SSpirit home.....

Hi all, thanks for your notes and messages... just wanted to let you know, after one night at Bute Island, the good ship SSpirit is now resting peacefully in her slip at MBYC. We're going to enjoy one more BBQ dinner and then head home for the night. Thanks for joining us on our rather unique month long cruise. Take good care. CJ

Sent from my iPad

Took the ‘ Jump’

Madeira Park was a good experience... and we met nice folks... but, it was time to go! One boat left (bigger, stronger and faster than ours) and ourselves and another waited one more night. We both headed out on Saturday morning with the intention of heading home (they to Richmond and us to the other side of the Strait). Luckily for us they got to south of Merry Island first and radioed back. They were turning around as the wave over swell was just too much. As we had no set plans, and didn't feel the need to get 'all shook up' we slowed down and joined them in Secret Cove for one night at the Buccaneer Marina. Sunday morning, bright and early, both boats headed out and south. Winds were light (on the nose for us) and seas were kindly. Both boats arrived at their destinations comfortably. We have enjoyed Sunday afternoon and Monday at Pages Marina and plan to head through Gabriola Pass tomorrow morning. Where we are headed remains to be determined and when we go home... well, we'll know once we're there :-). Rest assured we are safe within the Gulf Islands and enjoying, finally, some days of sunshine. Hope all is well with each of you. CJ

Sent from my iPad

SSpirit is hunkered down at Madeira Park

Quick update for those of you following the weather. Yup, the wind event appears to be getting a little worse and for a little longer, but we are safe and secure, hunkered down at the public dock in Madeira Park. Over the next several days the winds are forecast to bounce around between 20 and 40 knots which of course has turned Georgia Straits into a cauldron of wind waves and swell. We don't wish to play in that and will remain here until things calm down. All is well on board. We have shopping nearby and are secured to a strong dock with power.

We hope all of you are also safe and warm. This storm will pass and we'll be on our way home once the trip will be more comfortable. Best to all... CJ

Sent from my iPad

Plans in sand... voila! Madeira Park.

Hi everyone, just wanted to let you know...plans in sand = changed our minds. Mother Nature demanded attention and we decided to listen to her. SE 30-40 are forecast for Wed and, not wanting to get trapped at Westview (too far north compared to where to cross the Strait from) we continued south as far as Pender Harbour (Madeira Park). Based upon the swells and how wet we got today, motoring into the SE 15s, we're waiting until the weather reports first thing tomorrow to decide whether or not we'll cross. If we decide not to cross, we'll enjoy a few days here in MadeIra Park and head across once the dastardly breezes have abated. That's the latest plan...in sand... :-)

Hope all is well with all of you. We are fine. TTFN. CJ

Sent from my iPad

Brightening... a little

We are in beautiful Laura Cove... and the smoke has lightened... a bit. At least we can see out past the entrance today. Prawn trap is down and crab trap will follow shortly. We'll be here for a few days.

We are fine.... and thinking of the folks devastated by the fires, as well as the fire fighters and other first responders involved. Hope all is well with you and yours. CJ

Update (while post sits in outbox waiting for connectivity :-)

Loose plan is heading to Lund tomorrow (Saturday) and starting our south bound loop that will see us home by the end of the month (weather permitting). Destinations are 'in the wind'.

Grey, it’s all grey...

I think for a blog to maintain its credibility, one must be prepared to share even the grey parts of the journey; and oh boy is it grey up here. We've had limited access to news for quite a while but, even without a newscast to warn us, it's pretty clear the smoke from the major fires has caught up to us.

We had warm, sunny days when we started out... lots of sun in Smuggler Cove, Fox Island and Maude Bay. When we left our friends in MBay we headed to Westview (in sun) and then up to Lund. The smoke began to make its presence known just before we arrived in Lund and, by the next day, it was obviously moving in. Undeterred, we headed to Prideaux Haven (which became Melanie Cove by the time our hook was down... better depth for anchoring and very peaceful and calm). While the smoke was around us, it wasn't socked in and we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon, swimming in 70 degree water and drying off on the sunny foredeck. Unfortunately the next day dawned in thick smoke.

We lounged in Melanie Cove for another two days of grey. The shadowy shoreline and grey shrouded trees remind me of our trip down the west coast in fog. It was a time (and is again) when your whole world is within your visual space...what you can see...which isn't very much. I wrote a few words to try to shake off my melancholy and I ll share them with you later. We're doing better now.

We left Melanie Cove intending to head to Roscoe Bay (you know, so we could hike to Black Lake and enjoy the views). Ha! once we'd left Melanie Cove we realized the smoke was even thicker than we'd realized (couldn't see the shore, never mind the 'view') ... turned on the radar and running lights. And, we turned left (er, to port) and headed for Refuge Cove. Lots of smoke equals no sun, equals no solar panels. We're at Refuge now so we can charge up the batteries and decide what to do.

So, for those wondering what it's like cruising in smoke...here is one girl's vision.

"To say it's like visiting a parallel universe would not be an over-statement. Travelling in a constant haze with the shorelines and beautiful trees reduced to paler shadows of themselves was not the splendour of Desolation Sound we had travelled for several days to explore.

No brilliant blue skies, no vibrant green shores, and no birds swimming on the breeze. Instead, millions of moths falling from the sky, twittering of small birds in the trees but not sailing the wind currents, and silence, eerie silence, amongst the boats resting at anchor. Very little laughter or swimmers splashing about, just quietness. Even shore leave for canine crews are quiet, deliberate.

Anchored two-thirds of the way into Melanie Cove, we can barely see the boats anchored just outside the entrance; a stones throw for an A League pitcher.

Not the premier tour we had envisioned."

OK, enough said :-). life goes on and so shall we. We're safe and sound (and trying not to breathe too deeply) in Refuge Cove. Will see what the weather gods have in store for us over the next few days... before we decide where and when we will go.

Hope you are all keeping safe and well. Know you are in our thoughts. CJ

PS: the photo is Maddie offering suggestions as to where we might head...

Quick update...Wed. September 9

After a great visits with friends (old and new) in Maude Bay we have moved on and expect to arrive In Lund tomorrow. From there we'll be heading in to the 'Sound' for up to two weeks of gunk-holing, resting, reading, hopefully swimming, kayaking, etc. Will write again but not for a while. Take good care everyone... and stay safe. TTFN CJ

Sent from my iPad

Fwd: 1030 Hrs. Sept. 03... Musket Island Marine Park

>
> 
>
> It seems we have the place to ourselves this morning... well, except for the large seal just at the entrance, talking and splashing and totally entertaining Maddie.
>
> Yes, what an amazing, and quiet experience. The last boat left at 1000 and all you can hear now are crickets, birds, and seal splashes. As well as the beautiful scenery, we've met some great folks, including Laurence and Anne on SV Dreamspeaker.. yes, one and the same... authors of the Dreamspeaker cruising guides. We thanked them for their terrific books.
>
> Yesterday we feasted on seafood; clams and oysters in abundance... and today has dawned beautiful and warm. All is well. May try prawning... you just never know.
>
> Update: 1100 hrs. Joined by friends Dave and Dawn on MV C'mander 1. We shared some walks, clam spots, and a fun, socially distanced, dinghy raft up happy hour. It was great to reconnect and, no doubt, our paths will cross again in the future.
>
> That was something we had to get used to in the Sea (the Sea of Cortez). We met many amazing people; most having arrived in the Sea the same way we did, by the seat of our pants, hanging on for the ride of a lifetime as we sailed south down the coast to Mexico. Our paths would cross and recross over the seasons as we explored the coasts of the Sea; and we would have wonderful visits when we shared an anchorage. But, each time we left to carry on our explorations, we never knew if we would ever see them again. We said goodbye each time, knowing we might not, and cherishing the memories.
>
> Must run now... things to do (chores, reading, napping, hiking, prawning, clamming, repeat 😀). TTFN. CJ
>
> Saturday, Sept. 5
>
> Our original plan was to spend a couple days at Smuggler's Cove and another couple at Pender Harbour... but we didn't and, as a result, we are ahead of schedule. We've now been at Musket Island for five lovely days. The winds are forecast to build and it feels like it's time to move along, so... today we plan to hoist anchor and head to a small private dock in Maude Bay, owned by a friend of a friend. She has kindly offered us moorage for a couple days and we're looking forward to meeting her and to a visit with our friends Deb and Ian. So, provided our anchor comes up (many years ago I anchored in almost the exact spot and managed to stick our anchor into a large log. That took such force to break free we actually bent one of the tines on a Danforth anchor), we shall be on our way about mid day. Our destination is only 4-5 NMs away and I said we'd be in by early afternoon. Hopefully we will have some connectivity there and be able to catch up on emails. For the past five days we 've had to take the dinghy out and around to the west side of Musket Island in order to send texts or emails... not particularly efficient :-( All part of cruising this wonderful coast.
>
> Hope all is well with each of you. Adios for now. CJ

Update: Sept 6

Comfortably settled in at friend's dock in Maude Bay. Wonderful community, good friends, and a chance to enjoy peace and friendship while the NW continues to build in the Strait. All is well.

1030 Hrs. Sept. 03... Musket Island Marine Park



SSpirit has left the dock...

SV Shannon's Spirit has finally left the dock on an adventure! After waiting for many weeks and months, SSpirit has crammed her lockers full of vitals and grog (mustn't forget the grog!) shaken off her dock lines, and set sail with two (well 2 and a half if you count Maddie the pup) motley crew... headed for parts unknown (quite well known actually but who cares!).

We slipped our marina Sunday morning and headed up through Dodd Narrows to Newcastle Island, just off Nanaimo. After a rainy overnight we left early Monday morning and crossed the Strait. Had a lovely sail for the first half of the crossing and then motored up to Smuggler Cove where we were able to anchor and shore tie at a spot we'd eyeballed last time we were here.

You won't likely remember the last time we were here, but we will never forget. It was on dear Shannon and we had anchored in the small cove in back of the main anchorage. The winds blew like stink that night, our shore line proved too light and the boat started to veer back and forth as she slowly began to whip the anchor out of its secure location. Did I mention? It was midnight, pitch black, with the wind howling through the shrouds and the two other boats in the Cove hadn't turned their anchor lights on... we had to go by memory. As well, the tide was so low we couldn't leave the small bay and there was a shoal right across from us. Anyway, we ended up breaking all the rules.

Yup, we managed to retrieve our shore line and anchor and, going by memory of where the two boats had been, we moved down to the head of the bay, dropped the anchor while going forward, it dug in, the boat swung around with her nose into the wind, and there we were, anchored on a lee shore with the wind howling down on us. And then the biggest and brightest full moon I've ever seen, crept up from behind the trees, lighting up the scene like a theatre stage. It was amazing. We sat up for the rest of the night, nestled under our knee blankets. Kathy watched the depth sounder as the bottom was within inches of our keel and I watched our swing and the anchor set. What a night that was... but we survived and we learned a few things too. We now have a much larger and stronger shore line for one. That was the last time we'd been here; so it's nice to have had a good experience this time. Guess maybe we'll come back again :-)

Today we are heading up to one of our favourite anchorages behind Fox Island on Hardy Island. We'll hang out there for several days enjoying an anchorage protected from the NW. At least that's the plan for now...remember, all plans are made in the sand, just below the high water mark.

Hope you are all well and staying safe. In case you're interested, I now have a couple websites along with this blog. (www.cjdaley.ca and www.ruddyduckpress.ca )

The photo is out our 'back door' looking out the gap towards the Strait.

TTFN. CJ
>