Pender Harbour to Bellingham, August 31

It was a beautiful morning when we left Garden Bay and headed for Howe Sound.





The sun was shining and the seas were flat. It wasn't too long after we reached Trail Islands a northwest breeze started to build, and we were surfing along on a very broad reach. The wind kept building, and by the time we reached Grower Point I had to relieve our tiller pilot, take over the helm and hand steer through the building seas.



When we reached Port Graves the anchorage was full of boats. Everyone out for labor day weekend no doubt. We were sheltered from the wind but the surface was a little rolly. We kept circling the anchorage, like a frustrated dog looking for a place to flop, until we found a spot where Teal rode fairly quiet and set the anchor. By night fall the surface laid down and all had a peaceful night.






The next morning showed promise of a fair day, and we headed for Point Roberts.







September 1. The 38 mile passage to Point Roberts was a little lumpy under cloudy skies, yet we made good way.










We arrived mid afternoon under sunny skies with a bunch of other boats coming out of the San Juan Islands, all checking in with US Customs.





The customs dock was jammed and it took a while for us to clear customs and get into a slip for the night.







The 32 mile passage to Bellingham was smooth and fast, we arrived in time for lunch, then took a cab out to the storage facility to retrieve our car, then started laying up Teal for the winter.





Our cruise was over. This year Teal covered 2186 nautical miles, we visited 27 harbors or resorts with docks, and anchored 41 times in 36 different coves.






Since 2002 when I cruised from San Leandro to San Diego and back to Alameda, Teal has covered 11520 nautical miles during seven cruising seasons. This season she reached 57 degrees 34' North and 135 degrees 42' West.

Next year we are planning to spend the summer working on Teal in order to catch up on deferred maintenance, and will not be cruising or posting to this blog.

George and JoAnne.

Blind Channel Resort to Pender Harbour, August 26

After a peaceful night at Blind Channel Resort, we awoke to a foggy morning, but by the time we motored away from the docks the skies cleared and the sea state in Johnstone strait was flat.

My strategy for our passage was to avoid having to time our arrival at the several inside tidal rapids at or near slack tide. To continue our passage down Johnstone Strait to Okisollo Channel, easily timing our passage through Upper Rapids and then just six miles further through Surge Narrows and into Hoskyn Channel to Heriot Bay.


We planed our arrival at Upper Rapids a little early so we could explore picturesque Owen Bay and the public dock there.










After we went through Upper Rapids and were heading for Surge Narrows we saw quite a few boats heading north to enjoy the last days of summer no doubt. By the time we got to Hoskyn Channel it was raining and a southeast wind was building. When we got to Dunsterville Island we ran into the full force of a 35 + knot southeaster with the full 150 mile fetch of the Strait of Georgia.




It was ugly going through the gap between Dunsterville Island and Hoskyn Rock. The seas were heaping up 12 to maybe 15 feet and breaking very close together. The 45 foot SV/Solele who had left Blind Channel after we did, and had been running along with us hailed Teal on VHF radio inquiring if we really wanted to make this passage and was concerned about my outboard motor not being able to stay in the water.

At that point we were only 3 miles from Taku Resort in Drew Harbour and I assured him that it was not going to be a problem getting to shelter. After clearing the reef at Breton Islands we were able to fall off to a better course that quartered the seas. He went on to the docks at Heriot Bay as we made our way into Drew Harbour and the docks at Taku Resort. Once tied down to the dock at Taku Resort and getting out of our soaked clothes we headed for the laundry room in a driving rain to wash out the salt and dry things out. Once that accomplished we returned to the boat for a comfortable evening while waiting out the storm.

The next Morning the storm had passed, the sun was shinning and the Straight of Georgia was flat. Before we left we walked up the hill to the store at Heriot Bay, that we like so much, to fill in some gaps in our provisions....and still hoping to find that great red potato salad they had a few years ago. No luck again this time.




Once underway for Powell River We enjoyed fair weather and smooth seas until we reached Westview Harbour at Powell River where it was raining and a southeast wind was building.






The Powell River Mill is a prominent landmark along the "Sunshine Coast".







By the time we arrived at Westview Harbour it was raining and southeast winds were building. The wharfinger (canadian word for harbor master) put us at the end of dock five. Usually we have to raft up to other boats at Westview.
Overnight the winds had built to 50 + knots at Grief Point, and by the end of the next day the place was full of boats escaping the weather. They were rafted to each other and jammed in so tight you couldn't see much water between the docks.



We whiled away the next two days taking bus rides in and about the community and visiting with fellow boaters waiting for better weather to continue their cruises.






After three days at Powell River waiting for the wind to flop around from the northwest we joined the exodus of boats heading south. The sun was shining, the wind was light and the seas were smooth.





The 25 mile run to Pender Harbor was pleasant,








and our arrival there was early enough to be assured of a good anchoring spot in Garden Bay.





Later the Catalina 42 "Journey", a boat I have crossed Tracks with numerous times during the past five years, also made the run from Powell River.


Tomorrow (August 31) we will head for Howe Sound. Stay tuned,

George and JoAnne