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07.08
Wednesday. Day 19. Another full day today. Up at 0700 and, although
very windy, I took a chance and departed under power at 0800. It was
windy indeed. Once at the entrance of Jervis Inlet, it became obvious I
was to return and try another go later on. The large sailboat Endeavour was
ahead of me and I could see her bobbing up and down.
But he was lucky because he was heading for Pender, with a nice run all
the way. If I would have been on my return trip. I would have gone to
Pender, also running. So, Columbus returned to Ballet Bay. I was not
the only one to do so however. I did return under the jib, a nice run.
I found a better spot. Even "KC" returned a little while
later, and they have a 32 footer with a crew of 4 adults on board. Better be safe than sorry.
I went with the crew of K.C. to visit "Hidden Basin", a nice. short
walk through the woods. This is one spot where I wouldn't mind dropping
the hook someday. Very peaceful and, I think, well protected. But, the
entrance has several rocks. At 12:30, took another crack at it, along
with the K.C. We stayed in radio contact. There were still thousands
of whitecaps and the wind was steady from the west, which meant nice
long tacks! I reefed the main and deployed the full jib and went at it.
Beautiful sailing, all day. I used the outboard at beginning and the
end.
Copeland IslandY-Knot at anchor.
K.C. stopped at Westview but I kept on going, right on to the nicest
little cove tucked in behind three islets, in the Copeland Island
Marine Park. All in all, a super nice day, no rain although it was
cloudy and very dark most of the day. A few drops fell while I was
still some six miles from my destination but, after a special request,
it abruptly stopped. Spent an hour on anchor watch (I was in 10
fathoms) and hit the sack at 2300 hours.
07.09
Thursday. Day 20. Desolation Sound. At last..... I am now at the entrance and only some four miles from my first look at the vista. I can't wait to get going but I'm waiting for the sky to clear up. If it rains, I'd rather be where I am now. But the barometer is rising slowly so, there is hope. The anchor held well and I was up and about at 0700 after a good night sleep. Today, I plan to go to Refuge Cove to re-provision then play it by ear after that.
1200 hrs. Had a visitor, "Clyde", skipper of the sailboat "E. Lee". He's from Phoenix, Arizona and has been retired twenty years from the U.S.A.F. Super nice fellow, in his late sixties. Talked about 'this and that' and then, some more. He dropped me ashore in his Avon (he can be seen in photo above, returning to get me.) and I went exploring around a little. The other side of where I was is filled with beautiful coves, all affording asylum in a hard south-eastern blow.That's when I realized again how nice it was to have a good dinghy. Before I come back to this area, I will try to fix the big Avon dinghy and bring it along. It is not of much use where it is now, back in the shop! Dragging such a big inflatable is no fun but, who's in a hurry?
Then I left, under sail, for Refuge Cove but, darn it, I ended up 180 degrees opposite, at the entrance to Cortes Bay! No excuse for that one! It's a good thing one can't 'really' get lost in Desolation Sound. No matter where you go, if you wait long enough and turn in enough circles... you're bound to be 'spit out' in the Strait, eventually! But it was beautiful sailing while it lasted. Once I got my bearing, I headed for Refuge Cove, again, a beautiful sail. Once there, I bought the strict necessary because the prices were way out!
From all I had read about this place in the yachting magazines, it was supposed to be the mecca of sailors. Well, things have changed. The scenery is still sensational (reminded me of the little harbors on the East Coast) but the place was taken over by a bunch of wealthy dudes who run the place with one idea in mind, it seems: make money, lotta money! So, to heck with them. A fellow sailor told me to cross over to Squirrel Cove for any shopping. The prices are supposed to be more than reasonable there.
Clyde leaving...
So I filled up the gas tanks and went on my way across to Squirrell Cove, under a super wind. Made it across in no time. The place was jammed with boats, at least seventy, if not more, yet, it didn't seem crowded at all! It is a big place. I don't know how it is for holding but I'll find out tonight.
The weather is turning out beautiful again; very hot sun starting from around 1300 hrs. Super. Took it easy all night and hit the sack at 23:00 hrs.
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