Reef Madness Blaine to Parts North

[Gene Morris]

After visiting with Ruth & Joe and getting provisions we left Blaine yesterday 6-3-07 at 1030 hrs and went directly to White Rock B.C. to clear customs. Clearing customs was a simple procedure, made a phone call from the cell phone. We were cleared with a firearm in about 10 mins., very nice folks at CBP they couldn't get an officer to come down to the dock for the firearm, so it was registered over the phone, good experience. We then proceeded to False Creek in Vancouver for currency exchange and fishing lic. That was a zoo with all the traffic but, all went well. At about 1700 hrs we checked in at the Union Steamship company marina at Snug Cove on Bowen Is. Very nice facilities but, only one shower and head for the whole facility. 62.4nm and 36.8 gals of fuel, the boat is pretty heavy with all the provisions. Margaret & her sister Lynn are now taking advantage of some photo ops. When they return we will head to Princess Louisa inlet to see the glories of the sunshine coast. I did sign up for Broadband Express internet service, 30 days $99.00, so I'll post photos and progress when we get to another accessible area.

Gene, Margaret & Dawson

 

[Pat Anderson]

Great report! Keep us posted! As mentioned, there is free wireless at Sullivan Bay in the Broughtons. I see there is BBX at Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast and Cortes Bay in Desolation Sound. I recommend "driving off the top half" and fueling up in Pender Harbour - we headed up to Princess Louisa from Smuggler Cove without refueling, and were a little nervous on the way back down! Made it back to Egmont, but learned my lesson (I hope!).

After visiting with Ruth & Joe and getting provisions we left Blaine yesterday 6-3-07 at 1030 hrs and went directly to White Rock B.C. to clear customs. Clearing customs was a simple procedure, made a phone call from the cell phone. We were cleared with a firearm in about 10 mins., very nice folks at CBP they couldn't get an officer to come down to the dock for the firearm, so it was registered over the phone, good experience. We then proceeded to False Creek in Vancouver for currency exchange and fishing lic. That was a zoo with all the traffic but, all went well. At about 1700 hrs we checked in at the Union Steamship company marina at Snug Cove on Bowen Is. Very nice facilities but, only one shower and head for the whole facility. 62.4nm and 36.8 gals of fuel, the boat is pretty heavy with all the provisions. Margaret & her sister Lynn are now taking advantage of some photo ops. When they return we will head to Princess Louisa inlet to see the glories of the sunshine coast. I did sign up for Broadband Express internet service, 30 days $99.00, so I'll post photos and progress when we get to another accessible area.

Gene, Margaret & Dawson

 

[R-Matey]

Happy to hear that everything has gone well since you left Blaine. Looking forward to reading more about your adventures.

Ruth and Joe
R-Matey

 

[Gene Morris]

Newest update on our progress!

First of all we are thinking of Dr Austin everyday, wishing he was here as previously planned. This is our first chance to post since monday.
We left Secret Cove and headed up Jervis Inlet to Princess Louisa, very very beautiful and wet...wet...wet. We encountered rain all day but, it was hardly noticed with all the spectacular waterfalls and scenery. Dawson is truly a waterdog in & out...in & out. We left Princess Louisa on Wed. (in the pouring down rain)..It's hard to keep the windows from fogging when it's wet inside and out. We had a beautiful run down Jarvis Inlet and proceeded to Lund for some expensive fuel $1.14 per liter. After fueling we went to Gorge Harbor on Cortes Is. I would highly recommend a stay there, very nice dock dolly "Tara" and Dawson made friends with her 10lb puppy. We met some great folks from Astoria Or. and had good conversations. Dinner was at the Float restaurant that was a long way from the water, but what's in a name. Good hamburger and great Halibut & chips. We set prawn traps and left them overnight. Margaret & her sister Lynn had the honor of pulling the traps from 60 ftms and they were empty. We resat the traps and fished for 3 hours catching lots of fish but, nothing that was a keeper. So we went back to pull the traps, still skunked. It was getting late so we wanted to go fix dinner and headed to Refuge Cove, looked around, the whole area was private homes with no place to walk Dawson. So we went across the bay to Squirrel Cove and moored at the Public dock. Good facilities but subject to wakes from passing boats. We then cruised up Desolation sound "now that's what cruising is about". We are now at Blind Channel Resort and probably will be holed up here for a couple days due to weather coming in 35 - 45 kt winds expected. When we can get out into Johnston Strait we will head to Sullivan Bay in the Broughtons. I have some photos to post and will after I eat my dinner which is now getting cold.

Gene & Margaret