the broughtons: echo bay
Date: July 26, 2019
Time Start: 11:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Viner Sound, Gilford Island
Cruise To: Echo Bay, Gilford Island
Engine Hours Start: 1046
Engine Hours Finish: 1047
Weather/sea conditions: Rain throughout the day, low 60's
Typical of this region, we have a good rain shower in the morning, and if the trend holds, the day will clear later. The temperature is in the low 60's, as it is most mornings. This will be a Ranger Tug day, with many of us arriving along with several Cutwater boats at Pierre's Echo Bay Marina for tomorrow's signature pig roast. A team from the factory is being flown in by seaplane as well. It should be a festive weekend!
We leave our quiet anchorage in Viner Sound as the rain continues to fall and turn into Hornet Passage past the Burdwood group of islands, making our way into Echo Bay. We tie to a great spot on the docks, at the end of one of the fingers with a view of a fantastic rock face across the bay.
Time Start: 11:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:45 p.m.
Cruise From: Viner Sound, Gilford Island
Cruise To: Echo Bay, Gilford Island
Engine Hours Start: 1046
Engine Hours Finish: 1047
Weather/sea conditions: Rain throughout the day, low 60's
Typical of this region, we have a good rain shower in the morning, and if the trend holds, the day will clear later. The temperature is in the low 60's, as it is most mornings. This will be a Ranger Tug day, with many of us arriving along with several Cutwater boats at Pierre's Echo Bay Marina for tomorrow's signature pig roast. A team from the factory is being flown in by seaplane as well. It should be a festive weekend!
We leave our quiet anchorage in Viner Sound as the rain continues to fall and turn into Hornet Passage past the Burdwood group of islands, making our way into Echo Bay. We tie to a great spot on the docks, at the end of one of the fingers with a view of a fantastic rock face across the bay.
Our first need is to register at the office/store building. In the covered porch between the store and restaurant buildings, an art exhibit has been set up. Yvonne Maximchuck and her husband are there displaying their work and doing a pottery demonstration. Yvonne is the artist who has collaborated on Billy Proctor's books. She and her husband have a home and studio here in Echo Bay. He is the potter, she paints the pottery. She also does her own paintings, and now some of her art has been transferred to fabric. I purchase a lovely shawl from her.
It's time to start meeting our fellow Tugnuts and do lots of chatting and visiting along the docks. Twenty boats make up our group, pretty impressive! And Brian and Tim are here from the factory. We are in good hands! It is a challenge to remember all of the new names and which boat they go with. We are a mixture of Canadians and U.S. citizens, Cutwater boats and Ranger Tugs. People have come from Saskatchewan, Utah, Texas, and California. And here we are all together in the Broughtons, sharing our stories and good times. The rain doesn't stop us much, happy hour simply gets moved to the covered porch outside the store and restaurant.
Date: July 27, 2019
Echo Bay layover day
Weather: Gray morning, then nice, 70's
It's a busy day for everyone, with lots of chatting of course! People kayak, walk to Billy Proctor's, fish and crab, do laundry, and just relax and enjoy the world of Echo Bay. Pierre is hard at work roasting the pig for tonight's feast. and we will all be bringing potluck dishes to share.
Echo Bay layover day
Weather: Gray morning, then nice, 70's
It's a busy day for everyone, with lots of chatting of course! People kayak, walk to Billy Proctor's, fish and crab, do laundry, and just relax and enjoy the world of Echo Bay. Pierre is hard at work roasting the pig for tonight's feast. and we will all be bringing potluck dishes to share.
We take a short excursion in the dinghy, wanting to take a closer look at a boat docked across from us and get closer views of the rock face (that dock and the floating homes along it are also a part of Pierre's Echo Bay). And who do we see on the rocks? Brian! He's been taking photos of all of us in the marina from up high.
Meanwhile, back on the docks, boaters continue to play and to interact. It's a good time for all.
It's time! Happy Hour and the famous pig roast! We all have put our plates on tables earlier in the day to reserve our seats, and we are with a fun group. Cameras are out for this event, lots of photos get taken! A ton of food, tons of friendship! We're finally remembering some names!
Now the whole gang, from all twenty boats, gather for a group photo. Brian is high above us, with his non-stop smile! I think we all smile back . . . we're having a great time! Thanks for the photo, Brian!
And then there is sunset. It will always be a memorable one due to an amazing sound coming across Echo Bay from the balcony of a floating home beneath the rock face. A lone trumpeter plays Taps, Amazing Grace, and one or two other spellbinding pieces that resonate off the rock and across the water. Magical, there is no other word for it.
Several gather at the fire pit for a songfest. Six loveseat sized swings surround the fire, and others bring chairs. We have two guitarists who provide us with a mellow ending to the day. Thank you, Bruce and friend (yes, still don't have all the names down pat!). I fall asleep with "Harvest Moon" and "Country Roads" playing in my head.
Several gather at the fire pit for a songfest. Six loveseat sized swings surround the fire, and others bring chairs. We have two guitarists who provide us with a mellow ending to the day. Thank you, Bruce and friend (yes, still don't have all the names down pat!). I fall asleep with "Harvest Moon" and "Country Roads" playing in my head.
The quiet of Echo Bay as darkness sets in (final photo courtesy of Brian):