summer! the sunshine coast
Date: July 5, 2018
Time Start: 11:10 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:55 p.m.
Cruise From: False Creek, Vancouver B.C.
Cruise To: Gibsons Marina
Engine Hours Start: 807
Engine Hours Finish: 809
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, warm, humid, windy, 80's
The crew of NORTH STAR is ready to leave the big city life behind and head to more remote cruising grounds. Boat rinsed, water tank filled, and plenty of fresh food stocked aboard, we are ready to go. We note that we lasted eight days on our 50 gallons of water, and according to the gage, a quarter tank was still left! Conservation at work!
Time Start: 11:10 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:55 p.m.
Cruise From: False Creek, Vancouver B.C.
Cruise To: Gibsons Marina
Engine Hours Start: 807
Engine Hours Finish: 809
Weather/sea conditions: Sunny, warm, humid, windy, 80's
The crew of NORTH STAR is ready to leave the big city life behind and head to more remote cruising grounds. Boat rinsed, water tank filled, and plenty of fresh food stocked aboard, we are ready to go. We note that we lasted eight days on our 50 gallons of water, and according to the gage, a quarter tank was still left! Conservation at work!
We are once again in the Strait of Georgia, with the wind picking up and water growing choppy. For a stretch it is like going through a carwash with a bouncy ride included. The winds are 20 to 25 knots from the N.W. and we have a cross wind from Howe Sound as well, a N.E. down flow. NORTH STAR gets wet from bow to stern! See the video below to feel the spray.
We're getting into some scenic waters, with the Canadian coastal mountains rising on the horizon, patches of snow in places. We pass scenic islets. A bald eagle is perched on the rock outcropping of one.
Sailboat lessons are ongoing as we approach Gibsons, a town that rises up a hillside. Strong winds make docking in the marina difficult, and we are glad to be settled for the remainder of this blustery day. The scenery is drop dead gorgeous!
Next to the marina is a public market with vendors for pastries, meats, seafood, cheeses, produce and flowers. We explore the lower section of town where lots of shops are oriented to tourists. There are restaurants, a beautiful city park, and a public dock with a gazebo for viewing the scenery.
Our neighbor boaters are like us, off on summer boating adventures and eager to share stories. Dinner is in the cabin due to the winds, even though it is in the 80's. NORTH STAR gets another bath, and she will most likely need one again tomorrow!
A few evening photos in windy but scenic Gibsons:
A few evening photos in windy but scenic Gibsons:
Date: July 6, 2018
Time Start: 9:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:55 p.m.
Cruise From: Gibsons
Cruise To: John Henry's, Pender Harbour
Engine Hours Start: 809
Engine Hours Finish: 814
Weather/sea conditions: Calm, cloudy morning, clearing to mid 60's, showers in evening
Morning is warm, cloudy and calm as we prepare to leave Gibsons and continue north.
Time Start: 9:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:55 p.m.
Cruise From: Gibsons
Cruise To: John Henry's, Pender Harbour
Engine Hours Start: 809
Engine Hours Finish: 814
Weather/sea conditions: Calm, cloudy morning, clearing to mid 60's, showers in evening
Morning is warm, cloudy and calm as we prepare to leave Gibsons and continue north.
The clouds are melting away as we depart, heading back into the Strait of Georgia with S.W. winds today.
The White Islets are appropriately named, whitewashed with the droppings from the resident sea birds. Seals make the islets their home as well.
We pass the Merry Island lighthouse in Welcome Passage, where we experience following seas.
Pender Harbour has lots of little inviting coves. Dock space awaits us at John Henry's.
"Beautiful Noise", our sailboat neighbor from Gibsons, is here, too! Her crew took a different route to Pender Harbour and had a rough trip. A larger sailboat arrived and sandwiches between us. With strong winds blowing, it takes lots of helping hands to get her docked.
Shoreside facilities include fuel and propane, a small store and restaurant, and showers and laundry. In addition to the marina, there are rental cabins and camping. It is a busy place! For this afternoon, we are content to just soak in the beauty of our surroundings. Rain showers with plenty of thunder add drama to the day. The skies are striking for sunset, and forested Mt. Daniel picks up the final rays of the sun.
Date: July 7, 2018
Pender Harbour layover day
Weather: Partly cloudy, windy, upper 60's
It's one of those kind of dock days that we so enjoy, with plenty of visiting with fellow boaters. Doug and Marjorie on Up Next, the sailboat beside us, are from Calgary and have spent time in Indonesia. Dawn Marie, a powerboat, is headed to Echo Bay in the Broughtons where the captain will speak about marine salvage. His focus will be the Arctic Rose! Boats from the Tacoma Yacht Club are here on a group cruise. And, to top off the fun on the docks, there is a sailboat race out in the harbor. There is no chance of being bored here!
Pender Harbour layover day
Weather: Partly cloudy, windy, upper 60's
It's one of those kind of dock days that we so enjoy, with plenty of visiting with fellow boaters. Doug and Marjorie on Up Next, the sailboat beside us, are from Calgary and have spent time in Indonesia. Dawn Marie, a powerboat, is headed to Echo Bay in the Broughtons where the captain will speak about marine salvage. His focus will be the Arctic Rose! Boats from the Tacoma Yacht Club are here on a group cruise. And, to top off the fun on the docks, there is a sailboat race out in the harbor. There is no chance of being bored here!
We splurge on dinner in the restaurant - fish tacos, vegetable flat bread, strawberry rhubarb crisp. From our window seats, we can look down at the beach under us while we dine.
We join Doug and Marjorie aboard Up Next for wine and more chatting before retiring.
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