Tuesday, September 15, 2020

September Cruisin'

Crossing the Strait of Georgia.
It's been an unusual year in so many ways. We were self isolating from March through July 15 in our Bellingham condo.

Then we decided it was better to head home to our float cabin on Powell Lake and completed our 14-day quarantine the end of July.

We finally got our Bayliner 2452 in the ocean at Powell River's Westview Harbour in August.

After almost a year stored on land there were a few issues that needed to be resolved.


Moored at the Discovery Harbour Marina dock in Campbell River.

We finally got out for a fair weather cruise on September 3. We decided to visit a few favourite marinas close to home.

A walk to the traditional burial grounds of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation.

Our first stop was Discovery Harbour Marina across the Strait of Georgia in Campbell River on Vancouver Island. To get there, it's easiest to go through Discovery Passage at slack water, either high or low tide. Tidal currents are strong south of nearby Seymour Narrows. Over two days we enjoyed local walks and outdoor dining at the Rip Tide Pub.

Tying up in a prime spot on the Heriot Bay Marina dock.

Next we headed to the Heriot Bay Marina on the east side of Quadra Island. Even though it was Labour Day weekend, there were spots at the dock and outdoor dining space at the Inn's Heron Restaurant. We enjoy eating out and it makes traveling by boat much easier for us.

The Gorge Harbour Marina and Resort is upscale and fun to visit.

Working our way east across the northern end of the Straight of Georgia we stopped in at the Gorge Harbour Marina. We originally planned to be here one night, but wind on the forecast extended our stay and the opportunity for two dinners at the Floathouse Restaurant. Don't have a boat? They offer camping, RV sites and cabins on Cortes Island.

The Squirrel Cover public dock with the store on the far shore.

Our next stop at the Squirrel Cove public dock was brief. Walking to the store I tripped in a pothole. I thought I was okay, but my little finger looked funny. Not ha ha funny, but weird broken funny. We cleaned up my scrapes and motored back to Powell River to get it set. We took a two night break up the lake before resuming our cruise.

My "broken wing" giving a thumbs up to the Refuge Cove Store.

Rather than returning to Squirrel Cove (no I don't hold a grudge), we went to our next planned stop, Refuge Cove. We needed gas, so it made sense to stay for the night. The restaurant didn't open this summer due to COVID-19, but the store had snacks to tide us over.

After Labour Day this popular marina had lots of first come, first serve dock space.

We didn't anticipate the severity of smoke arriving from the fires raging in the United States. It was a good thing we decided to head back to Powell River the next morning. We could see for about a mile, but the next day it was much worse.

Limited visibility traveling through Thulin Passage by the Copeland Islands.

Despite our two interruptions, it was a great September cruisin' excursion. And it will be one we'll remember for years to come.

Have you done any safe and responsible September excursions? -- Margy

44 comments:

  1. Just lovely!! lucky you!!

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    1. It was wonderful except for the broken finger. My first broken bone at 71. - Margy

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  2. I can not imagine to go on such a cruise. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I hope your 'broken wing' is well now!
    Thank you for the visit. Wishing you a Happy WW and other beautiful adventures!

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    1. We live next to the sea so boats are a way of life for many people. - Margy

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  3. Enjoyed your tale. So nice to see that some are getting out and about back there!

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    1. We only go out in a careful way to places that aren't crowded. Mask wearing and distancing is a must, but there are still ways to enjoy the outdoors. - Margy

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  4. Little finger little! Awful! Now you have an extra experience. I hope it's okay, I hope it's not something very serious...
    Oh! Terrible what's happening - I'm thinking about fires.
    I'm glad you had a wonderful journey. I walked around the neighborhood. 😊
    Happy Days!

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    1. It is healing but by bit. I don't have any experience with broken bones so I don't have any comparison. - Margy

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  5. Congratulations on being on the water again. I know you missed it. I envy your time on the lake

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    1. This may be our only cruise during this strange season. - Margy

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  6. WOW, that looks amazingly wonderful and we're super jealous of the boating life!

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    1. We started in 2001 when we got our water access only float cabin out of necessity. Next came the ocean boat. - Margy

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  7. Margy,

    I'm sorry to hear about your mishap resulting in two broken fingers. Ouch! The past few days I've heard about people passing or having accidents like my daddy who fell off a ladder fracturing four ribs. He's in the hospital because of breathing problems. He has black lung and with the pain that he is in then his breathing became dangerously shallow. I told him next time he decides to use the ladder make sure someone is holding onto it as it shifted on him and that's what caused him to fall. Your cruise was beautiful. All that smoke I first thought was thick fog. Take it easy and enjoy your time cruisin' the water when you can!

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    1. Ladders can be very dangerous. When we are at the cabin away from health services we extra careful. Guess I got complacent when i shouldn't have. - Margy

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  8. Nice weather, calm seas, only the finger felt bad, but still had a good time, that's good to hear!

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  9. I'm delighted that you're on the water again! Sorry to hear about your mishap though.

    Loving your photos as always!

    Happy Thursday!

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    1. Thanks. Staying indoors so much this year it was a good chance to take some new ones. - Margy

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  10. Margy - glad you got to get out on your boat and do some cruisin', especially before the smoke arrived! We had our 2-night camping trip in the back woods - does that count? We are planning a trip in October - Yellowstone, Tetons, Utah to visit family. Looking forward to it! Hope the smoke is getting better for you - still hanging around here!

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    1. We are still hoping to travel to Arizona to be in our RV but we have been so careful so far it's a bit scary for us to fly and stay in RV parks. - Margy

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  11. Looks like a great journey!

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  12. Today it's pretty fresh here too. But that doesn't matter, you adapt.
    Great boats are what I see here.
    Greetings Eva

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    1. Smoke is so debilitating to breathe. Glad it is gone now. - Margy

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  13. Your poor finger!
    The smoke has been terrible. Our kids, in YVR, have air purifiers going.
    We have not gone anywhere!!!

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    1. It's amazing how far it traveled, and new fires are still starting. - Margy

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  14. I'm sorry to read that your fell and hurt your finger, Margy, but I'm glad it wasn't worse! I'm sure it was freeing to be out on the water again and able to eat out. We have more or less stayed close to home this summer and just enjoyed our gardens and neighborhood trails.

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    1. Other than this trip we've been doing what you are to stay safe. - Margy

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  15. How terrific that you can be out and about, I know it's a great feeling!

    Your link at 'My Corner of the World' is greatly appreciated!! I'm glad to see you this week!

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    1. It was a welcome change after so much isolation. - Margy

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  16. Now this is what I call a proper September! How fantastic to be out and about like that. All your hard work is paying off.
    Amalia
    xo

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  17. My excursions have just been into my gardens :) Glad you'll have many wonderful memories of your cruise despite the broken finger.

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    1. I didn't get my vegetable garden planted this year, but I'm enjoying some volunteer pansies in a deck container. - Margy

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  18. Glad you are able to do some cruising to the nearby marinas. It is good to be out in the open, enjoying the beautiful view. Hope your fingers are healing well.

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    1. Yes it is, even morning walks along the street are good. - Margy

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  19. Sorry about your finger!! It looks like you got some pretty good cruising in.

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    1. It only slowed us down. It took the thick smoke to drive us home. - Margy

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  20. Beautiful! That seems to have been a wonderful cruising vacation! Hope your finger has healed!

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    1. It's getting better but still in the splint. The doctor said 4-6 weeks like that. - Margy

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  21. That looks like a gorgeous September you are having there (except for your finger, of course). I hope it is better, now. And I hope the air gets better, soon.
    We've had 4-5 days of clear air in this part of CA,now. And it was nice to see some blue skies after almost a month. :)

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    1. It never seems to stop in California. I hear about new fires all the time. I hope the wet season arrives son for you. - Margy

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  22. What a beautiful adventure!

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We welcome your comments and questions. - Wayne and Margy