Ten Weeks: Poets Cove
Date: June 2, 2016
Time Start: 9:45 a.m. Time Finish: 2:35 p.m. Cruise From: Watmough Bay, Lopez Island (U.S.A.) Cruise To: Poets Cove, S. Pender Island, B.C. (Canada) Engine Hours Start: 395 Engine Hours Finish: 400 Weather/sea conditions: Gray, cool, calm, low 60's and cloudy TRANSITION DAY! Today we cross into Canada. Out comes our courtesy flag, and we switch our currency to Canadian dollars (loonies!). |
It is an oatmeal morning, cool enough to turn on the Webasto and take off the chill. An overnight rain washed off the accumulated salt on NORTH STAR. Today we join a big group of Cutwater boats and Ranger Tugs for a rendezvous at Poets Cove. We head up the east side of Lopez and then swing west toward Shaw Island and the San Juan Channel, continuing up the west side of Stuart Island in Haro Strait before crossing Boundary Pass to S. Pender Island and Poets Cove Resort.
It's smooth cruising today. We call in on our NEXXUS passes and are cleared for entry to Canada. Next up is docking at Poets Cove, and we are excited to be placed next to Safari with Pat and Sharon (our dock mates from the 2015 Rendezvous at Roche Harbor). Pat has set up a knot-tying stand on the dock, making it easy to find our boat amid the 60 some clones that are here.
It is time to get acquainted with our fellow tuggers! The appetizer party is friendly and filling, no need for dinner tonight. With dock walking, visiting, the corn hole toss game (right in front of our boat, using spotlights from NORTH STAR and Safari for illumination when it gets dark), more visiting, it is a full evening.
It is time to get acquainted with our fellow tuggers! The appetizer party is friendly and filling, no need for dinner tonight. With dock walking, visiting, the corn hole toss game (right in front of our boat, using spotlights from NORTH STAR and Safari for illumination when it gets dark), more visiting, it is a full evening.
Dates: June 3 and 4, 2016
Poet Cove Ranger Tug/Cutwater Boats Rendezvous
Weather: Sunny and breezy, 70's, comfortable days
Rendezvous days at Poets Cove are underway, and even more boats are expected to arrive. Early risers walk their dogs, everyone slowly comes to life, and the intermingling begins again each day. It will be a social few days here. We indulge in the all you can eat buffet breakfast in the hotel's upper deck restaurant where we have terrific views of the marina. Our days quickly fill with visiting, boat chores, a dinghy ride to the nearby Provincial park, a bingo game, more appetizers, more visiting, the blindfold dinghy race, a barbeque, and more. The weather is perfect with lots of sun, a breeze, comfortable. Our spotlights are turned on at night for the corn hole toss players. We put out our colorful lanterns, and Safari is all decked out in lights. It is a dock party.
Poet Cove Ranger Tug/Cutwater Boats Rendezvous
Weather: Sunny and breezy, 70's, comfortable days
Rendezvous days at Poets Cove are underway, and even more boats are expected to arrive. Early risers walk their dogs, everyone slowly comes to life, and the intermingling begins again each day. It will be a social few days here. We indulge in the all you can eat buffet breakfast in the hotel's upper deck restaurant where we have terrific views of the marina. Our days quickly fill with visiting, boat chores, a dinghy ride to the nearby Provincial park, a bingo game, more appetizers, more visiting, the blindfold dinghy race, a barbeque, and more. The weather is perfect with lots of sun, a breeze, comfortable. Our spotlights are turned on at night for the corn hole toss players. We put out our colorful lanterns, and Safari is all decked out in lights. It is a dock party.
Sam brings out his drone!
A little dinghy time . . .
Bingo!
Around the resort . . .
Corn hole tournament . . .
Blindfold dinghy race . . . the prize is the yellow kayak!
Socializing . . .
A visit to Beaumont Provincial Park where biologists are surveying the clam beds and Dan is in his element. After a picnic lunch on the beach and short hike, it's back to the rendezvous.
Hmm - which one of these do I want for my birthday???
Date: June 5, 2016
Time Start: 10:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:20 p.m.
Cruise From: Poets Cove, S. Pender Island
Cruise To: Conover Cove, Wallace Island
Engine Hours Start: 400
Engine Hours Finish: 403
Weather/sea conditions: Windy! Sunny and warm, choppy water, in Pender Harbor, then calmer
Time Start: 10:30 a.m.
Time Finish: 1:20 p.m.
Cruise From: Poets Cove, S. Pender Island
Cruise To: Conover Cove, Wallace Island
Engine Hours Start: 400
Engine Hours Finish: 403
Weather/sea conditions: Windy! Sunny and warm, choppy water, in Pender Harbor, then calmer
Cinnamon rolls and lattes overlooking Pender Harbor start our day. Boats are leaving for their homeports, but a few of us are continuing our adventures. North to the Broughtons is our goal. There are lots of dock farewells and boaters assisting one another with dock lines. Strong winds have made it more of a challenge to maneuver away from the docks.
It's farewell to Poets Cove and all of our friendly fellow Tugnuts. We take the narrow Pender Canal between N. and S. Pender Islands, so scenic at low tide! Our draft is shallow enough to be able to make the passage.
We are in the land of the B.C. ferries! "Mayne Queen" passes by in Navy Channel on its way to Saturna. Then another ferry! We are definitely in the heart of the Gulf Islands. "Queen of Cumberland" comes out of Active Pass, "Spirit of British Columbia" is in the distance.
The water is surprisingly calm in the Trincomali Channel between Salt Spring and Galiano Islands. Soon we reach Conover Cove on Wallace Island. And, oh, how beautiful it is! A favorite anchorage of ours! A few other boats are here to keep us company. We have a late lunch followed by a luxurious boat nap.
Late afternoon is beautiful for rowing both inside and outside the cove.
What else did I see on my row? A seagull dining on a fish, great tree shapes, a deer grazing, an otter swimming, fish jumping, wind patterns on the surface of the water, ulva and sargassum algae, and more. Dan walks to Panther Point, and then we grill chicken to go with salads.
Daylight lingers and lingers, and we get a hint of a sunset. A heron perched high in a treetop is a silhouette against the sky. Another day is done.
Daylight lingers and lingers, and we get a hint of a sunset. A heron perched high in a treetop is a silhouette against the sky. Another day is done.
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