Gorge Harbour on Cortes Island - 7/31/2012

Crossing the Strait of Georgia yesterday was a reminder of how much we are all a family.  Today as we leave Pender Harbour we see again that we are family -- who could raft so many boats into the space without being friendly!


We watch as each boat peels off to the staging area in the bay.

Cast On

My Precious

Rum Tum Tugger

Sand Dollar

Sand Dollar

Gathering

Tradition

Sybil Jean

Michael Ann I

Jorge

Jorge and Marcus

We are now underway and get a new member of our Shiraz Trader group, Zephyr.  We temporarily lose Andrew of Shiraz Trader, as he stays behind to help diagnose a fuel filter problem for My Precious.

Others with us are Day Dreamer III, Peregrino, Circle T, Moon Dance, Tradition, Cast On, Bud's Tug, Celtic Sun and Barbara Ann.

One member of our group calls on 68 to ask the location of Willie's Tug, but when Herb tells her she just passed us, she laughs and says she was looking for Jake on a boat!

We hear on the radio That's It's group is getting together.  Quite often we hear a leader call out speed, RPMs and oil pressure.  Members of the group respond with their stats. Making sure everyone is OK.

The wind picks up a little around Powell River, but Malaspina Strait is wide, paralleling the Strait of Georgia, and congested water is not a problem.  We slow to go behind a BC Ferry just before Harwood Island.  

Our route takes us between Hernando and Cortes, west around Sutil Point, then north by Marina Island and into the gorge to Gorge Harbour.  I love the bell buoy.

I see a tiny bit of snow on some mountain peaks.

And now the gorge...........

    the beautiful gorge.

We switch now to Channel 66A to call the harbormaster for a slip assignment.  They can take five at a time, so we get in single file for a count.  It is a smooth docking with plenty of dock-hands and Ranger Tug owners assisting.  

The visiting begins as we see where everyone is.

Marcus and Jorge

My flower arrangement in the cockpit is still surviving -- somewhat........

Lincoln brings a pre-appetizer appetizer -- Marmie has cooked his Lingcod with some tasty vegetables.  Thank you, Lincoln!

Happy Hour is by the beach, and Jake cannot resist -- especially when someone throws a stick for him.  Kate, Sara and Sherri get a sprinkling of water when he returns to shore with his stick to shake.

The weather is hot, hot today, so I am not unhappy to get wet.

Gracie and Maisy join the group.

Maisy, Sherri, Sara, Gracie, Kate -- Jake

Jake Retrieves

Come, Jake

Kate gives Jake a little more exercise.

Go, Jake!

Not yet, Jake!

Wet Dawg

The picnic table fills with snacks and sides to complement the burger and hot dog dinner supplied by Ranger Tug Factory.

Dinner has a wonderful view of the marina and all the Ranger Tugs, and we are fortunate to enjoy Patrick's expertise at the grill.

Boomer gets a walk.

Jeff and Patrick get everyone's attention after dinner, and thank all for coming on the trip.  Each boat will go her own way tomorrow.  

Patrick thanks Gail for her support through the planning and execution of the plans.

..........and the group leaders.......

Herb - Willie's Tug

Andrew - Shiraz Tader

Matt - Cut N a Rug

Find Willie's Tug............

Find ice cream...........

Wayne and Linda guard their plates, as Jake waits expectantly for his portion.

Willie of Willie's Tug,

   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake

   Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Strait of Georgia - Via Whiskey Golf - or Not -- 7/30/2012

We have a 7 AM start today for a couple of reasons.  Well, maybe just one reason.  I don't know.


Whiskey Golf is a deep water range in the Strait of Georgia operated by the Canadian and U.W Navies and is used to test unarmed torpedoes and various ship's systems (Waggoner Cruising Guide).


The shortest distance from Nanaimo and Pender Harbor, our next destination, is across the square area; however, if Whiskey Golf is active, we must go around.  The plan is to head out early before their 8 AM start, so we can cut a corner which lies in our path.


As we begin our three groups cruising toward the SE corner, we learn they will begin firing at 7:30, so we still must go around.

If ever you are bored, you can experience a departure from Nanaimo.  Planes come and go, and ferries are on the move.  

Jake finds a comfortable place in the cockpit for his ride.

Today the weatherman decides to have a little fun with the Ranger Tugs flotilla.  We begin with somewhat cloudy skies showing a bit of sun peeking through.  

As we cruise along, it becomes a little rough and we see at times six to seven foot seas.  I look out my port window and see bottom paint on Day Dreamer III.  We rock and bounce along, some of it is quite fun (sorry Marmie), but now and then the waves get my attention.

Jeff on Messmerized announces the sloppy conditions ahead and suggests we stow our gear.  What he didn't say is to remove the garlic bottle from the top shelf of the galley, which has never needed a fiddle!  


The garlic and cilantro bottles are placed on the V berth and I hope they are tightly closed........   camera and binoculars go on the bed.  No photos for a while.   Nothing breaks!  


One took us sharply starboard, leaning us as if we were a motorcycle taking a nice curve.  

Willie's Tug is leading Group 2 today, and Herb occasionally announces to our Shiraz Trader members the conditions and how close we are to calmer waters. We also hear from those ahead of us the good news.


As we make the turn at the SE corner of Whiskey Golf, Herb makes a course correction to follow the safe edge running north; Willie's Tug rebels, making confusing gyrations, as he calls them, and probably making those behind us wonder what is happening.  Willie's Tug settles down.

Jake sleeps through it all, but is slightly sliding to starboard.

We encounter a bit of traffic, but share the water.

A boat passing by calls Circle T on 16, and switching to 68, she asks about our group.  That boat is a member of the Yacht Club at Pender Harbour and marvels about space being available for all of us.  (It takes a minute to realize the vessel calling Circlet means Circle T.)

We enjoy the calmer water as we near Pender Harbour, and do an idling 'holding pattern' while each of us is called in to tie to a dock space or raft up.  In one larger fairway we see three rafted to one side, and two on the other.  Everyone gets secured.

In the afternoon many go to John Henry's store, famous for ice cream.  A nice walk up and down hills and over a wooded area will take you to the store, or you can dinghy a short distance and tie up.

Find Willie's Tug............

Happy Hour is set for 5:30 P on the large dock and will include a short Skippers' meeting.


Boaters on the narrow dock set up at 5:00 P for a 'practice Happy Hour.'  


Linda (and Wayne of Knot Fly'n) makes a Mexican dip, which was so beautiful topped with chopped tomato, and so tasty, that there is none left!

At Happier Hour Max of Allatrope gets to dog watch Boomer.  What a show Boomer gives us!   He and Jake play 'drink from the water bowl.'  We had always thought Jake makes a real mess of the floor slopping his water out as he drinks.  Then we see Boomer show how it should be done.

Water tastes best if one has his paw in it!

Full moon rising between the cell towers............

Kiss from the Mayor of the Dock

Willie of Willie's Tug,

   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake

   Monday, July 30, 2012