Wednesday, June 22 Squirrel Cove to Blind Channel Resort 4 hours 38 miles

Merlin on the beach at Blind Channel Resort

Emerald Star is in the middle

Again we have beautiful weather.  We passed through Hole-in-the-Wall rapids and Okisollo rapids near slack water and then headed out into Discovery Channel and out into Johnstone Straight. Johnstone Straght separates the norther half of Vancouver Island from the mainland. The water can also be terrible but it was smooth and sunny and we had a lovely cruise up to Blind Channel Resort in Mayne channel. This place has about twelve 80’ docks and some nasty currents. It’s just around the bend from green point rapids and they can ruin your day. We were sliding side ways out in the channel, but it calmed down closer to the docks. Fred get very worried when we start to go sideways. We didn’t have a reservation but were only the third boat on the dock. This place is first class.  They come down and grabbed lines while we were docking and informed us that the restaurant was open. They have a well stocked grocery store with liquor (very expensive in Canada) and a giftshop attached.  The resort was started and is still run by a German family.  We had a nice German meal for dinner.  Fred had a goulash and I had weiner schnitzel.  http://blindchannel.com/

Tuesday, June 21 Pender Harbour to Squirrel Cove 5 hours 53 miles

We have been blessed with beautiful weather so far.  Our journey today takes up the mainland coast to Desolation Sound.  We have seen snow capped mountains in the distance on both Vancouver Island and the mainland, but here one is much closer to beautiful snow capped peaks.  We are heading north rather rapidly so we will have plenty of time to enjoy in Alaska.  Squirrel Cove has a lovely large anchorage.  We put the dinghy down and went over to the general store and craft shop.  We brought the laptop because we can usually get online there. No such luck. It didn’t work. Oh well. We were surprised to see a sign saying that all of Squirrel Cove, the restaurant, store and small dock is for sale. Not sure what things will be like next year. We each got an ice cream cone and let Merlin run and play on the beach. Back to the boat for the evening.  http://www.cortesisland.com/squirrelcove/

View of Desolation Sound

Canada geese in Canada!

Squirrel Cove

Monday, June 20 Bedwell Harbour to Pender Harbour 7 hours 90 miles

Our intended destination today was Nanaimo.  We had to plan our trip to pass through Dodd Narrows at slack water.  It is really nice that emerald Star is capable of speeds up to 18 mph.  We usually cruise at about 10 mph.  Our previous boat, Aquila, could only go 6-7 mph.  Therefore, we have much greater range. It’s a lovely sunny day and the water is nearly flat.  We passed through Dodd Narrows at 1:21 PM, at slack, with no problem.  Nanaimo is about 8 miles passed the narrows.  As we approached Nanaimo we saw that is was only about 2:30 PM and the weather and water is so good that we headed right across the Straight of Georgia.  This can be a nasty piece of work.  It is a very large channel that runs between Vancouver Island and the mainland.  Whiskey Gulf ( military torpedo practice range that is located just outside of the waters in front of Nanaimo )  was not active so were able to cross in a straight line to our destination, Pender Harbour.  We anchored in a new place, just out side of Madiera Park & Garden Bay. While Fred was deploying the anchor, the top of the winch un-screwed with the winch handle still in it. This was a grand surprise to Fred and he made a heroic grab for the thing and caught it. While this was happening, the anchor chain was merrily run out. So, after screwing the ^%$# thing back together, he got the chain stopped. We had no idea of how much chain was out there, but we were sure it was enough !!  The water was calm and we slept well.

Sunday, June 19 Van Isle Marina to Bedwell Harbour 1 ¼ hours 9 miles

Bedwell Harbour

Poet's Cove Resort

I was a little over an hour to Bedwell Harbour. This is rather large bay with mooring buoys around the edge. There were very few boats here. We were surprised.   Fred surprised me with a massage at the spa at the resort here, Poet’s Cove.  I love this place.  They have a marvelous steam cave,a jacuzzi, a relaxing room with a fireplace with green tea and ice cold water.  I made use of all of the facilities and had a wonderful relaxing afternoon.  Fred waited for me in their garden reading a book in the sunshine. http://poetscove.com/

Friday, June 17 Friday Harbor to Sidney BC (Canada) 2½ hours 18 miles

WooHoo, Canada!    Canadian Customs # 201116880239   

One of our worst nightmares occurred during our cruise into Canada.  First, as we were on the way to Sidney (Van Island marina) Joan announced the master head stopped up. Then, after the docking ordeal, while the adrenalin was really running she announced the second head had stopped working. It is a beautiful, sunny day and the water has only about 1’ chop.  We were a little worried about getting this 57’ boat on a Customs Dock.  Fred called Canadian Customs just before we crossed into Canadian water in Boundary Pass.  We were given our customs # but told to call back when we get to Van Isle Marina in Sidney, BC.  When we entered Tsehum Harbour we got lucky and were cleared to enter Canada without having to stop on the dock or be searched.  We are legal but were glad to avoid the hassle.  The real reason we were cleared so easily is that Fred got on the phone with Customs and whined. There was a 100+’ boat (After Eight) taking up the entire customs dock!!! That caused Fred to call customs and whine. “You want me to keep this barge from hitting anything while we wait for After Eight to clear.” The nice lady took pity on us and cleared us on the fly. Welcome to Canada now go dock. So we got into the slip with a little help from the staff and Fred is on the dock trying to get the %$#@ shore power hooked up. He did not want to use 50 amp service as the power cords must weight twice the 30 amp cord. But, one must use adapters to convert the end of the cord that fits into the boat. We must have 4, 5 different adapters, none of witch he could get to work. So after unrolling both 50 foot, 30 amp cords, he had to roll them up and get the two &^%$ 50 amp cords out, unrolled, and hooked up. It power finally worked (Fred also had a power switch in the wrong position), the heads were broken and the rental car was to in 30 minutes. Fred spent valuable time trying to find a rebuild kit for the heads. In fact the whole front office staff was on the phone trying help us. We did find a kit, and as faith would have it, he didn’t need it. There was “stuff” clogging the pumps on both heads. All better and we have a repair kit now. Fred is winning, he needs a latté!!!! We needed the rented a car as soon as the boat was secure for the dreaded “Costco Run”.  We only want to stay on dock here ($1.25/ft) as many days as necessary.  The marina has a deal with National car rentals and the fellow picked us up at the marina and we went back to the car lot (about 1 mile) and did the paper work.  We then made a beeline over to Costco after picking up a couple of lattés (thank god).  We had to pick up the things we couldn’t bring in through customs (meat, fruits and vegetables).  We left Merlin on the boat and he was very happy to see us return.  Joan spent the rest of the afternoon vacuum sealing all the meat, fish, etc.  While we had the car we decided to go out to dinner to our favorite place in Sidney, Hyland’s.  They make the best halibut fish & chips!  We have tried fish & chips all up and down the coast and they are the winners.  We were so busy all day we didn’t get there until about 7:45.  Apparently they close at 8:00. We were very happy until the ladies there said to come on in and take our time.  What a nice ending to the day.  
http://www.sidney.ca/ 

Fred & Merlin at Van Isle Marina

Wednesday, June 15 Skyline Marina to Friday Harbor 2 hours 16 miles

Well, we are finally on our way.  Let the cruise begin.  Right off the bat the inverter didn’t come on when we discontinued shore power. So after running around like an idiots for 15 – 20 minuets, it dawned on Fred, why don’t we just turn it on. Du. So, after this dram, we got off the dock 30 minutes or so later that expected. We left skyline Marina at a “0” tide. In the “old days” 0 tide meant you were going to run a ground if you didn’t know the “marina secret”. We don’t., and Fred had no faith in the dredging operation that was to have lowered the ground (raise the water??). Casting our faith to the dredging crew, away we went. We saw 6’ at the lowest point. We draw about 5’, so this was still a bit nerve-wracking. As you can see the exit lived down to its expectations. Emerald Star handled very well as we are getting used to her.  We anchored at Friday Harbor. While we were provision the boat in Anacortes, Joan asked “do we have a winch handle for this new winch, (Aquila had a completely different set up), so a new handle was procured and much to my surprise it worked! I wonder how long before the handle goes overboard.  This was the first time we anchored this boat and it went beautifully.  http://www.fridayharbor.org/

June 8

We arrived safely in Anacortes about 2:30 PM.  It is a sunny day and that made it much easier to unload the car and schlep all the stuff down to Emerald Star.  The boat fared well during our absence.   Fred cleaned, vacuumed and changed all the linens before he left.  It is so nice to come back to everything clean and tidy.  Of course, it didn't take us long to mess things up again.  It will take a day or two to get everything stowed. http://www.anacortes.org/index.cfm

Half way to Anacortes

We left Walnut Creek on Tuesday morning, right on schedule.  We are going to head north on Highway 5.  The weather is beautiful and warm.  As we were passing through northern California, Mt. Shasta appeared magnificent against the bright blue sky.  The mountain is still completely covered in snow. 

Mount Shasta

Merlin held up very well and we are glad to have a dog that travels so well.  We drove 441 miles to spend the night in Roseburg, OR.  We were so tired that we had leftovers from lunch for dinner.

Chaos reigns supreme

We are planning to leave the house tomorrow am to begin our summer journey north.  It always amazes me the amount of little details that must be dealt with.  I'm pretty sure that the car will not be filled to bursting this time.  We are very excited to cruise on Emerald Star this year.  I know it will be different, but how different?  Since we lived aboard this last winter while our condo was being remodeled, most of the stuff we nee is already there..  The condo looks great but isn't "done" yet.  Heather will stay here are try to get all the details covered. 

One week to go

 Joan speaking;
We are starting to run in circles now.  We hope to be on the road back up to Anacortes next Tuesday (June 7).  We spent the last week up in Clear Lake.  A dear friend of ours, John, moved there from Alameda.  Fred met John at the Alameda Gym about 15 years ago. John would come daily to do his workout.  He was 75+ years old then.  John is an artist.  He has done several paintings for us.  His portrait of Fred is his best work.  His portrait of me will stay hidden in the closet, however.  His son, Duffy, is a world class his artist.  Check out his site: http://duffysheridan.com/

Fred & John Sheridan

Portrait of Fred (January 2008)

We still haven't totally settled into our new townhouse in Walnut Creek and now we are creating more boxes.  Some for storage, some for Goodwill and some for the boat.  I think the end is in sight.
The best thing that happened this last week in that my youngest nephew and his wife gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Grace.  The only down side is that my sister, Ann, gets to be a grandma first!