comox
Date: August 5, 2019
Time Start: 8:10 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:15 p.m.
Cruise From: Mansons Landing, Cortes Island
Cruise To: Comox, Vancouver Island
Engine Hours Start: 1070
Engine Hours Finish: 1075
Weather/sea conditions: Clear sunny skies! Upper 80's and hot!
We haven't had the time to enjoy Mansons Landing, and it is invitingly beautiful here this morning with the sun shining brightly on the shore beside us and the water calm. Our summer cruise has been wonderfully laid back, with nothing scheduled, but for today and tomorrow that is changed. Dan needs to be in a place with good phone connections as he has an all day conference/video call with people in both Florida and Alaska that will take place tomorrow. We have chosen Comox as the nearest best place to be. So, sadly, we are saying goodbye to the Desolation Sound cruising grounds and heading across the head of the Strait of Georgia.
Time Start: 8:10 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:15 p.m.
Cruise From: Mansons Landing, Cortes Island
Cruise To: Comox, Vancouver Island
Engine Hours Start: 1070
Engine Hours Finish: 1075
Weather/sea conditions: Clear sunny skies! Upper 80's and hot!
We haven't had the time to enjoy Mansons Landing, and it is invitingly beautiful here this morning with the sun shining brightly on the shore beside us and the water calm. Our summer cruise has been wonderfully laid back, with nothing scheduled, but for today and tomorrow that is changed. Dan needs to be in a place with good phone connections as he has an all day conference/video call with people in both Florida and Alaska that will take place tomorrow. We have chosen Comox as the nearest best place to be. So, sadly, we are saying goodbye to the Desolation Sound cruising grounds and heading across the head of the Strait of Georgia.
It is an easy crossing today. We wish we had time to visit Mittlenatch Island and the wildlife preserve there. I see a whale spout and dive near the island as we pass by. Then, just off Vancouver Island, a hunchback breaches right off our bow, spectacular! We could almost touch it. It's enormous back, so sleek, so strong, so powerful, so agile, the fin, the tail, all of it, just taking our breath away. Such a glorious moment. The engine is shut off as we watch for more action. We see two spouts, and two tails. The whales have passed behind us and are heading away. Memories serve as our cameras.
Docking at Comox is a bit tight, but the captain gets us right in. We are where the long dock angles, and we have boats both in front of and behind us.
Docking at Comox is a bit tight, but the captain gets us right in. We are where the long dock angles, and we have boats both in front of and behind us.
We hear bands playing. It turns out that this is B.C. Day, a holiday, and Comox is celebrating with all kinds of festivities. Marina Park is filled with kiosks, people, and fun. Two stages offer live musical performances, there are plenty of food vendors, and kids are really enjoying water play in the newly opened Spray Park.
We discover that the barge behind us on the dock will be the stage for a fireworks show tonight. We are amazed by the size and number of explosives that are being set up. It really takes a professional team who know exactly what they are doing.
Meanwhile, at the outer end of our dock, seals and sea lions are spending a lazy afternoon.
We know it will soon be time for the fireworks when the barge pulls away from the dock to head into the harbor.
We make our way to the pedestrian bridge, joining the crowds awaiting the grand finale of the holiday. The show finally gets underway shortly after 10 p.m. when the skies are good and dark. It is a great show! These snaps don't do it justice, it was actually one of the best shows either of us have ever seen. We put our cameras aside at the beginning, just enjoying the spectacle and watching in awe.
Date: August 6, 2019
Comox layover day
Weather: Sunny, warm, mid 70's, breezy afternoon
We are up as the sun rises over Comox harbor. Dan needs to be on "Florida time" today for his conference meetings by phone. Pretty miraculous to be able to sit on a boat and be having face to face contact across the continent and up to Alaska!
I get a day to hang out. Laundry is a must, as is some provisioning. I visit with the crew of "Ember Marie", they are also on our dock and making their way home. Three boats from our Echo Bay gathering arrive - Crazy Heart, Morning Light, and Current Obsession. Small world when you are boationg!
A few photos from my day of wandering;
Comox layover day
Weather: Sunny, warm, mid 70's, breezy afternoon
We are up as the sun rises over Comox harbor. Dan needs to be on "Florida time" today for his conference meetings by phone. Pretty miraculous to be able to sit on a boat and be having face to face contact across the continent and up to Alaska!
I get a day to hang out. Laundry is a must, as is some provisioning. I visit with the crew of "Ember Marie", they are also on our dock and making their way home. Three boats from our Echo Bay gathering arrive - Crazy Heart, Morning Light, and Current Obsession. Small world when you are boationg!
A few photos from my day of wandering;
I meet a research biologist from Deep Bay who is doing an oyster grow out study on our dock. These photos are for Dan, my shellfish man!
A bit of the local wildlife:
Conference call completed, Dan joins in on dock visits.
An after dinner walk in Marina Park:
And then music on the dock, Bruce serenading us just as he did at Echo Bay, while photos of the day get viewed and shared. What a spectacular whale show this lucky group had outside of Comox today!