08/12 - 08/14 - Powell River BC, Canadian CBGT

Well, what can I say? Apparently I have a few problems == "old-timers" disease?
1) I forgot the exchange rate. When we visited the Gulf Islands last May after the Friday Harbor gathering it was about par. Things are apparently changing.
2) I can't seem to add. My truck - trailer length is 47 feet, not 57. Oh well, just pocket change (I wish!).

So that makes it $53 + (27 x $6.90) + $16 x .70% exchange = about $178 US. Quite a difference.

How are the gas prices holding up on the exchange rate? -- Going thru the roof, or holding with the lower prices in the US? I remember a trip to maritime provinces I took in 2002 when the rate was very favorable to US - and the place crawled with US plates.

Chuck
 
Wondering about extended parking at Garden Bay. It is looking like it will be cutting it close to get to the gathering if launching at the my usual, Anacortes. We would consider driving in and taking the ferry if we knew we could get extended parking for the truck and trailer, as we will be heading to the Broughtons afterwards.
 
We have not made it to a CBGT yet. I think we are going to make it to this one. Timing is perfect and this is a place we wanted to go anyways. We will start at Sequim Bay and make our way North Via the San Juans and the Gulf Islands. Looking forward to meeting more C-Brats.

Doug & Susan
 
My cruising plans aren't decided yet, but the Powell River gathering appeals to me. It is a short hop over from Comox and a great start to a Princess Louisa cruise.
 
Looking at the map, I see that it's a short but BIG hop across the Georgia Strait to Powell River. I know I went through this last year when planning our Desolation Sound trip but, is there a GOOD boat launch in Comox? I'm emphasizing GOOD because in my opinion, the boat launch at Pacific Playgrounds left a lot to be desired. I'm talking a concrete ramp with a dock running alongside. Also, how long does it take to cross the strait in decent water?

Also, I see people are mentioning taking the one ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, driving up to Pender Harbour and cruising by water up to Powell River. We got caught in some pretty sloppy stuff in the waters between Texada Island and the mainland on the way up to Princess Louisa so I'm not too anxious to run that long again. Obviously water conditions vary day by day if not hour by hour.

Just looking at my options in considering this CBGT. Thanks Ron for putting this together.
 
Lot's of thing to consider aren't there. Of the 5 ramps I used on Vancouver Island last summer, I would rate Pacific Playground as in the top half, at of the 5 possible. Though I didn't like having the dock on the rivers side of the truck, (the port side on the boat), mostly because I'm not used to that side and I had to move my fenders, Pacific Playground did have a wash down hose. The channel in and out is narrow, and could be difficult in wind or wave conditions. They did have some GOOD ice cream after I got the boat washed down.

If you are thinking of going up to Telegraph Cove, I could offer some suggestions too.

Peter, I'm with you on the slog up Georgia Strait from Vancouver up to Texada. Learned about my boat (and me) on that trip.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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The trip from Comox to Powell River is 20 nm so it will be less than 2 hours.

The boat launch at Comox is good, it is double wide cement with a walkway down one side, BUT you really need to watch the tides as you do with all the boat launches around here. The Comox boat launch is one of the best in the area. They charge around $11 per day to park in their parking lot.

BC Ferries may have a special rate in the summer for boat trailers to Vancouver Island. If not, the price for both ferries to Powell River is about the same or slightly less than the one ferry to Vancouver Island.

If you only take one ferry to Gibsons it is much cheaper than the ferry to Vancouver Island.

Anyone taking the ferry to Gibsons should buy an "Experience Card" from BC Ferries and there is about a 10% discount on the Gibsons/Powell River ferries.

I've heard it can be pretty windy between Grief Point and Saltery Bay. I've never gone there so I don't know.

You wharf at Westview (Powell River) is nice and is located in town so it is easy to walk along Marine Ave and find lots of little shops and restaurants etc. If you want to go to the mall, it is a little further and up a steep hill.
 
If people are thinking about Princess Louisa after the gathering, the obvious starting point would be Egmont. Take the ferry to Langdale (Gibsons) and then drive to the end of the road. You would need to go between Texada Island and the mainland, but your truck and trailer would be waiting for you on your return from Princess Louisa.

Another option might be to put in at French Creek. They have a nice launch and then you can stop at Lasquiti or Jedidiah and you would be going up the Straight on a diagonal to the tip of north tip of Texada Island and across to Powell River. It is much further, but Lasquiti and Jedidiah are worth the visit.

Then on the return you would go between Texada and the mainland to Saltery Bay, up Princess Louisa, and down to the south tip of Texada and then back to French Creek.

That is a much longer trip, but there are lots of places along the way to stop if the weather doesn't co-operate.
 
Wow great to see this much interest in the PRCBGT! I've been off line for a couple of days but I'll endeavour to answer some of the questions and probably create others.
1) launching from on the Sechelt peninsula. (Thats the chunk of land you drive along after you've taken the Horseshoe Bay ferry) I checked out a number of ramps and in my opinion only Backeddy Resort at Egmont 604-883-2296 and Pender Harbour Resort at Garden Bay 877-883-2424 may meet the needs of launching and parking longer term. Perhaps Ian & Jackie from Sea Sprite who's home port is Garden Bay could offer better suggestions. Neither ramp will meet Peter's standards. Backeddy is gravel and I think that Pender Harbour Resort has pavement. Both are one lane. Backeddy did not seem to have secured parking but Pender Harbour Resort may. I do not know the costs for either. (I did see a sign at Backeddy that said $10 in and out for launch.)

For anyone who is willing to take the two ferries all the way to Powell River I do know the launch is two lane concrete with a dock on both sides. I've launched Meander in all but extreme low tides with no problem. Parking and launching is free for all C-Brats. Parking would be at my house only a short drive from the Marina.

2) Gas prices. Well us Canadians are real happy that the price of our gas has fallen quite a lot in the last year. Current price in PR is $1.05 C a litre. $2.83 US per US gal.

3) Great tips from Island Explorer. Hopefully we will get to meet you in Aug.

4) Weather. What can I say. Out of probably 100 crossing of Georgia Strait that I have done in Meander and my other boats, probably 60 have been a non event. IE calm conditions. 30 in seas less than 3 feet. 8 at 3+ and 2 that we have said how did we end up out in these conditions.
All anyone can say about the weather and water conditions are that they are variable, they will change and sometimes quickly. Please check the weather conditions, be prepared to change your plans and be sure to stay with in your own personal comfort zone.
That said however, just think of all the C-Dorys that have cruised from Washington to Alaska, around Vancouver Island, and have visited every point in between. These are very capable boats.

5) Quite a few people have mentioned tying in a cruise to Princess Louisa with the PRCBGT. This is a great idea. And, I'm pretty confident we can get a C-Dory flotilla arranged. LOL

In the coming weeks and months I will add some posts with sample cruising routes and times to give some ideas to folks who might be interested in some suggestions. In the mean time BC C-Brats keep on offering local knowledge.

Tyboo Mike has added the PRCBGT to the calendar so we are official.
:D

Cheers
Ron
 
Well, make it a two-fer! Start in Powell River on August 12, 13 and 14, and then cruise on down through the Gulf Islands and San Juans to Bellingham for Bellingham is Back II, which is set for August 19, 20 and 21!
 
Peter, the best place to launch for you is in Comox. I agree that the ramp at pacific playgrounds isn't the best and you can only get in and out with at least 6 feet of water. The parking is much better at Comox as well. The other option is to launch at discovery harbour in Campbell River, great ramp, lots of parking but it is a little longer run. You will be able to cross this area with more protection than in the open Straight of Georgia. We are going to try our damndest to make this one!
 
Pat Anderson":s5njijgz said:
Well, make it a two-fer! Start in Powell River on August 12, 13 and 14, and then cruise on down through the Gulf Islands and San Juans to Bellingham for Bellingham is Back II, which is set for August 19, 20 and 21!
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Sounds like a plan Pat. We'll see if it comes together.

Thanks all for the good suggestions. I'm thinking possibly of taking the two ferries to Powell River which would be the same price as the one ferry to Nanaimo, plus that allows us to stay on the mainland side the whole way with no major crossings of the Strait. Then maybe we cruise around for the week before heading to Bellingham. Still need to discuss with the Admiral as we have yet to put together our summer calendar so stay tuned.

Peter
 
Peter, I'm pretty sure there will be opportunity for a few C-Dorys to cruise up to Princes Louisa, Malibu and maybe Skookumchuck after the Powell River CBGT. Might be worth hanging around that are a for a bit.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Hi Brats, and Powell River is sounding more interesting all the time but still a ways off on the calendar. Lets get some more chatter going!

When all three lights I see ahead, I turn to starboard, show my red. Green on green, red on red, all is safe so go ahead

Roger
 
It would be nice to see a good turnout in Powell River and it really does have a lot to offer.

Many boaters know Lund better than they know Powell River, but they really are very close to one another. Lund is the gateway to Desolation Sound and very close to Savory Island which is like the Hawaii of BC.

The town of Powell River is also pretty cool because the marina is at one end of Marine Avenue and you walk a couple of kilometers along Marine Avenue to Willingdon Beach and enjoy all kinds of little stores and restaurants along the way. You don't even have to go up any hills unless you want to go to a shopping mall. Last time I was there, there was even a free courtesy bus that would take you from the Marina to the shopping mall.

For the last couple of years BC Ferries has put on a special rate for towing a boat from the mainland to Vancouver Island. Launching from Vancouver Island would give you so many opportunities for side trips before or after the event.

Yes, I am biased. I think we live in amazing place with lots of places to explore.
 
I'm pretty sure there will be opportunity for a few C-Dorys to cruise up to Princes Louisa, Malibu and maybe Skookumchuck after the Powell River CBGT. Might be worth hanging around that are a for a bit.
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This makes a lot of sense to me. I've never been and it seems like a good post CBGT cruise.

Has anybody been to Chatterbox Falls? Is it worth the journey?
 
Island Explorer":1y42ims3 said:
I'm pretty sure there will be opportunity for a few C-Dorys to cruise up to Princes Louisa, Malibu and maybe Skookumchuck after the Powell River CBGT. Might be worth hanging around that are a for a bit.
Click to expand...

This makes a lot of sense to me. I've never been and it seems like a good post CBGT cruise.

Has anybody been to Chatterbox Falls? Is it worth the journey?
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HI Island Explorer. Yes and a VERY BIG YES. I have been there, It is worth it, and I will go back. (Very likely do that after the CBGT at Powell River.)

I have some pictures from my first time there in my album. Sorry I don't know how to do the link on my tablet yet. Go to my album by clicking on the blue text "SleepyC" at the left under the profile info. That will take you to the album. On that first page, down a few rows and on the left side, there is a "Trips We Have Made" sub album. Click on that. Then there will be a second sub album labeled "Princess Louisa". There are pix there from Chatterbox Falls, PLI, and Malibu.

I'm not the only CBRAT who has been there. Many others have been also. It's a great trip EVEN though when we were there it was a record setting rain for three days. Made for a big falls and lots of waterfalls on the mountains.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

:oops: :embarrased
 
I remember after the Pender Harbour gathering a couple of years ago about 8 Brats went up to PL. Lots of fun. For the newbies, there are bound to be a few boats going up after Powell River, just tag along.
I haven't worked out if full tanks of gas will get you from PR to PL and back, but Egmont is handy for gas, and a pub too.

Martin.
 
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