There’s nothing like the slap of water…

Y on the hull of a sailboat beating its way through what ever the tides churned up. And so it was when we finally broke free from the land-based challenges and worry. We weren’t exactly sailing; the winds met us head on as we crossed from Nanaimo, heading for Jedidiah and then settling for a quiet anchorage on the south end of Texada Island. With time to catch our breath, we paid homage to those who had gone before us; remembering the lessons learned from the knee of a sailing father (my dad) along , with his equally competent mate, my mom… and the other senior boaters in our lives, like Kathy’s mom and dad who led us into and around the Broughton's and shared several anchorages with us and then, in 2011, (along with my dad) supported our biggest adventures (even the one down the west cost to Mexico on the good ship Shannon). Yesterday marked the start of our 2026 summer cruise. It is safe to say we resurrected our summer plans after many setbacks and here we are. Our course takes us to visit dear friends in Powell River and then on to Cortez Island to rendezvous with other dear friends from a different time of life. It feels so good to be, finally, out here, under our own steam, with a somewhat relaxed plan. I hope each of you have developed summer plans that meet your needs and find the strength to adapt as needed in order to see them through. Adios for now…. CJ, K and Maddie > > 

PIrates cove

Was relatively calm last night, particularly considering the forecast of 25 knot winds. No excitement except for the fellow who backed over his dinghy painter. He was lucky. HIs neighbouring vessel had a young fellow who dove down and freed the line. Smiles all around. We’re here for a few more nights. It’s a great place to hangout, help folks, care for the marine park and decompress after a busy spring. Hope you are all decompressed and enjoying where ever you are. Always.. CJ

> > > svshannon.blogspot.com > cjdaley727.wixsite.com/cjdaley

Shannon’s Spirit is on the move….finally

 to hopefully warmer days dripping in sunshine. After almost two months receiving updates, upgrades, repairs and TLC, SSpirit is loaded up and on the move. Today we braced ourselves for a cold and somewhat lumpy motor boat ride…into the face of a Nor’wester and joined numerous other boats in Pirates Cove. Our Club members volunteer to serve as park hosts and have the use of a small dock to tie up to while serving. Given the forecast of the upcoming weather that includes gusty and strong winds, we have opted to ‘host’ for three days in the hopes the NW will have calmed down before we leave and cross the Straits (a petulant body of water that cares little for creature comforts, warm and dry conditions, or smooth and gentle breezes). Best part? At long last our repairs are completed and we are free to begin our summer cruise. The not so good news? The time left for this year’s cruise is half what we had hoped for and the challenging weather isn’t helping. getting on with it? We’ll do as much as we can as long as it feels safe and is enjoyable. We’ll also do more sailing this fall…as much as we can in our beautiful Gulf Islands. As far as challenging weather goes… my dad always said “while you can’t do anything about the wind… you can always adjust your sails”. Here’s hoping you have your sails aligned with your dreams and you days go well. Adios for now. CJ

svshannon.blogspot.com

Shannons Spirit is…

back in action !!! Yabadabadoo.! ( for you younger folks, that s a good emotion…for you older folks…well maybe check in with Yogi Bear. Finally, after 48 long and expensive days, SV Shannon’s Spirit has tossed the dock lines, backed slowly out of her temporary slip, spun her wheel and made a run for it; Before anything else could possibly go wrong!! Some might say I’m a pessimist others may call me paranoid. I must admit I am little shell shocked. It appears to me we’ve either removed, repaired or replaced almost every essential item responsible for being safe, comfortable and a darn good sailboat. The important feeling is freedom. Free from systems we don t know well enough to discuss, free from the most expensive boat maintenance and repair I have ever experienced with this boat or any one of the previous 9, and free to begin to seriously plan our summer cruise. Phew…. Our shake down cruise has us currently enjoying two nights at Otter Bay Marina sharing time with dear friends on their boat. Tomorrow we head to Montague, aiming to arrive about 1000 hours which is when many of the current occupants of the mooring balls will be leaving… and the next day we point our collective noses north to head up and around the north tip of Saltspring Isl. and then on to our home in Maple Bay. Shaking off the angst of the delay, we shall happily firm up our plans for our 2026 summer cruise. We won t be travelling great distances but we will be visiting some of our favourite anchorages as well a new-to-us anchorages. Dates and timing are still in the sand, waiting to be firmed up prior to our day of departure. Loose and local will be our key goals this year. Until I write again, I wish you carefree days and happiness…and good quality sunscreen. CJ > >

> > svshannon.blogspot.com > cjdaley727.wixsite.com/cjdaley >

Not out of the woods yet

Good morning. Many of you have been wondering where the heck we are… north of Desolation? Nope. frolicking in Desolation Sound?? Not there either. VIsiting good friends up the coast??? Not even there. The three of us (K, C and Ms. M) are still at home and re-writing our cruising plans on almost a weekly basis. Shannon’s Spirit remains in the van Isl marina. At least she’s back in the water but she s not ‘free to go’ yet. I admit, it feels like almost everything has been repaired or replaced… except her hull, but the good news is, she should be good to go for as long as we care to keep sailing. I desperately hope she will be released in the next week or so and we can proceed with cruising plan number 537. Until then… wishing you all a warm and healthy summer. I’ll let you know when SSpirit is released and we are free to go….CJ over and out. >  >

> > svshannon.blogspot.com > cjdaley727.wixsite.com/cjdaley >

OK! So I’m not a world class traveller…

…and I haven’t been to even one 5 star hotel, but I do get around in my own way. Today though, at a well known marina in the Saanich area, I found myself in need of a visit to the ‘facilities’. I had a rather large chunk of standupish hair on my head and it needed to be wetted down and flattened. I entered the (obviously 5 star…ish looking) facility and ,lo and behold, came face to face with an instrument I had no idea how to use. Talk about a country bumpkin, I thought to myself… what now. So, based on previous experiences, I waved my hand under something that looked like it would dispense water and when it did, I quickly applied it to my hair, near where the sticky-out tuft was located. To my horror I quickly realized it wasn t water but a sticky glob of some clear gel I assumed was soap. I quickly moved to the next choice…..more soap and the third arm…same thing. What to do in this rather alarming situation?

What could I do but wave my hands under every square inch of the apparatus and finally, off the nearest corner, came a trickle of water; no help at all. Back to the toilet stall, out with some TP, wipe off as much as possible, pat the rest into hair to hide the mess, and head quickly back to the boat. Luckily the water was still warm from the motor boat ride earlier and, after a nice hair wash,(it s clean and shiny now) there s only one thing to do. It involves cold beer and sharing this story of my lack of worldly skills with you. Hope you giggled at least once. It’s been a while since I’ve written. LIfe has indeed been busy. The good ship Shannon’s Spirit will be on her summer cruise from mid June to mid August and I shall be back to sharing stories soon. Hope all is well with all of you and hope you always get what you expect when you wave your hand at something. Adios for now. CJ. 

After a lovely visit with friends in Punta Pérula…

We are safely home; tired, but home, and already getting busy addressing the challenges of Spring 😃
The grass is growing, the garlic's up and Shannon's Spirit is patiently waiting for her once a year overhaul. Hope your gardens rise as planned and you're enjoying the Olympics. Happy spring! Always, And... wishing you all a very happy Valentine's Day  CJ