summer: cabbage & tumbo islands
Date: July 4, 2017
Time Start: 11 a.m.
Time Finish: 1 p.m.
Cruise From: Sucia (U.S.A.)
Cruise To: Cabbage Island (Canada)
Engine Hours Start: 636
Engine Hours Finish: 639
Weather/sea conditions: Blue skies, wispy clouds, windy, then calm, upper 70's
Happy Fourth of July! We are crossing to Canadian waters today!
We start with a pink sunrise for the 4th of July, blue skies and sun follow, and it is still windy at Sucia. Chuck swings by in Encore to say goodbye, and we, too, are on our way, heading north to Canada.
Time Start: 11 a.m.
Time Finish: 1 p.m.
Cruise From: Sucia (U.S.A.)
Cruise To: Cabbage Island (Canada)
Engine Hours Start: 636
Engine Hours Finish: 639
Weather/sea conditions: Blue skies, wispy clouds, windy, then calm, upper 70's
Happy Fourth of July! We are crossing to Canadian waters today!
We start with a pink sunrise for the 4th of July, blue skies and sun follow, and it is still windy at Sucia. Chuck swings by in Encore to say goodbye, and we, too, are on our way, heading north to Canada.
We cruise along the shores of Sucia, and then it is almost like crossing the street, Canada is so close. Goodbye U.S.A.! A quick phone call from Boundary Pass gives us customs clearance, and then we are off of Saturna Island, passing the lighthouse and Boiling Reef.
Behind us now is Boundary Pass, with Mt. Baker and Patos Island, both back in the U.S.A. Beside us to starboard is Tumbo Island and to port is Saturna. We continue between the two islands, then round the end of Tumbo to the moorages between Tumbo and Cabbage Islands. In luck, a buoy awaits us!
And here we are, seeing eagles, looking at wonderful little Cabbage Island, celebrating the Fourth of July in Canada. (See previous visit to Cabbage Island in our September Cruise: Gulf Islands in 2015.)
There are so many eagles, we hear them and we see them in the tree tops or soaring overhead. From our moorage we can see across the Strait of Georgia to the mountains of mainland British Columbia. Commercial and pleasure boats can be seen in the Strait. And, through the low section of Tumbo Island to the south we get a glimpse of Mt. Baker. At low tide, long rock shelves reach out like arms from the shores of both Tumbo and Cabbage Islands.
It's shore time for us. Cabbage Island has a wonderful beach, and at low tide, there is so much to explore.
It's shore time for us. Cabbage Island has a wonderful beach, and at low tide, there is so much to explore.
Oh, those eagles! So hard to resist when they perch in the trees so close to us! We get to watch them swoop down to the water as they attempt to grab fish in their talons, too. Pretty amazing! (and impossible to get that photo!)
The water is 70 degrees, warm enough for us to jump in for a swim. We have our Fourth of July picnic (brats) in the cockpit. Sunset is at 9:15 today, there are no fireworks, just spectacular surroundings and a colorful sunset.
Date: July 5, 2017
Cabbage Island layover day
Weather: Clear, sunny, breeze, 80 degree day
The tide is out and the rock shelves extend from Cabbage and Tumbo Islands, stretching out across the water like long arms to greet each other. Arms extend the opposite direction from Cabbage Island as well, joining small islets in a chain. We will definitely be beach combers today!
Before we leave, Dave on a 25 Ranger Tug pulls up beside us for a chat. He is from Sidney, just learning about boating and has lots of questions. His boat is "Chimo" and we will definitely connect at the Rendezvous.
We dinghy to Tumbo Island, beaching near the pilings from an old pier. And here we go, off to explore the shelves at low tide and take a walk on the island.
First, a walk on the shelves:
Cabbage Island layover day
Weather: Clear, sunny, breeze, 80 degree day
The tide is out and the rock shelves extend from Cabbage and Tumbo Islands, stretching out across the water like long arms to greet each other. Arms extend the opposite direction from Cabbage Island as well, joining small islets in a chain. We will definitely be beach combers today!
Before we leave, Dave on a 25 Ranger Tug pulls up beside us for a chat. He is from Sidney, just learning about boating and has lots of questions. His boat is "Chimo" and we will definitely connect at the Rendezvous.
We dinghy to Tumbo Island, beaching near the pilings from an old pier. And here we go, off to explore the shelves at low tide and take a walk on the island.
First, a walk on the shelves:
These cobbles make us think of dinosaur eggs! And what is the story behind the feathers? Looking up, there is an eagle perched overhead! Hmmm . . .
Next we walk the island toward the old homestead.
We enjoy our lunch on the beach before returning to NORTH STAR. What could be better? Watching an eagle soar down to the water and catch a fish in its talons, right in front of us!
It's water play time. Dan dons his wetsuit to check the zincs and replaces them.
Happy hour and a grilled dinner in the cockpit fuel us up for evening paddles as the sun begins to drop.
And then it's that magical time of day when the sky fills with unbelievable color.
It's been another stellar day on the water. We like it here!
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