Wednesday, August 3, 2022

We sailed, we swam, we sweltered, we're home...

The Salish Sea is a magnificent body of water, and for my entire sailing life (since I was two, according to family photos) it has posed a challenge in at least one direction on every Strait-crossing cruise. I tell you this in the hopes you will understand how glorious it was to cross the Sea heading home from Pender Harbour... with both sails full and pulling, the sea a calm 1' chop, the wind a comfortable Nor' Wester and our course on one tack the whole way to Nanaimo. We averaged 6 knots under sail; the sun was shining and the sky was a brilliant blue. It was the best crossing in my memory and our grins ran from ear to ear. Even Maddie settled down and went to sleep. 

 We crossed the Sea on Tuesday the 26th and, after a short stop at Newcastle Island we joined an armada of boats heading through Dodd Narrows on the 28th. We headed to a small anchorage near Ladysmith with hopes of staying there a couple days but it was so HOT we headed home early. It was 80 degrees inside the boat and the draw of the heat pump/air conditioner at home was just too strong to ignore. Besides, our little anchorage was filling rapidly with boats coming in for the long weekend and it was only Thursday. 

We usually cruise to Desolation Sound during May or June. This year we decided to go in July and looked forward to warm water swimming, etc. Perhaps it was the relaxing of Covid restrictions or perhaps it's just been the passage of time, but I must say I have never experienced such full anchorages and boat captains who were not always courteous or considerate. Don't get me wrong, we still had a good time. Re-connecting with old friends was, perhaps, the best part of all. As well, we met nice folks along the way and we did get lots of swimming in - just not in the full anchorages (we have a few hidey-holes we keep for ourselves :-). 

It's good to be home and out of the major heat. The good ship SSpirit (that's short for Shannon's Spirit) is biding her time at the breakwater of the yacht club while one of the docks is being repaired. We hope to move into our new slip sometime in the next couple of weeks. We'll be back out on the water for shorter cruises during August and into the fall. 

 In closing up this leg of our journey I just want to say thanks for coming along for the ride. It's always good to know that folks are enjoying the stories and, for some, enjoying reliving their own cruising history. We'll close with a few photos of the last portion of our trip and wish you all a splendid 'rest of summer'. Stay safe and stay well. 

Adios for now. CJ and Kathy and Maddie.