Nanaimo 7/9 -7/11

Trying to make up for the return to Blaine, and with a beautiful morning, we headed straight to Nanaimo at 7AM on the 9th. Happy for good cell phone reception at 11 AM for a phone meeting on the Fly Bridge in the middle of the Straits of Georgia. In Nanaimo by 3, found dock space since rain and wind was forcast.

Captain Pat had a job staying out of the way of the big boats/ferries outside Active Pass.
After 2 days of wind and rain, Nanaimo was fresh and clear. Lovely walks on the waterfront 1.5 miles to the boat with arm loads of food/supplies

Anchor Rode

We are grateful that Josh, our host and boating teacher from Alaska last year taught us how to splice. Thanks Josh!!

7/6-7/8/19: Back in Blaine to pick up 600 feet of beautiful nylon anchor rode ordered with an eye on one end. Not!! We will be practicing our splicing skills. Could find no one to come out to the boat to attach it to the chain. Neighbor, Bill has loaned us fids and a pusher.

July 4-5

Matia Island, National Wildlife Refuge

Lovely trails through Matia, Jane, Pat & Keith
Jo, Keith & Pat at the steep Matia Island ramp. Keith & Jane’s boat docked at low low tide.
July 5th

Keith and Jane, boating friends for years, rafted to Arcturos for 2 nights in Echo Bay, Sucia Island. Their fishing boat zipped us over to Matia Island. Bailey had to stay behind, expressing his displeasure by displacing all the couch pillows to the floor. He and I kayaked to Ewing Cove as consolation.

Bailey between my legs, attached to me via the kayak’s skirt which keeps him from shifting too much (or jumping out). We will practice capsizing together once we hit some warmer water and have Patrick alongside
Ewing Cove: That’s a seal trying to get into the picture. Earlier we watched a family of 4 otters, sorry no pics! Bailey wants to chase otters and seals thus leashing him to me in the boat!

July 3

We left Blaine about 11 after ordering 600 feet of anchor line. Arcturos only came with 250 feet of chain on the anchors. North of Desolation Sound, we may need to anchor in 100 + feet of water. 250 foot chain is way too short. But, that means we will have to return to Blaine on Monday to pick up the rode, cut the chain out of the chain locker (6 feet down in the bottom of the locker which has a 12 inch diameter opening), and attach the rope to the locker and chain before heading out again. Hoping that doesn’t take another few days!Today though, we have had a nice trip to Sucia Island’s Echo Bay. Sucia was bought by a coalition of yacht clubs. Improvements in the dock and camping areas were made and the whole island is now a State Park. Trails abound between the many bays and inlets. The island’s forests vary with cedar stands, marshes and beautiful madronnas. Sucia’s rock is also beautiful; weathered and worn into cool formations.Patrick camped at this site as a kid.

It was supposed to be partly sunny!

July 2, 2019

Last minute shopping, packing, cleaning is done. Leah, our niece has picked up her pooch, Taia, our guest while she visited Avery, her week old baby nephew in Denver. Packing the car, Galen says, “Feels like rain.” I am in denial, “Naw, it’s just fog.” 30 minutes later, we are on the road heading for Blaine. He was right!

Almost Ready!

I may be getting senile. This blogging stuff is not intuitive for me. I hope you will put up with my incompetence.

Pat and I meant to leave for the Inside Passage a week ago on Arcturos. We are remaining flexible on the agenda and timing. The life raft just came 2 days ago and the new settee cushions a day before that. Pat has been up on the boat working on her every other weekend since last Fall. He has been overcoming many obstacles, the latest being replacing the vibration dampers on the 2 diesel engines which took two strong men 2 days breaking 1/2 inch steel tools in the process. Yes, a boat really is a hole in the water in which one throws money. But, Pat has wanted his own boat since he was 12 years old and we are so pleased to make this dream come true.

Our initial plan was to head North as far as we could go and to have fun. But, our close friends, the Rogstads, invited us to join them boating over the July 4th holiday. Their company is the definition of fun! The 1st destination is in negotiations currently. That is part of the fun. I will try to keep you updated as the month evolves. Hope you will enjoy the trip too!