07/22 - 08/05 - The Gulf Island Cruise

R

Rock-C

New member
If you have not been to the Gulf Is., they are every bit as nice as the San Juan's, but with out the crowds.
We are using the Bellingham gathering (7/20 to 7/22) as the start of a two week cruise through the Gulf Is. A few of the places we hope to visit: Montigue Harbor and the hippy bus to Hummingbird Inn, Silva Bay, Telegraph Harbor on Thetus Is. and Conover Cove on Wallace Is. Maybe a trip to Todd Inlet and a visit to Butchart Gardens.
We are flexible about the dates & locations. It would be great if you could join us for part or all of this adventure.
All you need to do is learn to speak Canadian.

Added to the Calendar for two weeks starting July 22, Signup list created
 
Hey Terry,

We'll have to check the calendar but Caryn and I may be able to get away for a few days after the Bellingham gathering. We love the Gulf Islands. We've never been to Conover Cove, that sounds fun. And we're always up for another ride on the hippy bus to the Hummingbird Pub. We'll keep in touch.

Peter
 
Terry - I have no idea if we can make it work, but it sure sounds inviting! I have had a hankering to see them GIs for a while, but always found some excuse to not go. Joining you guys this year is definitely on my want-to list.

There is no doubt you will get some folks who know for sure they will be joining you, so are you ready to make it official and do up the trimmings? Here's your big chance to be listed as Cruise Director on a Signup list (which entails absolutely no responsibility unless you wish it to).
 
We have been planning a Gulf Island jaunt this summer and you've given us a good excuse. Its a little far away for us to plan definitely but we certainly hope to be able to join you.
 
I talked to the girls about going to B'ham on the first weekend of our annual vacation instead of the last, and then going north. Jamie said as long as there are "creatures" on those islands too, she wants to go.
 
TyBoo":yvftgsy4 said:
which entails absolutely no responsibility
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Mike
That sounds just like me. :wink It would be great to have the TyBoo crew along.
Is it too early for a signup sheet?
For those interested, passports are not required until 2008, if crossing the boarder by boat or car. U.S. Customs are more strict than Canadian Customs
 
Is it too early for a signup sheet?
Click to expand...

Terry, why don't you read the site rules and you would know that stuff. Two weeks beginning the Monday after B'Ham? Or maybe the Sunday of the B'ham weekend for the kick off of the GI? You're in charge, so let me know.

Even though passports are not required, I am thinking that an elderly gentleman with two little girls might be better off to have them for the whole crew. Maybe I should start looking into that process. And FCC radio/radar license. What are doing about that? And are you taking your durn dog? More problems?
 
Site rules. I thought there was only one rule, "Be Nice". It's hard for me to keep track of all these rules !
Ya, we're taking that lousy dog. We didn't have any problem last time. All that we needed was an up-to-date shot record. We're talking about the dog, right?
 
There ain't no stupid site rules. I was just kidding. It is not too early at all for a spring signup.

How 'bout if I get rid of the dogs and make the girls get shots?
 
We're always up for the Gulf Islands! Wonderful cruising that time of the year. We've been there many times and would be willing to help in the planning.

Anyone bringing young children into Canada and back has to has to have proof that they are the parents or permission from both parents. This can get involved. Best to look into it early in the planning.

Is it Spring yet?
 
I would think most of you C-brat types coming up from Washington State will be welcomed in Canada without a passport. I do know that going back home will be a bit more difficult without one. Flying into the US without a passport is no longer allowed as of January 07. Supposedly crossing the land and sea border without one is still OK. I would't know about that though as I've used one for the last few years for every crossing. Tyboo, I would be sure to have the proper paper work for the girls. Our government is getting very sticky about ensuring that kids traveling have the proper documents and I understand that there is pretty close scrutiny going south as well.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of you in my home waters this year. We won't be able to take a week off but I'd sure like to hook up with some of you folks on a weekend for sure.
Ron
 
We take james to canada with us all the time. He has no passport, going to get one soon, so we just use his birth certificate. Getting into canada is no problem, its getting back in to the U.S.. and that has not been a problem for james, just the garlic and susans marriage license.
 
My daughters and a friend came up from Utah to visit at Xmas, sans passports. When we drove up to Vancouver, the Canadian border folks warned us there might be a problem coming back but we pressed on regardless. On the way back, we were interrogated, but nicely, by a Border Patrol officer. While it may be possible to get back in to the US without a passport now, the hassle factor is high enough that I will no longer try.

Warren
 
Back to top! Cold, windy, rainy days in Fall City have got me yearning for lazy summer days in the Gulf Islands!

We will be out six nights, Sunday night July 22nd through Friday night July 27, so we can retrieve on Saturday and have Sunday to clean up. I am assuming we will head out on Sunday after breakfast at the restaurant at Squalicum. The distances involved are really not very far, so as far as I can see, we won't need to be racing to get anywhere.

I thought I would offer up some thoughts about places we might spend the night This is Pat, Patty may have different ideas! I don't know to what degree the group would like to stay together, but it would be nice to have designated rendezvous spots for each evening. These are in a generally south to north direction:

Sidney Spit / Sidney Island - nice dock, mooring buoys, lots of room to anchor out, great shore facilities, nice walk on the spit. Sunday evening there is even a possibility there will be some room on the docks!

Montague Harbour / Galiano Island - a must see, if only for the hippy bus to the Hummingbird Pub. Dock space is limited, but we would not mind anchoring here if necessary.

Conover Cove - Princess Cove / Wallace Island - a great spot, the two coves are only a short distance apart, dock is at Conover Cove, anchorage and dinghy dock at Princess Cove. Conover Cove has a fascinating history of what might have been. If I remember right, this is where we hiked to the south end of the island in 2004 for one of the most spectacular sunsets in recent memory.

Fred_s_Gulf_Islands_6_04_052.sized.jpg

Pirates Cove / Decourcy Island (OR Herring Bay / Ruxton Island) - anchor with stern ties (read up on stern ties, if you haven't done that yet!), there are toilets and I think probably some picnic tables. Pirates Cove is likely to be full, and Herring Bay is the designated overflow.

Newcastle Island Marine Park / Newcastle Island (Nanaimo) - this is the only one of these spots we have not spent a night in. 1500 feet of dock, Bob Hale calls it "extraordinary" in Waggoners.

Cabbage Island / Tumbo Island - an absolute favorite, likely to be our last night after heading back south before returning to Bellingham.

These are mostly places we have been, so if you folks have other great places, we are sure open to trying them!

Link to 2004 cruise pix!



 
I guess we better chime in here too. Laurie and I have that week off for vacation too. We talked about this cruise with Rock-C Terry during the SBS. So we are getting excited about following the "experienced" ones up there.
 
We are ready NOW !!!

Looked up some of Pat's suggestions, as we haven't been to any of them before except Newcastle and Sidney (Not the spit though).
Maybe would suggest Ganges as a good place to re-provision for those of us who never have enough room !!

We will be doing a "mini" Gulf cruise right after the Lopez gathering. Sunday to Snug Harbor, then Tuesday to S. Pender for 6 days based in a house with dock. So hopefully we can check out a few spots for the big event later. We would love to see any of you who are in the area at that time and welcome any suggestions of places to go from the experts.

Merv & Kathy
 
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