May 27th - Gorge Harbor: Keel and Rudder Check

After our 6 hour passage from Pender Harbor we were happy to look back through the narrow entrance to Gorge Harbor.


We will have "Jedediah" the diver look for possible damage from hitting the rock in Nanaimo.


We could hardly recognize Gorge Harbor Marina. There are new docks, fuel station building, ramp, swimming pool, hot tub, stone barbecue and fire pit, rooms above the store redecorated and new stone pathways all around. The plumbing and septic systems are new and up to code for this delicate Eco system of oyster farming in the bay. The marina had not opened yet but they let us stay on the new docks to wait for Jedediah.

A wealthy family from Victoria purchased the resort and have made the wonderful renovations not only for public use but for their large extended family and friends. It will not be totally dependant on just the proceeds from public facilities to stay open in these challenging economic times.

You can see Seventh Heaven on the new dock through the blossoming tree.

JEDEDIAH HAD GREAT NEWS!

A small piece from a former repair which appeared to have had a bubble because of the smooth indentation on the underside had come loose and he brought it up for a souvenir for me. He checked where the keel attaches to the hull and the rudder and all was in great shape with no signs of damage. The piece he is holding chipped off the side of the very bottom of the keel where I apparently glanced the rock.

I rewarded him with a nice hot Latte!

After the good news we went out exploring Mansons Landing on Cortes Island. It was named after the Postmaster in 1893.

This has been a First Nation's shellfish harvesting area for thousands of years.

The beaches are a combination of sand and shell. Boats love to anchor in the area and come ashore to harvest clams and oysters as well as play on the sandy beaches.

When the tide is out it exposes the lagoon. In the distance you can see people harvesting oysters.

Steamships would tie up at the dock to bring mail and supplies to the early residents of Cortes, Is.

Lou and I returned to Gorge Harbor on Wings. The water was flat calm and mirrored the brilliant blue sky.

Lou and Mary's Seafood Pasta! The Best !

As we departed Pender Harbor we could see the snow capped peaks of the mountains lining the passage between Texeda Island and the mainland. The water was smooth and there was barely a breeze.

The current was in our favor as we passed Powell River and we were cruising along at 8.6 knots without the help of the sails. We had planned to go to Lund but when we arrived we almost hit a prawn float. An inconsiderate (or unaware to be kind) Prawn Boat Captain dragged his float about 500 yards behind his boat right in our path as we made our turn to enter Lund Harbor. It was teaming with activity. Prawn Boats, Fish Boats, Pleasure Boats, Water Taxis and Float Planes coming to pick fresh live prawns at the peak of Prawn Season. We decided to go on to Gorge Harbor.

After our 6 hour passage from Pender Harbor we were hungry and since we had lots of fresh Dungeness Crab and White Spot Prawns I decided to make one of our favorite dishes!


We want to share the very best Seafood Pasta in the World!

1 Large Yellow Onion Chopped
1 Head Fresh Garlic Pressed
1 Small Jar Capers
2 Cans Italian Baby Clams w/ Juice
(Fresh Clams or Chopped Clams can be used)
Fresh Cooked Dungeness Crab Meat
1 lb. Fresh White Spot Prawns Raw
1 Cup Dry White Wine
1/4 Cup Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 Cup Butter
Sea Salt to taste
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Red Pepper Flake (to taste)
2 tsp. Ground Italian Seasoning
Zest from 1 Lemon and 1 Lime

1 lb. Barilla Whole Wheat Pasta
Boil water Add Pasta
Cook Pasta "Al Dente" Do Not Rinse!
Makes 6 large servings!

Saute Onion and Garlic in Virgin Olive Oil
Add White Wine and Simmer until alcohol is cooked off
Add Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Capers, Italian Herbs and Lemon/Lime Zest
Add Prawns, Cook until meat turns white and be careful not to over cook (not more that 3 minutes).
Add Clams
Quickly stir until Hot
Finish with Butter

Toss in Pasta, Butter and Add Louie's Fresh Crab (out of shell) at least 10 minutes before serving to allow juices to soak in the Pasta.

Serve in a large bowl with a glass of cold, dry white wine and a crunchy Baguette to soak up the broth.

In Italy it is not politically correct to serve Parmesan Cheese with seafood. But if you like it, do it!. Eat your heart out Martha Stewart!

May 26th - Pender Harbor

Pender Harbor is a great stop on our way north. After our experience with "The Rock" in Nanaimo we were happy to sail across Georgia Strait with a 15 knot wind on our beam. We anchored near Garden Bay Marina in Pender.

We went exploring in "Wings" to the public dock. It was a beautiful day!


Louie loves the warmth of the sun.

This wood carving displays the local food chain.

The brilliant colors of the Rhododendrons dazzled our eyes.

YES! that is a Palm Tree. Lou thought we were in the tropics. They don't call this the "Sunshine Coast" for nothing!

We purchased these "White Spot Prawns" live off the boat. I beheaded them and used the heads for crab bait.

Lou and I had a crabbing contest. I dared to challenge the infamous "Crab Louie". We were using chicken legs for bait. I added a can of Anchovies pouring the oil over the chicken in my trap. Louie just had plain chicken in his trap. I caught 2 crabs. Louie caught ZERO! The next challenge was Louie put chicken legs and Anchovies in his trap and I put prawn heads in mine.

We both caught 2 big ones each!

There is a face of a Happy Man!

I am happy also!!!

May 25th - "Shiver Me Timbers" I HIT A ROCK !

From Chemainus we headed north through Dodd Narrows at low slack and anchored for the night at Newcastle Island. In the morning we purchased some fuel at the Nanaimo fuel dock and then headed north.

They say about hitting a rock: “There are those that have, those that will and those that lie.” Here is my confession: "It is the most horrible of feelings when the keel grinds its way along that submerged lump of grief! Especially when my eyes were fixed on the chart plotter to assure myself that there was plenty of water to pass by the infamous Oregon and Passage Rocks. We entered the narrow cut between Nanaimo and Newcastle Island. I was at the wheel and Lou was sitting next to me watching the chart plotter as we carefully proceeded. Even though we have been through there many times we were exercising great caution. When we approached the markers I made the choice to pass between the markers just above the cursor in the photograph above to reach the deeper water. We felt the keel hit and I instantly threw the engine in neutral. The coffee in the cup I was holding shot out in a stream and Lou lunged forward cutting his finger on his own fingernail as he grabbed the chart plotter. I reverted back to my Irish Catholic beginnings which I thought was long since forgotten yelling: "Holy Mary, Mother of God what in the hell was that!" We floated backwards and I turned the wheel over to Lou and we continued to safe water. The image of 2.7 knots on the speed indicator when we hit is burned in my memory. After exiting the channel Lou went below to check under the floor boards. He checked the keel bolts and the bilge to make sure we were not taking on water.

As it turned out it was exactly at low slack tide because I could hear the calls on the marine radio from boats transiting Dodd Narrows. It was one of the lowest MINUS TIDES of the year!

May 23rd - Chemainus

We rounded "Turn Point Lighthouse" built in 1893 on Stuart Island and headed for Pender Island to check into Canadian Customs for our six month cruising permit.

After clearing customs we headed for Chemainus on Vancouver Island. The name "Chemainus" comes from the native shaman and prophet "Tsa-meeun-is" (Broken Chest). Legend says that the man survived a massive wound in his chest to become a powerful chief. His people took his name. In 1858 settlers arrived and founded a logging town and a railroad was soon to follow.




On the dock we ran into an old aquaintence "Thomas Taylor the Poet" aboard his beautifully restored "Seeker of Truth" a 1913 Norwegian motor-sailor. Found on the hard behind a barn she had to have several planks replaced because of drying out.

How could one forget a sailor that has a picture of his boat tatooed on his chest and back!

Seventh Heaven and Seeker of Truth are dock mates.

As we venture downtown Chemainus we begin to see one of 39 murals that have made the charming town famous.

This is a striking mural in honor of the area's First Nations Naut’sa mawt Tribe of which the Chemainus People or "Tsa-meeun-is" are members of.

There is also a rich Asian history here. Mining, fishing and forestry were the original industries that gave work to many Chinese who worked in "bull gangs" struggling to move huge lumber planks to the ships in the late 1800's, and who arrived to work on the trans Canada Railroad later.

Scottish and German settlers looking for riches in the mines and staying to work in the forests and on fishing boats brought diversity of cultures into the area.

Modern conveniences arrived with the success of the economy.

Chemainus re-invented itself with the decline of logging, fishing and mining into a charming tourist destination. It became "The Little Town that Did" and has a popular and quite famous Live Dinner Theater that both boaters and travelers enjoy.

Another unusual fact about the area is On January 13, 2006, a Boeing 737 aircraft was sunk off the coast in order to build an artificial reef for fish and other sea creatures including divers. The sinking was documented in "Sinking Wings", an episode of the Discovery Channel.

May 19th - Oh, Our Aching "HEAD" !!!

It was as if a ghost inhabited our forward head. Our new recently installed electric toilet started flushing on it's own. Upon further investigation it was also "leaking" and we will spare you the details of that. Soon it began to blow fuses and when Lou would replace them it continued to flush non-stop until we turned off the main breaker or another fuse blew.

Thirteen days into our adventure we realized that there was no other alternative but to return to Roche Harbor where the work had been done. The above photo is a picture of the culprit. It is a faulty push button panel to flush the toilet. It took three days to analyze the problem and order various parts. Hoses were tightened and the main control panel was replaced all under warranty and no cost for labor or moorage. Roche Harbor Marine really stands by their work and John is a great business man.

Roche Harbor is home to the "Phecal Phreaks", a small boat that will visit your boat to "pump out" while visiting the resort. (No pun intended).

As we entered the harbor we passed the 136 ft. historic schooner "Zodiac". The Zodiac was built in 1924 as a graduation present for one of the heirs of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune. She served from 1931-1972 as a bar pilot schooner in San Francisco, delivering harbor pilots to vessels traveling the treacherous waters near the Golden Gate as the last working pilot schooner in the United States. She now is available for pleasure cruising.
http://www.schoonerzodiac.com/default.htm

The fragrence of Lilacs fill the air near the lovely gardens of Roche.


Flower lined pathways invite visitors to meander amongst the blossoms.

On our last evening we enjoyed a dinner with Mary Ann and Candace on the deck of the Madrona Restaurant. Louie plays "Taps" on his imaginary bugle at the nightly sunset ceremony of lowering the flags of Roche Harbor, Canada, Britain and the United States complete with cannon fire!

The sunsets are spectacular at Roche!