september: Genoa bay and mill bay
Date: September 16, 2017
Time Start: 2:10 p.m
Time Finish: 4 p.m.
Cruise From: Portland Island
Cruise To: Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island
Engine Hours Start: 706
Engine Hours Finish: 708
Weather/sea conditions: Cool and hazy early, turning sunny, 60's, smokey with haze in p.m.
It's another glorious day on the water! We take the trail along the bluff loop from Royal Cove and enjoy the many outcroppings with wonderful views. The forest around us is a mix of some of the largest and tallest madrona trees we have seen and firs. Oaks along the shoreline are losing leaves due to the dry summer. It is too soon for fall color, but it will be coming soon as this morning started quite chilly with temperatures in the low 40's.
Time Start: 2:10 p.m
Time Finish: 4 p.m.
Cruise From: Portland Island
Cruise To: Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island
Engine Hours Start: 706
Engine Hours Finish: 708
Weather/sea conditions: Cool and hazy early, turning sunny, 60's, smokey with haze in p.m.
It's another glorious day on the water! We take the trail along the bluff loop from Royal Cove and enjoy the many outcroppings with wonderful views. The forest around us is a mix of some of the largest and tallest madrona trees we have seen and firs. Oaks along the shoreline are losing leaves due to the dry summer. It is too soon for fall color, but it will be coming soon as this morning started quite chilly with temperatures in the low 40's.
We soak up the sunshine in Royal Cove before preparing to move on to Genoa Bay in the afternoon. We cut between Salt Spring and Russell islands, noting that there is an access dock on Russell. We plan to visit on a future cruise as we have learned that the native clam gardens there are being restored. Dan, being a shellfish biologist, has a special interest in seeing the gardens.
Next up, Genoa Bay on Vancouver Island. Freighters are idle in Satellite Channel as we approach the bay, passing scenic bluffs. Skies are hazy.
Our anchor goes down with 150 feet of rode extended into the bay. Unlike our summer visits, there are very few boats anchored, most are local, and some are definite derelicts. It is nostalgia time as we recall memories of our previous visits (See September Cruise: Gulf Islands 2015).
I take the dinghy for a leisurely row to the head of the bay. All along the way, I have company. A seal follows me, popping up every time I slow to soak in the view, letting me know he is still with me! The float houses at the head of the bay are interesting and scenic in the late afternoon light.
The shorelines are collection sites for a lot of junk and debris. Genoa Bay could use a beach clean-up!
Saturday night, steak night! We have these wonderful lanterns called "Luci" lights that are inflatable and run on solar powered batteries. They really add ambience to the cabin of NORTH STAR. We can set the colors of our choosing, or have them rotate through all of the colors. Pretty nifty!
Date: September 17, 2017
Time Start: 1 p.m.
Time Finish: 2:20 p.m.
Cruise From: Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island
Cruise To: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Engine Hours Start: 708
Engine Hours Finish: 710
It's Sunday morning in the cabin of NORTH STAR at Genoa Bay, a gray day that starts calm. Then, around noon, the winds pick up and rain begins to fall. We take the dinghy to the marina docks mid morning for a walk up to the hillside gardens surrounding the Villa Al Mare. They are a contrast to the tidy garden surrounding the Genoa Bay Marina.
Time Start: 1 p.m.
Time Finish: 2:20 p.m.
Cruise From: Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island
Cruise To: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Engine Hours Start: 708
Engine Hours Finish: 710
It's Sunday morning in the cabin of NORTH STAR at Genoa Bay, a gray day that starts calm. Then, around noon, the winds pick up and rain begins to fall. We take the dinghy to the marina docks mid morning for a walk up to the hillside gardens surrounding the Villa Al Mare. They are a contrast to the tidy garden surrounding the Genoa Bay Marina.
We have memories of some fabulous halibut tacos at the Genoa Bay Cafe. We can't resist a return visit for Sunday lunch while the rain falls.
A wet dinghy ride back to NORTH STAR is followed by a wet cruise to Mill Bay, with raindrops and crab pots to avoid all along the way. We pass a large housing development at Hatch Point before turning into Saanich Inlet. The rain finally lets up just as we arrive at the Mill Bay Marina.
We manage a short walk around the marina before the rain resumes. The docks have all recently been renovated. The marina has a nice restaurant, but since we dined ashore for lunch, we opt for a light dinner in the cabin of NORTH STAR.
Seals are having a dock party tonight. One tries to board our swim step, they are up on the docks and on nearby boats, swimming around us, and bumping against our hull. A couple of hours of playtime, and then they are done.
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