Montague Harbour, Galiano Island, B.C. 09.19.2013

After gathering for breakfast at Bill’s we helped put away the chairs from last night’s event then visited on the deck enjoying the sun.  Finally about 1:30 it was time to move on.

As we were leaving Bill’s and crossing the beach I noticed live sand dollars on the beach!  This is the first time I have ever seen them live!  They are actually purple in color!   The sand dollars are white if they have died and then ok to take home, so of course I had to take a few.

Hayden Pass, White Raven & Second Chance moved south for the night heading for Montague Harbor.  Ron & Lynn are heading home and then into Vancouver to visit a friend who is in the hospital so unfortunately they will not be joining us this year in Ganges for the WWBA Fall Rendezvous.

To get to Montague Harbor we headed south out of Ladysmith Harbor into Stuart Channel.  Then through Houston Passage south on Trincomali Channel and into Montague Harbor.

 

 

 

This is a very popular harbor and always fun to visit.  They have a nice store & gift shop and a restaurant with wifi on the deck.

 

 

 

The weather co-operated and we even got to spend some time outside in the sun.

 

 

While we were there we got a visit from Jon of M/V Penelope Isle, who rowed over in his kayak to visit.

 

We had a lovely potluck on Hayden Pass and enjoyed a lot of laughs together.

 

 

 

“Pre-Rendezvous”, Sibell Bay, Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, B.C. 09.18.2013

Leaving Chemainus continuing on Stuart Channel to Lady Smith Harbor and into Sibell Bay to Bill’s where we anchored in the bay and went ashore to prep for the BBQ. 

 

All the guys got together to help Lynn get ashore from Contessa.  It was quickly decided that Ron & Lynn would spend the night in Bill’s guest room so that Lynn would not have to tackle the stairs twice.

 

Bill lives in a beautiful log home right on the water. 

 

 

There is a set of stairs leading up to the house from the bay.  The row in was not bad.  The shore comes up pretty quickly so it will be interesting when the tide is out!! 

 

  

Once we had gone ashore, our friends John & Estel from M/V Hayden Pass, from WWBA, arrived and anchored in the bay.  They are traveling with friends, Val & Gord and Ted & Anne. 

 

19 of us showed up for the BBQ including Bonnie & Laurie from M/V Raincoast Spirit

 

And Terry & Cecil formerly of M/V Eagle Rock

 

It was great fun to socialize and catch-up. 

 

 

 

 

Bruce did a great job as master chef on the BBQ

 

And we couldn’t have done it without Karen!  She organized everything and made sure everything got out on the tables.  She even baked a cake special for Bruce!

 

Here is a group picture

 

We all had such a good time!  Getting back to the boat proved to be quite a challenge!  The tide had gone out and the beach was very muddy.  Lucky for me I wore my rain boots so it was fairly easy to get the dinghy back to the water. 

The men laid planks across the beach to the dinghies so everyone didn’t get to muddy.  It was dark by the time we got back to the boat.

Stopover in Chemainus, Vancouver Island, B.C. 09.18.2013

Today is the “pre” rendezvous BBQ at Bill’s house.  Bill is the owner of the lovely M/V Lady Allysha.

On the way north Ron & Lynn wanted to stop in Chemainus for fuel so we decided to stop for a few supplies and to take on some water before we get to Bill’s. 

 

So we headed north on Trincomali Channel going through the north end of Salt Spring by Houston Passage into Stuart Channel to make a stop at Chemainus.

Just outside of Chemainus we ran into Jim & Allison from M/V Lily D who are WWBA friends.  So of course we had to stop and catch-up on how their summer has treated them!

 

Then headed into Chemainus finally!  You can see Contessa at the fuel dock.

 

Chemainus is one of our favorite places!  And it is so nice to see Harmen, the harbormaster.

 

While Bruce took on water I was able to walk up the dock to the grocery store to get our supplies for the pre-rendezvous.  It’s so nice to have the store so close to the dock!

It shouldn’t take us long to get to Bill’s from Chemainus – about 45 minutes or so.

James Bay & Annette Inlet, Prevost Island, B.C. 09.17.2013

Spoke with Steve from M/V White Raven this morning and they hope to reach north Prevost Island by noon. 

We all left our anchorage and headed south down Trincomali Channel to catch up with them. 

By lunchtime we were all together on north Prevost Island in James Bay.  Steve & Karen have Steve’s brother Jim and his wife Katherine visiting from California.  They are a lot of fun and we are all looking forward to spending time together as a group. 

 

Hugs all around & then we went for a hike where a sheep trail takes you out to the north point. 

 

As an anchorage James Bay is open to the full fetch of Trincomali Channel to the NW and so we choose to move the boats over to Ron’s favorite bay for the night, which is Annette Inlet. 

 

This inlet is protected from all-weather and can be quite shallow in some areas so you have to pay attention to your depth sounder.  The setting here is very peaceful and just begs for a relaxing afternoon.

This evening we had a pot luck on Contessa.  It was certainly nice to all be together and sharing stories of the summer. 

 

Tomorrow we are off to Bill’s from M/V Lady Allysha for a pre-rendezvous BBQ in the morning.  We expect to be at Bill’s two nights.