Hi,

Just got back from a very relaxing 2 weeks up the coast,sailing, motoring,
anchoring, docking and generally being in charge of making sure the sun
comes up in the east and sets in the west. Everything, from
the new batteries to the new holding tank to the old engine, performed
flawlessly to create a genuinely carefree vacation! Here's some details:

Tuesday: Late starting (as usual!) so had to motor to Gibsons, with a bit of
sailing towards the end. Got into Gibson's Marina just before it closed
at 7:00pm. Excellent dinner at Gramma's Pub!
Wednesday: Westerly winds, so upwind sailing to Smuggler's Cove. Finally got
a NICE tack on 10-12knot NWerly that took us right to Welcome Passage.
Anchored with a stern line in Smuggler's Cove - we were the only ones there!
Caught a nice Rockfish (about 1 lb) and a Dungeness Crab (actually caught
several, kept one)
Thursday: Stayed at Smugglers, took Near Cove to Secret Cove for a few
things, including a new battery for Near Cove. Got a Trojan Group 24 deep-
cycle: WAY heavier than the old 22NF, hope the longer use is worth the extra
weight! Also picked up a "Hawaii Yacht Club" flag someone had lost - good
sight-gag for Near Cove!
Friday: Angelique pulled her back out (my fault: we didn't have a "tailboard"
discussion on what to do when she released the stern line from shore...), so
we sailed to Pender Hbr in search of a chiropractor. Instead, we learned of
Wendie Milner: an EXCELLENT Physiotherapist/Reflexology/Other things I can't
pronounce. Bottom line: Angelique was a Brand New Woman after a 1-hr session.
Highly recommended!
Saturday: Another short motor to Grief Point. Nice marina, but open to lots
of wind!
Sunday: Mainly motor to Squirrel Cove. Lots of boats! Get a Very Nice
spot in a small bay right next to the lagoon, again using a stern tie.
Monday: Stayed at Squirrel Cove, relaxed, messed about with Miss Lily and
Near Cove. Ran the "rapids" into the lagoon: lots of fun!
Tuesday: Decide to run back down to Lund for battery charging, showers,
supplies, nice restaurant... Got the LAST spot on the public dock! Had
EXCELLENT dinner at the restaurant at the Lund Hotel. Chuck, should be on
your "must visit" restaurants when you come up this way. Even had a "floor
show" when a lizard (salamander?) wandered in and had the entire staff
chasing it around everyone's feet...Fired up the Dickinson for a nice cozy
evening.
Wednesday: Rain (finally!), accompanied by 25kn Easterly so night was a bit
rocky. Went for a walk to look for Thulin Lake, then hung out in the bar
and had appetizers and "Lund Coffee".
Thursday: Looking like the weather was starting to degrade, so decided
to start heading back south. Weather forecast said winds slowly rising
to NW30 by the evening, so wanted to sail down to Blind Bay for the night.
Stopped at Harwood Island (see separate "Tale of the 200-lb Burl"), spent
too much time there to get to Blind Bay, so spent a very rocky and windy
night at Grief Point marina. Figured out how to get the heater working in
a wind (use more "combustion assist fan").
Friday: Wanted to get another session with Wendie at Pender Hbr, so another
short motor (with a bit of sailing at the end), and dropped a hook in the
fairly busy Garden Bay Marine Park. Turned out Wendie was on vacation, so
we could have continued sailing to Smugglers. Oh, well, Garden Bay is nice.
Saturday: Started at 8:00am for the LONG motor back. No wind! Otto at the
helm, some sun, reading, watching the Sunshine Coast drift by... finally
got in at 7:00pm.
Sunday: Spent the entire day unloading Far Cove, including the 200-lb burl.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36
"Near Cove" Walker Bay 8
"Miss Lily" 8ft mouseboat