summer! the gulf islands
Date: August 3, 2018
Time Start: 5:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 4:50 p.m.
Cruise From: Comox, Vancouver Island
Cruise To: Clam Bay, Thetis Island
Engine Hours Start: 857
Engine Hours Finish: 867
Weather/sea conditions: Clouds, calm early, windy afternoon, upper 60's
We're off at the crack of dawn, finally having a break in the S.E. winds in the Strait of Georgia. A parade of Ranger Tugs are pulling out of Comox, taking advantage of the conditions to cruise south.
Time Start: 5:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 4:50 p.m.
Cruise From: Comox, Vancouver Island
Cruise To: Clam Bay, Thetis Island
Engine Hours Start: 857
Engine Hours Finish: 867
Weather/sea conditions: Clouds, calm early, windy afternoon, upper 60's
We're off at the crack of dawn, finally having a break in the S.E. winds in the Strait of Georgia. A parade of Ranger Tugs are pulling out of Comox, taking advantage of the conditions to cruise south.
The sun is breaking through when we reach Denman Island. We are having a nice smooth ride today, with nice skies and scenic islets along the way. We plan to reach Dodd Narrows for the afternoon slack, and have plenty of time to enjoy the cruise as we make our way south along Vancouver Island.
We bypass Nanaimo, crossing to Gabriola Island to await the slack at Dodd Narrows. After lunch aboard, there is time to explore the scenic and rugged Gabriola shoreline.
Cormorants are nesting in the high rock faces along parts of the shoreline. What a treat! We take our share of photos of this amazing scene. Cormorants are on ledges, in holes in the rock walls, on bare tree branches, hanging out near the water - just everywhere!
Time arrives to transit the Narrows, and it is easy going today. A boat even goes through the opposite direction under sail.
We are surrounded by the lovely Gulf Islands, and we find a spot to anchor in Clam Bay near Thetis Island, ready to end this long day of cruising, eleven hours!
Date: August 4, 2018
Time Start: 11 a.m.
Time Finish: Noon
Cruise From: Clam Bay, Thetis Island
Cruise To: Conover Cove, Wallace Island
Engine Hours Start: 867
Engine Hours Finish: 868
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, calm morning, then breezy, mid 70's
We sleep in, resting up after yesterday's long run. Clam Bay is calm as we enjoy a late breakfast and make the decision to move on, hoping for space in Conover Cove.
Time Start: 11 a.m.
Time Finish: Noon
Cruise From: Clam Bay, Thetis Island
Cruise To: Conover Cove, Wallace Island
Engine Hours Start: 867
Engine Hours Finish: 868
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, calm morning, then breezy, mid 70's
We sleep in, resting up after yesterday's long run. Clam Bay is calm as we enjoy a late breakfast and make the decision to move on, hoping for space in Conover Cove.
We are soon underway, heading to one of our favorite spots in the Gulf Islands, and it is a short and scenic cruise to Conover Cove from Clam Bay.
Hooray! A trimaran is leaving as we arrive, making a great anchoring spot available. What a beautiful place, an absolute favorite of ours! The anchor grabs, and Dan sets up our stern tie to shore.
Now for shore time on this lovely island. Remnants of the Conover's resort from the 1940's remain. One of the buildings is filled with memorabilia from boaters like us. We find our oyster shell markers from past visits, enhance the writing on them, and add the date of today's visit.
You can't go wrong taking one of the shore hikes, they are so scenic! This is at the southern end of Wallace Island.
Paddling in the cove is pretty fantastic, too.
Lucky us, the water is warm enough for a refreshing swim. How we love our summer afternoon swims! And
we enjoy the evening in Conover Cove, calm, quiet, and lovely.
Date: August 5, 2018
Conover Cove layover for half day
Weather: Sunny, breeze, 70's
We can't resist the beauty of Conover Cove, it keeps us here for a good part of Sunday. We walk to the north end of Wallace Island where boats can drop their anchors in Princess Cove. We have fun with the shadow people!
we enjoy the evening in Conover Cove, calm, quiet, and lovely.
Date: August 5, 2018
Conover Cove layover for half day
Weather: Sunny, breeze, 70's
We can't resist the beauty of Conover Cove, it keeps us here for a good part of Sunday. We walk to the north end of Wallace Island where boats can drop their anchors in Princess Cove. We have fun with the shadow people!
The old truck is still rusting away as we make our way to the scenic ridge above Princess Cove and the western facing shore of the island, with views toward Saltspring Island.
At Princess Cove, boaters are having problems anchoring and doing a stern tie. They have tied to the dinghy dock, and other boaters are working hard to give them directions. It's not looking good!
We've seen unique trail markers on Wallace Island before, today is no exception.
It's back to Conover Cove. We have time for a last swim and paddle before we move on to our next destination.
Date: August 5, 2018
Time Start: 3:45 p.m.
Time Finish: 6:35 p.m.
Cruise From: Conover Cove, Wallace Island
Cruise To: Medicine Beach, Bedwell Harbour
Engine Hours Start: 869
Engine Hours Finish: 871
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, breeze, mid 70's
We are heading to Bedwell Harbour this afternoon to put ourselves in position for crossing Boundary Pass tomorrow morning. We have a lovely Sunday afternoon cruise along Galiano, Mayne and North Pender Islands before taking the scenic Pender Canal into Bedwell Harbour with Medicine Beach at the head of the harbour.
Time Start: 3:45 p.m.
Time Finish: 6:35 p.m.
Cruise From: Conover Cove, Wallace Island
Cruise To: Medicine Beach, Bedwell Harbour
Engine Hours Start: 869
Engine Hours Finish: 871
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, breeze, mid 70's
We are heading to Bedwell Harbour this afternoon to put ourselves in position for crossing Boundary Pass tomorrow morning. We have a lovely Sunday afternoon cruise along Galiano, Mayne and North Pender Islands before taking the scenic Pender Canal into Bedwell Harbour with Medicine Beach at the head of the harbour.
By the time we are anchored, have our dinner, and get ready for tomorrow's cruise, it is too late to go ashore and explore Medicine Beach. This is a spot we will have to return to on a future cruise.