My summer vacation, Aug., 2005 Dorm, Jake (the poodle), and I started off from Coronet Bay where we moor our 47' Bayliner. Not quite out of the harbor, the engine was smoking and not getting better. We returned to the dock and after a few hours with Mike, the trustee mechanic, it was determined the boat was staying home this trip. Fortunately, Dorm has a partnership in a fishing boat, a 28' Trophy. It has new engines and is set up with the latest in fishing equipment. Everything a guy could want.
I always liked camping when I was a kid; and have done a fair share of it with my own kids. But, camping out on a boat is a little different. But, if we were going to take a vacation http://vcooley.zoto.com. this was the only choice in tranportation we had available.
So, off we go http://vcooley.zoto.com. a day late, but, at least going. Our friends waiting for us in Victoria had called alerting us to where they were moored. We got there in time to join them for dinner and enjoy a concert on the water in front of the Empress Hotel the next evening. How can you not enjoy Victoria?
We left Monday for Ganges on Salt Spring Island. There we docked at our yacht club's outstation and enjoyed the company of other yacht club members also moored there. Ganges is one of my favorite hang-outs!
Tuesday, we headed to Desolation Sound where we were to meet up with more friends on their boat. But, the weather was windy, although warm and sunny. We had to put in at Nanaimo and spent the night there. I had time to get my nails done (something I was very much in need of) and walk the waterfront park, which was delightful.
The next morning we continued on to Grace Harbor in Desolation Sound. What a beautiful area! I'd been to the area many years before and had forgotten how wonderful it is.
We found Tom and Mary Jane Lundsgaard, our good friends; and new friends, "V" and Jay Hartland and Cara Clark.
Dorm and I fished in a couple of spots and caught dinner for the group one night. We added the oysters gathered from the shore and "pigged out"!
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On Friday, we parted ways with the Lundsgaards and friends and headed to Campbell River to fuel up (again!) and then Echo Bay north of Desolation Sound.
Again, we had bad head winds and cruised through Johnstone Strait during "small craft warnings". We ran across three big cruise ships http://vcooley.zoto.com. training through the strait. Other than them http://vcooley.zoto.com. we were the only ones out there! Finally we got to a place where we could "duck" behind some islands and get out of the winds and rough water. Our journey was slowed down so we stayed at a lovely place called Lagoon Cove that night. It was a new discovery for us. Some apparantly refer to it as an "adult camp" due to the nightly marshmellow roast and a sing-a-long after dinner. Everybody moored attends and brings food for the "pot luck" dinner. New friends are made every night.
We left Lagoon Cove thenext morning very early. Had to get out there and fish! We did catch, but, released all we caught. Nothing was too big and we still had fish left over from our earlier fishing in Desolation Sound. It was fun, though!
We came across gray whale accompanied on their journey by dolphins. And, there was a big rock in the sea with six sea lions sunning. I could smell them about 1\2 mile away! And, of course, the eagles were everywhere. They are always a beautiful site.
The last night was spent at Pierre's in Echo Bay. What a fun place! We were met by the owners, Pierre and his wife, Tove. He has a full bead and long hair to the middle of his back. Tove was dressed in costume, a Nordic metal head piece and pig tails. We were immediatly invited to the Pig Roast happening that night. Everybody had to come with ties they made. We could use any material available to us (which wasn't much)http://vcooley.zoto.com.but we couldn't show up without the tie. I made ours out of garbage sacks. They weren't too bad.
It was a lovely evening with entertainment provided by the attendees singing along with a Karoke machine. We made some new friends of the Shoresmans from San Marin, Ca. (Boaters are a friendly group!)
We left again early in the morning. Taking off in the heavy fog that had come in that early morning was scary http://vcooley.zoto.com. but, Dorm is a good navigator and knows the waters well. We came out of the fog just outside Port Mc Neill, BC where were had breakfast and then waited for the other partners in the boat to arrive.
They made it to Port McNeill by mid afternoon and we traded the boat for the motorhome and headed home. The trip actually went very well with no delays and good roadshttp://vcooley.zoto.comhttp://vcooley.zoto.comwe made it home by 1:00 am Monday the 8th.
The trip wasn't exactly what was originally planned, but, it was most enjoyable and great memories were made. We'll definitely go back
