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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Must run now... things to do (chores, reading, napping, hiking, prawning, clamming, repeat 😀). TTFN. CJ
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> Saturday, Sept. 5
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> 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.
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> 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.
