ten weeks: jedediah and lasqueti islands
Date: July 26, 2016
Time Start: 7:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:40 p.m.
Cruise From: Smuggler Cove, B.C. Mainland
Cruise To: Lasqueti Island
Engine Hours Start: 510
Engine Hours Finish: 514
Weather/sea conditions: Partly cloudy and windy morning, then sunny and upper 80's
We thread our way out of Smuggler Cove before the other boaters are awake and active, trading the calm cove waters for rolling swells as we cross Malaspina Strait toward Texada Island. The sun isn't on us yet on a partly cloudy morning. One of the swells rolls us enough for a cabinet door to open, spewing our fine plastic dishes across the floor of the cabin.
Time Start: 7:45 a.m.
Time Finish: 12:40 p.m.
Cruise From: Smuggler Cove, B.C. Mainland
Cruise To: Lasqueti Island
Engine Hours Start: 510
Engine Hours Finish: 514
Weather/sea conditions: Partly cloudy and windy morning, then sunny and upper 80's
We thread our way out of Smuggler Cove before the other boaters are awake and active, trading the calm cove waters for rolling swells as we cross Malaspina Strait toward Texada Island. The sun isn't on us yet on a partly cloudy morning. One of the swells rolls us enough for a cabinet door to open, spewing our fine plastic dishes across the floor of the cabin.
Lasqueti Island is our destination today. Dan knows two brothers who operate a shellfish farm there and has arranged a visit with them. Lasqueti Island sits off of the southwest end of Texada Island in the Strait of Georgia. Between Lasqueti and Texada is Jedediah Island, a stunning marine park (see the video below). We explore the shores of Jedediah, loving the rock formations, and finally find a spot to drop our anchor for a picturesque breakfast.
"Codfish Bay" is so beautiful! We are tempted to go ashore and stretch our legs, and will put this on our list of places to visit in the future.
Codfish Bay:
Codfish Bay:
We circle along the shore of Jedediah, checking out possibilities for future anchorages. It is easy to see why this is a "Class A" provincial park, it is so, so beautiful!
It is a short hop to Lasqueti Island from Deep Bay on Jedediah. We are set for a visit with the Jones brothers, Bruce and Gordon, who have a shellfish operation, Innovative Aquaculture Products, LTD. Dan has known them for many years, but not seen them for a long time. It turns out that they are also the caretakers of Jedediah, tending to facilities there and keeping track of boats that visit.
Bruce greets us on the dock. This is a working shellfish operation in a stunning setting, and materials and equipment are all along the dock. Bruce gives Dan a hand in securing the frayed ends of our anchor splice. He has the equipment and the know-how to give the splice a professional finish.
Bruce greets us on the dock. This is a working shellfish operation in a stunning setting, and materials and equipment are all along the dock. Bruce gives Dan a hand in securing the frayed ends of our anchor splice. He has the equipment and the know-how to give the splice a professional finish.
Bruce gives us the official tour of the farm operations. Just Bruce, Gordon, and Gordon's wife Kat live here. They are isolated from the rest of Lasqueti Island as there are no roads here. Any people they see must come and go by boat. As a result, there is also a problem in getting rid of "trash", including used equipment and anything that washes up on their beach. Part of our tour is to the "graveyard" where much of this trash is stored. Mussels are the main crop being raised. Lab facilities and housing are in buildings on the hillside.
Bruce amazes us, as he is just a few weeks into recovery from knee replacement surgery. He bounces up and down the hillside like a mountain goat! We also discover his artistic side. Several of the paintings in the homes are his, he was an art major in college. And, to add to his resume, he is also part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary here. While we are visiting, a call comes in on the radio about a boat that has lost its dinghy.
We head back down to the water to greet Gordon, Kat, and two guests, Marla and Jack. They have been on a supply run, and by coincidence are towing the lost dinghy that we have just heard about on the radio! We have a chance to take more photos of the dock area. One of Bruce's toys is there, his Grizzly Cub.
We're invited to a salmon BBQ at Gordon and Kat's new house on the hill, with great views looking over the water to Texada Island. Bruce has forgotten to tell us it is formal, we love his tux shirt! It is a fun evening with these energetic and talented people. They have rich lives here in their little part of Lasqueti Island. During the winter they escape to ski in Switzerland or to enjoy their property in Panama!
We have a reason to return to visit the Jones brothers. They have a yacht club for visitors like us, and have burgees! To get a burgee, you need to visit twice and fulfill these three requirements: Bring grub, bring grog, and bring a good story to share. We're on for next time!