbour. It’s been a great trip, and I’ve seen and experienced a lot. You can see where the trip has taken us by checking out my Spot Adventure Page.
For this post, the first highlight I’d like to share was a few moments from the trip from Nanaimo to Tribune Bay on Hornby Island. After spending a couple of days in Nanaimo, watching the wind blow and following weather patterns, we saw a window of opportunity to move on. Leaving in the afternoon and cruising at slow speed put us into Tribune Bay after dark, but the prize for doing so was motoring into a beautiful sunset.
