The (TugNuts) Gang's All Here! -- Friday, 7/26/2013 -- Day 1 of Desolation Sound Cruise -- Day 77

The first of today's arrivals of Ranger Tugs to Ganges Marina show up around mid-morning.  It is a busy day for those who are directing traffic to slips and tying their lines.  I hear it is non-stop until late afternoon.

There is much visiting and getting to know the new Tug owners, and renewing friendships of others.

More excitement comes when the swans arrive and create a commotion around KNOT FLY'N and the black lab, Molly, who was on the cockpit about to take a walk with owner Wayne, and I am told the birds don't like dogs. Wayne tried to shoo the swans away, but the male, or cobb, didn't scare.  Plan B is to get Molly safely inside until the flock leaves.

The way I look at it, it is Molly's boat!  Word spreads and the incident draws a crowd, most of whom have cameras.  

It seems the Mom and Pop swans are just trying to protect their cute babies.

Sofie of Current Obscession takes a Photo

Protecting his Family

It takes two food tables to display all the tempting appetizers prepared for Happy Hour, and I am too late to get some of them before the presentation is 'changed'.

We are in the landing approach for the local float planes and I try very quickly to get a shot of one coming over the marina.  When I hear the thundering sound, I have only a few seconds to frame and shoot!  Most get away, and unlike the appearance of the juxtaposition shown here, no sailboat masts or Tugs' antennas  are damaged.

Dinner is on our own, some going to restaurants, and others cooking on grills at the boat.  Quiet time comes and we sleep well, anticipating another wonderful day together.

Swanlings and Mother

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Friday, July 26, 2013

Day Zero of Desolation Sound -- Thursday, 7/25/2013 -- Day 76

As we leave Poet's Cove this morning, Frank and Pam on their new Tuggin' Aweigh Again, as well as Santolina with Greg and Kathy, arrive to break their trip before continuing to Ganges for the beginning of the Desolation Sound trip.  

Having lived the earlier years of my life in the flat lands of a southern state, I am in awe of rock, hills, PNW trees, mountains, and it is hard to do justice describing the Canadian landscape.  I stare at the foliage appearing from the rocky cliffs that rise so steeply into the sky.  

Such beauty!

What a view the residents atop the mountains must have.

At least two BC Ferries cruise by at all times in the waters south of Captain Passage and  Prevost Island.  We maintain our safe distance.

Willie's Tug's trip today cruising along with Vicki and Bruce on Moondance, is pleasant with a medium chop in the channel, and only a few hours from our destination of Ganges, Salt Spring Island.

We are greeted by Patrick Beattie, Ranger Tug alumnus, who directs us to our dock site.

With provisioning on our minds, we head for the Local Liquor Store to place an order for delivery down to our boats, then pick up a few items at the market to complete our list of food we need for a couple of days.

As we walk about, we stop to listen to some beautiful music which I think is provided by a professional, but am told the pianos are placed in different places in town for passersby to use.  

I think the baby is using his foot to create a duet.

Vicki, Bruce, Herb and I join Patrick and Gail for Happy Hour aboard their Bayliner, Last Call, and dinner is at our favorite Ganges restaurant, Calvin's.  

It is understandable that Calvin's is our favorite, as I forget to take a single photo!  Or is it the friends with us who make me forget the camera....

There is much story telling and so nice to be among friends and have this wonderful reunion.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Thursday, July 25, 2013

Poet's Cove at Last! -- Wednesday, 7/24/2013 -- Day 75

I can't believe we are soon to be cruising with many, many Ranger Tugs to Desolation Sound!  Where has the time gone?  Willie's Tug and Moondance leave early for Ganges, Salt Spring Island, BC to help dock the boats as they come together at the start of the trip to cross the Strait of Georgia.

Watching fog, currents, and winds, we leave mid-morning from Cap Sante Marina at Anacortes with 65 degrees ambient temp, a warming sun, and a slightly rippled sea.  Our destination is Poet's Cove at Bedwell Harbour, just across the US/Canadian border.

All is well.  Someone radios to ask us how the fog is.  We see no fog.  All good.

We can see fog to our west, but as we near Orcas Island, it appears that we may enter it.  Hurrah for AIS and radar and radios.  The fog stays to our west.

Today is the first time we cook on the propane stove while underway, and add delicious salmon to a salad of baby lettuce, arugula and spring greens, combined with grape tomatoes, blueberries and asiago cheese.  

We see a ship sailing in the distance, and as we get closer, realize it is Lady Washington, a replica who portrayed HMS Interceptor in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."

Lady Washington

Now we see the fog ahead, but will we go that way?

A large ship, Astral Ace, comes into view and skipper slows to avoid coming too close.  We also note the Rum Tum Tugger on our starboard bow move to safely pass Astral Ace starboard to starboard.  

Rum Tum Tugger meets Astral Ace

She is a beauty!

So happy to arrive at Poet's Cove, a beautiful marina at Bedwell Harbour, and such a fun place to play.

Find Moondance and Willie's Tug....

 We are happy to see Jurgen (Current Obsession), who is going south tomorrow, but joins us for Happy Hour.  He has a few stories to tell!

 Find Willie's Tug....

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Where's TODAY's Party? -- Monday - Tuesday, 7/22 - 23/2013 -- Days 73 -74

With our Desolation Sound cruise in the near future, we put the finishing touches on plans for departing tomorrow to Poet's Cove, and get a surprise visit from Bob (Nellie Too), who invites us to his home for Happy Hour.  He tells us to spread the word to all Ranger Tug owners in the area.

Another party -- what fun!

In late afternoon Moondance brings Bruce and Vicki, and we head for Bob and Nita's home.   We meet new owners Frank and Pam Mathon of Illinois, who had R-25 Tuggin' Aweigh.  They now have a new R-27.  

Frank and Herb

Bruce and Pam

Also Bill and Nicole of Georgia aboard Blue Merle.

Bruce, Vicki, Jocelyn, Nicole, Ray and Bill

Plans are discussed for getting to Ganges to begin our group cruise, and new friendships are formed.

Dinner at Anthony's follows and I am delighted with Dungeness Crab Stack.  Yum with blueberries and mango.  And the moon adds to a perfect evening.

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Monday - Tuesday, July 22 - 23, 2013

The Rumor -- Sunday, 7/21/2013 -- Day 72

This afternoon I hear a rumor that there will be a party tonight at the slips of Nudibranch and Willie's Tug.  

The rumor grows.  But not confirmed.

Confirmed, but not clear....

As the rumor grows more and more, I finally think I understand "Ah, yes, it seems there will be a party!"  All Ranger Tug owners in the area are invited to a getting-to-know-you gathering.

We mentally count the people who will come, and see that we can accommodate half of them on our boat and half on Ray's; however, we are not across the dock from each other -- there is water between the boats -- so that will not work!

Someone suggests we take over the dock, and anyone passing by will be invited to join us!  Sounds like a plan, and it works.  

Many are here staging for the cruise to Desolation Sound, and others come to wish us well.

After Happy Hour, Ray and Jocelyn serve delicious halibut and salmon, and veggies as well!

Herb

Willie

Lisa, Tym, Jim

We, Ray and Jocelyn welcome Jim and Lisa (Kismet), Tym (Circle T), Mary and Craig (Rum Tum Tugger), Kathy and Greg (Santilino), and Bob and Nita (Nellie Too).

Craig, Greg (peeking), Bob, Jocelyn, Nita, Herb, Mary, Ray, Kathy

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Sunday, July 21, 2013

Laundry Room Story (or Adventuress again) -- Saturday, 7/20/2013 -- Day 71

I have a couple of loads of laundry to do, so head up to the laundry room and luckily find all three washers available.  As I load the first one, two people arrive pushing a dock cart with many, many laundry bags needing the other two washers.  The lady, whom I now know as Betsy, asks if I am using them.  I do have another load, but seeing what they are faced with, I yield and tell them I can come back later for my second.

With Betsy is Lennard, both crew members for the ship Adventuress, whom we saw on the water last year.  They have just completed the six day Road Scholar Intergenerational Voyage with children and their grandparents, and are doing laundry for the entire crew, who are back on the ship deep cleaning for the next cruise to begin tomorrow.  As Betsy says, "It will be ship-shape."

When I get my laundry into the dryer, I have time to walk to the other side of the marina for a photo of Adventuress.  Oh, there is a boat docked next to her and blocking a good view, and to get any better photo, I would have to be in the water.  I did not bring my life jacket and the water is too cold for swimming (for me).

Click here for more information on Adventuress, her educational programs, and wonderful experiences on the water.  She is based at Cap Sante in Anacortes this year, so we will see her often.

Photo taken from Willie's Tug in 2012

Willie of Willie's Tug,

   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake

   Saturday, July 20, 2013

A Visit with Kismet -- Friday, 7/19/13 -- Day 70

Ranger Tugs are beginning to appear at Cap Sante Boat Haven, some simply on vacation and some staging for the trip to Ganges on Salt Spring Island BC for major staging of the Desolation Sound cruise.

We see Kismet, who was our dock mate at the Ranger Rendezvous two years ago, and whose owners we knew best as having sailed The Great Loop.


Photo from Raven Cove Publishing

They are Jim and Lisa Favors, whose seminar we attended at the Ranger Rendezvous two years ago.  Click here to read their blog on the Great Loop.

This evening we visit with them and catch up on their latest adventures, and are happy to learn they will join us on the Desolation Sound trip next week. Having toured the San Juan Islands previously, they are excited to go farther north this Summer.

Lisa serves a fabulous dinner with wine -- and I forget to take pictures!  All that is left are dessert plates and an almost empty wine bottle.

We'll see you on the water, Kismet....

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Friday, July 19, 2013