sidney and sidney spit
Date: September 11, 2018
Time Start: 10:05 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:05 p.m.
Cruise From: Reid Harbor, Stuart Island (U.S.A.)
Cruise To: Sidney, Vancouver Island (Canada)
Engine Hours Start: 913
Engine Hours Finish: 915
Weather/sea conditions: Cool, gray morning, clearing and warming to 60's, breeze
We had lots of rain in the wee hours of the morning, with misty clouds still hanging over Reid Harbor. The forest trees must be heaving a huge sigh of relief to finally have a good rain after our long, hot, dry summer.
Time Start: 10:05 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:05 p.m.
Cruise From: Reid Harbor, Stuart Island (U.S.A.)
Cruise To: Sidney, Vancouver Island (Canada)
Engine Hours Start: 913
Engine Hours Finish: 915
Weather/sea conditions: Cool, gray morning, clearing and warming to 60's, breeze
We had lots of rain in the wee hours of the morning, with misty clouds still hanging over Reid Harbor. The forest trees must be heaving a huge sigh of relief to finally have a good rain after our long, hot, dry summer.
We are on the move, leaving Reid Harbor and the U.S.A. for Canadian waters and the town of Sidney on Vancouver Island. We wave to our friends Rick and Nancy on Andiamo as we leave Stuart Island. Crossing Haro Strait, we feel the power of water as we are slowed way down by a cross current. With a phone call for our NEXUS clearance, we are soon on the dock of Port of Sidney Marina.
Staff from the local aquarium are on the dock sifting through the flotsam that has come floating in with the tide, looking for nudibranch specimens for their displays. As kelp and other algae die off at this time of year, they drift with the tides, bringing with them whatever sea life clings to their fronds. It is fascinating to see live kelp nudibranch in their bucket, its color blending perfectly with the color of the kelp fronds.
Another Ranger Tug, "Caeli C", is beside us, with Doug and Sheila from Gibsons aboard. We enjoy some friendly visits with them, comparing notes on our R27's and our adventures. For us, it is laundry day, a perfect activity for an afternoon filled with thunderstorms and drenching rain.
Date: September 12, 2018
Sidney layover day
Weather: Gray and cool, 50's
Sidney's Shaw Aquarium is on our agenda today, and we thoroughly enjoy our visit. Exhibits focus on the Salish Sea, with local displays organized by habitat type (kelp beds, eel grass, sandy bottom, rocky shores, etc.) and all well done and engaging. Exhibits are colorful and the staff super friendly.
Sidney layover day
Weather: Gray and cool, 50's
Sidney's Shaw Aquarium is on our agenda today, and we thoroughly enjoy our visit. Exhibits focus on the Salish Sea, with local displays organized by habitat type (kelp beds, eel grass, sandy bottom, rocky shores, etc.) and all well done and engaging. Exhibits are colorful and the staff super friendly.
Aquarium staff recommend the local Thai restaurant for lunch, and it is terrific! Walks along the shore and a bike ride for Dan fill out our day.
Evenings on NORTH STAR are always a favorite time of day!
Date: September 13, 2018
Time Start: 11:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:10 p.m.
Cruise From: Sidney, Vancouver Island
Cruise To: Sidney Spit, Sidney Island
Engine Hours Start: 915
Engine Hours Finish: 916
Weather/sea conditions: Partly cloudy, 60's, windy at Sidney Spit (S.E. 20 knots)
What a nice morning! Warmer, and no breeze! We pick up pastries from the Sidney Bakery and lattes for a waterfront picnic breakfast, followed by a visit to the local fresh seafood market to pick up some fish for our dinner. We take one last stroll through Beacon Park before preparing to leave Sidney.
Time Start: 11:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:10 p.m.
Cruise From: Sidney, Vancouver Island
Cruise To: Sidney Spit, Sidney Island
Engine Hours Start: 915
Engine Hours Finish: 916
Weather/sea conditions: Partly cloudy, 60's, windy at Sidney Spit (S.E. 20 knots)
What a nice morning! Warmer, and no breeze! We pick up pastries from the Sidney Bakery and lattes for a waterfront picnic breakfast, followed by a visit to the local fresh seafood market to pick up some fish for our dinner. We take one last stroll through Beacon Park before preparing to leave Sidney.
After farewells with Doug and Sheila, we cross toward Sidney Spit, and our calm day disappears. Strong winds make docking at the spit difficult, and it is nice to get a helping hand from fellow boaters. The temperature drops, too!
We decide to take a walk on the island, taking the forested trail to the hawthorn tree-lined meadows. We start with views of the dock and spit.
And what is unique in the forest? Tall cedars, with great toes! Decaying, woodpecker and termite riddled tree trunks, a stump filled with the seeds of Douglas Fir, and faces on the trunks of some trees!
We break out of the forest into the meadow, where the fruit on the hawthorns is prolific. No wonder there are so many of these trees on the island!
There are at least 29 campsites on the island, and the ranger has arrived to check out occupancy. Her work is easy today, we are the only ones around. It is the perfect opportunity for us to pay our moorage fee.
Heading back toward our dock, we are in the midst of remnants from the brick factory that made use of island clay from 1905 to 1925. Bricks are thick in the area of the old pier.
There are signs other visitors have been here today, footprints in the sand under the pier.
We aren't done walking on this blustery afternoon. The tide is still low enough for exploring the spit, and off we go.
We notice an empty dinghy drifting along the spit. Fortunately, one of the anchored boaters spots it too and comes to the rescue. He tows it from anchored boat to anchored boat until he finds the owner. Aren't fellow boaters the greatest!
And more of the spit!
With winds still blowing, we move NORTH STAR to a different angle of the dock, hoping for less movement. We enjoy a favorite fresh fish dinner (from the Sidney market), prepared with Mediterranean style fresh vegetables atop, along with Kalamata olives, so good! "Wee Venture", an R31 with my friend Suzanne aboard, arrives late. Hope to catch her tomorrow. Time to tuck in and enjoy the stormy evening.