Phosphorescence

One of the joys of sailing late at night (usually due to lack of wind during the day) is the phosphorescence. As a little kid I loved going down to the beach at night and watching the waves glow and stomping on the sand to watch stars shoot out from my feet. 

On the boat it is a different view.  I have stars in my wake. Some times more than others but they are still there. When I end up rowing is the best though.  It looks like I am stirring some magic potion.  Back and forth, glowing all around.  It is a simple pleasure but it makes me smile every time it happens.

Charts

So I ended up meeting another sailor on my trip. I know that is not a surprise.  But the surprise was that he had a number of duplicates of charts.  So off to his boat to sort through.  A number of the charts in his collection were from the 50-60s.  The were beautiful.  I ended up receiving over 15 different charts that I didn't already have a major bonus.  

Human resources

They are following me. Damn them. Even sitting on an island and drinking a beer doesn't make them palatable.

Phrog Gin

Hitchhiking makes for such interesting adventures.

I ended up hopping a ferry from Hornby Island to Denman Island.  As I was coming back I got picked up by this cool lady.  We ended up chatting about why she was there.  She was an engineer for BC ferries and had been doing an inventory of equipment on an assortment of their boats.  Which was a cool conversation in and of itself. 

But then she mentioned that one of her old Masters who had retired was distilling Gin on Hornby.  Needless to say I said that if she would take me I would LOVE to see this place. 

This is the amazing still that they are using.  Serious amounts of happiness.

We ended up talking random boats (including that his son was off doing the PacifiCup) and drinking gin for over three hours.  :)   

I ended up with a nice bottle of the gin.  Going to try and save some for back in Seattle....well either that or I will need to sail over there again. 

Southeasterlies

You know that you have ended up in the wrong anchorage when as you go to pull up your anchor there is seaweed on your bow. 

The little storm I was in wasn't that bad.  The main problem was that the wind and the waves were at cross purposes.  I know I should have shifted my orientation to the waves but it wasn't that bad....just occasional large waves.

Lasqueti Island

On my way to Hornby and Denman Islands I stopped at Richardson Bay, Lasqueti Island.  It was amazing sailing into that bay.  I was the only boat there and as I was coming in a group of musicians were playing.  I could make out a fiddle and some flute.  Not my typical day.  

Next Stop....

The next place I will be staying for more than an evening is the islands of Denman and Hornby.  At Denman Island I will be getting chocolate.  The chocolate made there is some of the best I have ever had.

Dragging Anchor

Well it finally happened.  I drug anchor yesterday and to top it off it happened when I wasn't at the boat.  Of course.  Nothing like running some errands and coming back to your boat gone. 

I had taken the little foot ferry into town from Newcastle Island.  As I am waiting to go back I did a quick scan to check on my boat.  Gone.  At first I thought that another boat had anchored between me and my boat.  Further searching showed that wasn't right.  So I started looking farther out.  Way down the bay I found my boat. About 100 meters away from the bouy marking the shoal.  Serious amounts of unhappiness. 

I final got to my kayak at Newcastle and started rowing as quickly as I could to Whisper.  By the time I got there the Port Authority was on the scene and had tied to me.  Luckily they were very nice people.  No lecturing, well except telling me I might need a larger anchor.  They offered to tow me back to the mooring field.  I decided that the marina was going to a better place (had already been planning on moving that evening when the wind died down).  So time to pull up my anchor.  I think at this point the PA might have revised the need for a larger anchor.  She had bit in very well.  With the engine on the PA boat breaking the anchor free was easier than normal but still a bit of work. 

The PA delivered me to the end of the long dock and the wonderful older gentlemen that were at the dock offered me a Gin and Tonic.  Just what I needed.  

First Orca Sighting

Yesterday afternoon off of Gabriola Island I had my first orca sighting of the trip.  Sadly the I wasn't able to get a picture of them.  It appeared that there were three of them. One of which was a baby.

First Dungeness

I had my first dungeness crab of the trip last night.  Since I went through the San Juans so quickly I didn't even try and set a pot.  That said to was so sweet and tasty. I had the leftovers with scrambled eggs and garlic scapes.  Life is wonderful.