July fire works cruise. July 1st to the 4th.

S

starcrafttom

Active member
Susan and I will be attending four nights of fireworks over the long weekend and would like to invite anyone and everyone who would like to tag along. I have never hosted a cruise before but this is a good start.

We will start out by leaving the afternoon of June 29th or 30th. Most likely the 30th and head to suica to drop the hook for the night. raft ups are welcomed and we will supply the shore dinghy if you dont have one. anchorage will depend on wind but I would like to get in to shallow bay just because i have not been there before.

Next morning , the 1st and Canada day, we will cross into Canada at bedwell harbor on south pender island then travel on to Ganges harbor where we will again anchor up and drop in the dinghy. Great town to walk around or rent scooter and travel the island. Ganages has a good fireworks display and we would love to see some of our northern brother stop in. We should be serving crab and maybe shrimp if the day goes well.

The second we will spent shrimping in Saanich inlet and then dropping the hook at butchart gardens. We will dinghy in for the Saturday night fire works in the gardens. Never been to these but I hear they are great. they also have live music
Bijoux du Bayou
“Canajun Pardis Gras”
7:15pm - 9pm
Fireworks 10:15pm

The morning of the 3rd we will make our way back to America and deer harbor. again dropping the hook and tossing in the dinghy. Deer harbor does the 4th on the 3rd to not interfere with all the other fireworks displays. We had a great time here last year. we will stop at a few places on the way to deer harbor for a walk. most likely at Provost harbor on Stuart island for a walk to the lighthouse.

On the morning of the 4th we will make our way to Fisherman's bay on Lopez for the big show. And yes it is a really big show with a lot of boats to see the fireworks. I really like this show and have made it the last three years now. Plan to anchor or raft up as the two marina's book out years in advance. its a nice walk in to town or out to the spit. I like to fish just out side the harbor before going in. I have caught a few nice salmon in this area. We will stay the night and head home in the after noon of the 5th.

Anyone who wants to tag along or join us at any of the stops has a open invite. Its a nice long weekend cruise with fireworks, shrimp, crab, firework, maybe a salmon, fire works and a few nice walks thrown in. We may even buzz over to east sound for the 4th of july parade on Orcas island. you can drop anchor and raft in to the visitor dock for a short walk to town. Lots of fun.

So if your interested just post here so we will know who to expect.
 
Hey Tom and Susan,

Sounds like a great trip! We would love to join you but we will be hosting our 6th or 7th annual Independence day bar-b-q and fireworks. If we ever decide to stop having that event someday we may have to join you for all or part of your itinerary. We'll think of you though. Have a safe trip and have fun!

Don and Dee
 
What a great idea for a cruise gathering!! If we were out there, we'd do it with you. Cruise to a different spot each night to see fireworks, brilliant!

You've got me thinking about that here on the east coast, except we rent a cottage that week and watch the fireworks at P-Town, and no way will Carol pass that up.

It's amazing how C-Brats come up with fun stuff to do with our boats. I gotta start thinking outside the cruise loop box, and think of cruising to events like your fireworks cruise.

Rick from Maine
 
Tom,

Camille & I will be at Fisherman's Bay for the 4th, rafted up with the Nordic Tug, "Good News". We'll look for you.

jd
 
JD, we will look for you there. We Might or might not be rafted with my folks that night. they have a 44ft atlantic with a tan top. hope to see you there.
 
Hi Tom,

Great cruise idea. I Love it. I have been wanting to go to Fishermans bay for about 5 years now, and it looks like I might make it. I have a reservation at IMC dock for July 1-4, with plans to boat around the SJI's during the days. Will consider changing, just need to look at some logistics. Especially the idea of Butchart Gardens. That is another must do for some time.

Currently will be at IMC dock for the evenings, (at least that is the plan for now) however.......... never know for sure. Catch you on VHF68 in the area.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
OK gang its time for a head count. We are leaving Wednesday night or Thursday morning, either way we will be in sucia Thursday night on the hook in shallow bay depending on the wind. I will have the vhf on 68 and 16 so if your around give a shout.

Harvey I will look for you when we get there and when we come to shore.
 
I won't make it. My dept has decided to implement a new test schedule of 4/10's...starting July 1. I was hoping it wouldn't start until the 15th. As a result I don't even know at this point what days I have off, but the entire weekend is shot. :roll: On the positive, I'll have more days off to boat & do other things as a result. :thup
 
We would be all for a cruise like this and I have been watching your thread but can't do it this year. We will only have time for one night of fireworks in Poulsbo on the 3rd then back home for the 4th. The 4th is my birthday and we will be on your list if you guys do it again next year! Should see you in Bellingham if the haulout and bottom job next week goes right.

Greg
 
Time for the after action report.

Susan and I left on Thursday morning around 11 and launched at twin bridges ramp as we always do. I had worked on getting the boat polished right up until the night before. Susan and I spent a lot of time loading and packing the boat for the summer as the boat will stay in the water until October at La Conner. It was a big relief to finally be under way. We ran to shallow bay on Suica the first day and dropped anchor. After dinghying to shore and walking to the other bay we spotted Steve and Cindy in our old 22 anchored out. So we ran back and got the dinghy and carried it over to the big bay and relaunched. You can run but you can not hide from us.
Great to see Steve and Cindy enjoying the boat so much.

Next morning we spent some time fishing the reef just out of shallow bay with a few other boats. One was landed while we were there, nice 20lbs salmon, just not by us. As we entered the bay at poets cove resort we noticed the utter destruction to the customs dock. I had heard the dock had been damaged by a large boat but my god it was just destroyed. be very carry full getting in and out as several pillars are still in place but not showing above the water. Clearing customs was quick and easy as always.

From there is was a flat run to Ganges harbor to drop anchor again and launch the dinghy. We set out a few crab pots for the night but came up short on crab. I used just pellets for the bait and it did not work at all. We made a shore run and then back to the boat for dinner and wait for the fire works. The Canadians do a good job on the fire works which are fired from the coast guard dock right in the middle of the harbor. In the morning we ran in for the farmers market and breakfast. I over heard a guy state that is not a farmer/flea market unless there are a minimum of three feather earring booths. Well Ganges has a real farmers market with 3 feather ear ring vendors.

We left about noon and headed out to the top of saanich inlet to drop shrimp pots. while we were waiting we ran to Genoa bay to walk the dog and have a look around. Nice little anchorage but not really much there to see. One funny thing was the public bathroom. as you sit on the throne and look at the door you get to read the state notice. It clarifies that you are sitting on a low flow eco-friendly toilet. It also states that you have to flush it 4 times to get the bowl to clear of waste??????????? I think some one is missing the point.

after collecting a few crab and a few shrimp we headed down to the Butchart gardens. Now you have two options for docking. see map You can anchor or tie to a buoy at the small bay at the top of the map. This is the back entrance to the garden and has a dinghy dock to tie to. you can also get your tickets to enter. they charge the full price to see the gardens, $30 something each, just to see the fireworks. So go early and see the gardens first and then the fireworks or you can come back the next morning and use you pass to get in but you have to tell them that's you plan when you buy your tickets. Your second choice is to anchor in the back of the bay in the marine park or any where between the two, near the state dinghy dock. from there its a one mile walk to the front gate and then to the fireworks. One mile for the whole trip. either way works. The third choose (so I cant count)is to anchor on the streagh between the two bays on the west side. Lots of boats are stern tied to the wall there to see the fireworks from out side the park but they missed the best part of the show.

So the show its self is great. You are seated on a large grass lawn. there really is no bad seat but if you get there early and lay out your blanket where the big signs states " best seating here" you cant go wrong. We got there a hour early and had not problem getting a seat. Not far from the grass area is a out side stage with a live orchestra. very nice setting. The fire works are very different as you are not only very close but the ground displays are just fantastic. Its all set to music and very interesting. there are a lot of spinning shapes but the sea serpent and the ships moving across the small pond are my favorite. We got a little wet during the show and as soon as it ended the rain started to fall. We had a wet dinghy ride back to the boat in the dark but we started the espar up and got warm before bed time.

Sunday morning we wake up and after the morning dog walk we headed off toSidney spit to crab, fish and walk the dog. Nice place for a long walk on the beach at low tide. You can anchor, grab a mooring buoy or dock space if its opened. We meet a very nice couple with a 22 c-dory that live on alocal Island and use the dory to commute. they where just at the spit for lunch. It must be a hard life to live on a small island and have to drive by dory every where you go. Sidney is a great place to anchor and hang out for the night with great crabbing but we had other plans for the day so after a short stay we headed over to Roche harbor to clear customs. the customs dock was empty but man was the harbor filled to over flowing. We had a nice customs agent today. few quick questions and we where on our way. He did ask if we thought anyone had been aboard while we where ashore. Seems that the bad guys are hiding drugs in boats and RV's while you are out. Then when you cross over the border they come find you. They are having this problem on both borders. Several rvs on the southern border have been found shot up in the desert on our side of the border. So be careful. After that it was a short run to deer harbor where we saw the old Susan e again.

After dinner we invited Steve and Cindy over to watch firework from our back deck. Just before the show started the tide swung the boat around in the wrong direction to see the show. But I know more then one way to skin a cat. i started up the kicker and spun the boat around to face the show and the kicker and anchor held us in place the whole time. Great show and its loud as the harbor is a little canyon with tall rock walls on either side. before the show on the dock there is always a live rock band and if you are on anchor the volume is just about right.

Monday morning we wanted a little fuel so a stop to Friday harbor was in order. My god they had 40 fts tied 3 deep at the breakwater and the inside of the customs dock. it was just packed. In order to get a lunch tie we had to raft on the out side of a tri-ram sail boat near the pump out. We ran into Tim Flanagan and his marching band in full kilt as they were coming down the dock from a parade. Tim wanted to see the 27 but could not decide if it was better to lift a leg over the boom of the sail boat or crawl under it in a kilt???? :oops: In the end he opted to go around the bow of the sail boat instead to protect the secret of how regimental his dress code truly is :disgust we also ran into The sleepy c crew as they were getting gas before they headed to Lopez and a slip.

after a ice cream cone and a walk around town we headed out to fisherman's bay on Lopez. We spent a great afternoon tied to a 40 ft monk owned by steve's friend Jim. man what a nice old boat. I got the full meal tour and now long for a large simple old boat to spent the summer on. Just need the time and money, some day. it was a bit of a circus with a total of 6 people (susan and me, steve and cindy, Jim and Marla) plus 4 dogs ( shadow plus two labs and a prince Charles something) bouncing around three boats and three dinghy's. But by the time the fireworks started we had all settled down on the open fly bridge of Jim's boat wrapped in blankets for the show. They really do do a great show off the beach.

Well all things have to come to a end and we headed back after fishing Tuesday. On this trip i got to test and use the new flow fuel meter I installed. I learned a few things over the weekend. we ended up traveling a total of 222 miles more or less and burned 98 gallons of fuel for a 2.26 mpg average. my best fuel numbers came from running 25mph at 3800rpm burning 10 gph for a 2.5 mpg burn rate. any thing faster then 27 mph numbers got below 2mpg. if I dropped off to 18 mph then then the mpg dropped below 2 also. We are a 27ft boat with a 3 ft extension and a lot of weight. never had it on a scale but we have to be heavier then a 25 and most likely on par with a tom cat. I was full with 20 gallons of water 100 gallons of fuel and a hell of lot of gear and food. I don't know of another boat design this size that will do what my boat does carrying the gear it does at the speeds it does with those mpg numbers. I am very happy with it so far and Susan just loves it.



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Hi Tom,

Really nice tour/cruise write-up. What a great trip. Next year, I'll skip the dock tie and do the cruise with you.

The Fireworks at Fisherman's Bay were certainly worth it. A great show there. It was a pretty good weekend. Great cruising, but no whales. I spent Monday cruising, from Fisherman's Bay, south out of Cattle Pass, then up Harro past Lime Kiln, looking for orca. Saw ton of dolphin, seal and fishermen, even say a couple fish get netted, but no orca. Traveled up to Stuart, checked the NW tip, and then down into Ried Harbor. No Whales, but did get to join in the dingy parade there, put on by the Port Townsend yacht club. About 15 dingy's all tied together end to end, towed by the biges one, and then we snuck in and took our place right on the tail of the little lady in the inflatable kayak. All were dressed in red, White and blue, stars and strips and 4th of July gala. They hardly noticed the SleepyC until it was horn blowing time. Ah ha, the little lady did manage to stay dry. (Later they told us there should be pix up at the PTYC.net web site.) We hiked a bit on Stuart Island, and then headed back to IMC via Friday Harbor for a fuel stop. Saw you there, and when you came into Fisherman's Bay.

Added several Islands to my island circumnavigation list on this trip home across the and got to see several C-Dory's on the water. The trip home across the Strait of Juan was a 3 hour crossing, 3-5 ft beam seas, 10-20% white caps, with winds in the 10-15 range. Jog and slog, jog and slog, but made it, safe warm and dry. I was back at work by 3PM.

All in all, $4 for an ice cream cone, $80 for a fuel fill, and priceless for the cruising time.

Harvey
SleepyC
:moon
 
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