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07.07
1600 When I awoke this morning, it was pouring down. The same sound that put me to sleep last night, around 2200, did the same trick at 0700, ... it put me back to sleep. I finally woke up again for good at 1000 hrs! Nice sleep.
The forecast called for high winds and more of the same as far as rain, showers and drizzles were concerned. I tried various stations but they all called for a rainy, too windy day. {icked up Phoenix on the short wave and I liked 'their' forecast! But not much water up there. So once again, I took it easy and settled down for the day. As I was swinging and dragging too much with the stern line I asked the young fellow from the 'that' nice cutter to bring it in. We got talking and now, both guys are decided mordicus to go see Princess Louisa. Their mother and father came aboard later on and I showed them a few places where to anchor along the way.
He offered me the use of his Zodiac if I wanted to go ashore. There is a nice trail there leading to Hidden Basin. But the weather hasn't cooperated very much . The sun showed up, just enough to tease us, for about twenty minutes. Boy, was it hot! In that short period I had time to dry those wet things I had washed two days ago. Then it poured! Right now, if the radio was playing, I couldn't hear It. That's to show how loudly that rain is hitting the pop-top roof.
Another sailboat just came in and anchored right close to me and drew a stern line. I hope I don't hit him as he'll have to move. This anchorage, like any very popular anchorage, gives me the jiffies. Too many boats and a doubtful bottom. At present, I am swinging fairly close between two cruisers and am uneasy. I would like to change spots again as it seems calmer at the end of the bay but what the heck, I am not to spend my whole trip dropping the hook.
That sinking feeling... At least, Y-Knot is still floating.
The skippers I talked to who just came in from up north all mentioned it
had been pretty rough out there. So it was a good decision I made this
morning not to push on. That Malespina Strait can get pretty rough,
with few anchorages along the way. If only the sunny days could come
back; you don't mind long sailing days when you stay warm and
comfortable.
Just talked to the skipper of 'K.C.' . He hit a rock yesterday while
entering Ballet Bay and, upon inspection, discovered he had taken off a
big chunk of fiberglass, about one square foot from the keel cover. He
will have to get the boat hauled out in Lund tomorrow. This area of the
Hardy Islands is covered with rocks and, charts or no charts, one has
to be careful as heck when venturing through.
2115 And ready for bed. I didn't take up the offer to go rowing with
the Zodiac. It rained most of the time and, as I am not particularly
fond of getting wet,... A super nice sailboat, the "Endeavour" of
Seattle dropped anchor a while ago. A real beauty. I have a hunch that,
if the weather is at all nice tomorrow morning, that this bay will
clear out. And me first! Not that I don't like Ballet Bay but I am
eager to push on toward my real destination.
I have re-tied a stern line to shore (that is my neighbor got scared
the first time Y-Knot came within three feet of his boat so he offered
to pull a line ashore for me. I accepted). This time, I am very close
to shore on the high tide (within thirty feet) and yet, I have over 25
feet under the keel. I now have a return loop hooked up which means
that I don't need anyone to fetch it for me when I am ready to go. Just
pull on the line and hope it doesn't catch up around the tree.
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