Cover

The entry into just about all of the small coves we've been inhabiting involve winding our way through narrow passages, between rocks and shallow patches. If it's challenging for us to wind our way in and out again, it's likely to provide good cover from weather and waves.

Today's cove is a good example. There are several small coves etched out of this cluster of small islets called the Bunsby Group.

I suppose it's redundant to call them small islets. If they weren't small they'd be islands. Checking in with the chart... They're islands. Fair enough.

It's interesting to observe that "cove" and "cover" have the same roots. In their respective definitions both words use the word "shelter." One is shelter. The other provides shelter.

We did our ten or so miles today in dead calm and cloudy skies. We set the anchor, then watched the sun come out and the wind pick up.

Diana is out on the paddle board. Doug is exploring in the dinghy, and Mick is making dinner. Walnut chicken on white rice. He's planning to embellish the recipe. Uh-oh.

Columbia Cove

Wet day today. A perfect day for some Red Hot Chili Peppers.

We motored west out of the Klaskino Anchorage under calm, cloudy skies this morning. Then south for the width of the peninsula into wind and waves. Then east to the island, where we have traveled thirty miles to the crow's ten. The eastward segment at least allowed us a little sailing on a close reach.

Since dropping anchor it has rained all day. We're feeling a little cooped up.

Tomorrow we don't have far to go. Probably about ten miles to the Bunsby Group.

I checked on my Tofino moorage reservation and found I made it for July rather than September. Oops. I contacted them by email and they were very nice about rescheduling (two months after my no show).

One Fine Day

We rolled the day's dice and they came up sunshine and mostly calm. When we were within ten miles of our destination, the wind finally picked up.

Doug was at the helm, learning the feel of the boat. Mick and I unfurled the jib, and we were off to the races. I shut the engine off. Ahh.. The peace it brings always makes everyone sigh. We sailed toward the anchorage in silence.

With anchor down, we ate a lunch of leftovers. Afterward, the crew enjoyed the afternoon paddling around the cove. Diana deployed the paddle board, while the boys put their backs into the dinghy oars. I stayed on the boat to post a web log.

Diana is learning her way around the galley tonight. Sloppy Joes from scratch.

Blowing Fishy

We decided to stay put today. The wind was frisky this morning. Gusting to 25 or more. It's hard to say since I didn't turn on our instruments today. It's after 6:00pm and the wind is only now starting to abate. Tomorrow it'll be blowing a little lighter than it did today, but still enough to allow us to sail with the engine off. Or so the forecast says.

So we've had the day off today, but we'll be back at it tomorrow. On Friday the wind will shift and start blowing from the south. That'll be another good day to take a break. Then Saturday we'll go around the Brooks Peninsula. It's the large thumb sticking out of the west side of Vancouver Island. Life gets a little easier south of the Brooks. The peninsula provides cover from weather blowing in from the northwest.

Environment Canada provides weather forecasts that include west side of Vancouver Island, northern half and southern half, delineated by the Brooks Peninsula in.


This
In Doug is making dinner tonight. Jambalaya. It sounds from noises coming out of the kitchen like dinner is close to being ready. Thank goodness. I'm hungry.

Hurricane Proof

Today was a long day. A slog. There's only 25 miles between Port Hardy and Bull Harbour. Our 7 am departure put us there by 11am. Conditions were favorable though, so we kept going, eventually reaching Sea Otter Cove after ten hours motoring 53 miles.

There was decent wind for the afternoon, but it was against us. We can tack into the wind for a few miles but not more than a few. It would take all summer to do this trip without using the motor.

When we got to the anchorage we found a shallow cove with barely enough depth to get in and four HUGE mooring buoys. The guide book claims they are designed to hold in hurricanes.

The cove itself is calm and quite beautiful. Tomorrow the wind is forecast to be with us. I'll believe it when I see it.

Doug says he brought home made pancake mix and wants to make us pancakes for breakfast. Cheers to that.

West Coast Sailing

We made a lot of steps today, according to my phone. I'll probably end up with twenty thousand or so by the time my head hits the pillow. The restaurants and grocery store in town aren't too far away, but far enough to build our step count by the end of the day. After more than a week of less than 1k, it has been good to stretch our legs.

We're planning an early departure in the morning, 6:30 up and 7am out. In that half hour we'll dump the last of our garbage, top off the water tank, and play Wordle before we untie our lines and head as far north as we intend to go on this trip.

The north end of Vancouver Island has a chain of small islands with a cove that's nicely positioned to offer a place to evaluate conditions before making a break to round Cape Scott. After tomorrow we'll be exposed to the Pacific Ocean for several days.

Tomorrow, light wind is forecasted but on the following day we can expect some down wind sailing. Ten or twenty knots down the west coast if the forecast holds up.

Take a Seat

We're in Port Hardy for two nights. There are two marinas in in this bay. The public dock, and a private dock. I used the public dock last time I was in this harbor and they had me tie up to the Coast Guard slip because they were away on assignment.

This time we're tied up to the private dock. It does the job, has showers, garbage collection, fresh water, etc. But... I hate to say it, but the reviews of this marina were right: the place needs a face lift. The whole town does.

Everyone I've interacted with in this town has been super friendly, but the town and this marina in particular is a little run down.

The marina has WiFi, which sounds great, but it doesn't work at the office. It doesn't work at the boat, so where does it work?

This afternoon I walked around the marina looking for likely places for a router to be located. When I saw a trio of plastic lawn chairs set in front of a small shed, I knew I had found what I was looking for.

I plopped into one of the chairs and found I had internet connectivity immediately.

But it's cold and dark out there now. Who wants to deal with that? So as with any slow Internet, the trick is to write messages like this in the comfort of home (or boat) and walk over to the secret spot when it's ready to send.

We cleaned the boat, filled the water tanks, and did the non-perishable provisioning today. Tomorrow we'll finish provisioning and relax.

It was nice to eat out tonight. No prep, no clean up.

Okay, Now it's time to go take a seat in one of the lawn chairs.