forty days: portland island
Date: July 9, 2022
Time Start: 10:50 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:10 p.m.
Cruise From: Sidney, Vancouver Island
Cruise To: Royal Cove, Portland Island
Engine Hours Start: 1416
Engine Hours Finish: 1418
Weather/sea conditions: Gray, calm a.m. clearing, 70 degree day with breezes
We have cinnamon rolls from the Sidney bakery and fresh strawberry parfaits for a perfect summer breakfast on the boat. Before we leave Sidney, we pay a visit to the fish market on the waterfront to see what looks good for tonight's dinner. And we are on our way, passing small islands on the way to Portland Island's Royal Cove.
Time Start: 10:50 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:10 p.m.
Cruise From: Sidney, Vancouver Island
Cruise To: Royal Cove, Portland Island
Engine Hours Start: 1416
Engine Hours Finish: 1418
Weather/sea conditions: Gray, calm a.m. clearing, 70 degree day with breezes
We have cinnamon rolls from the Sidney bakery and fresh strawberry parfaits for a perfect summer breakfast on the boat. Before we leave Sidney, we pay a visit to the fish market on the waterfront to see what looks good for tonight's dinner. And we are on our way, passing small islands on the way to Portland Island's Royal Cove.
The tide is low when we arrive, and it is hard to spot mooring rings for stern ties. We finally find one that will work for us. And Dan is in luck, a fellow boater gives him a friendly assist getting the line placed. This is our first stern tie in a few years.
And look at where we are, such a beautiful spot! And there is kelp here, too!
We cross the cove in our dinghy to the small dock to walk the trail to Arbutus Point. We camped there on our first trip to Portland Island many years ago.
It's fun to see kayak camps at the point. We visit with some of the campers. We're a bit late to enjoy the low tide, not much of the beach is exposed now.
It's back to NORTH STAR and our fish dinner.
Chad's Island sits just outside the cove. We take an evening dinghy ride out of the cove, along our point, and along Chad. And yes, we get ferry traffic here, wakes, too.
It's that time of day when the sun and clouds do their thing. They do it well tonight!
Date: July10, 2022
Portland Island layover day in Royal Cove
Weather: Partly cloudy a.m. clears to blue skies. Low tide, mid 60's, breezy, lots of ferry wakes
Portland Island layover day in Royal Cove
Weather: Partly cloudy a.m. clears to blue skies. Low tide, mid 60's, breezy, lots of ferry wakes
Look at this wonderful morning when the clouds have cleared!
We spend a lot of time just soaking in the beauty of this spot. The kelp, the trees, the patterns on the water - so much to just enjoy.
The captain heads off for a shore walk.
I stand watch over the kelp. Can't get enough of these amazing plants! We have lots of "water music" to listen to, too, as tides and wakes keep the water in continual motion. It's amazing how musical water can be! Sometimes it pounds and drums, sometimes it plops, sometimes it swishes, sometimes it . . . use your imagination!
Evening - if you can't go for a walk, go for a row!