Nothing to see, Everything to sea

During our time being stuck to the dock due to Covid-19 our view is becoming slightly limited.  Once in awhile our neighboring boats leave for a haul-out which widens the scenery slightly.   It was starting to feel like there was nothing to see.

We were truly longing for some wide open spaces so last week we let the lines go and headed out.   Some of our dock neighbors asked “where are you headed?”  “All the way to Clam Bay” was the answer, “well take lots of food” our neighbor bantered back, teasing us about our very short journey.

We left Maple Bay behind and were into Samsum Narrows, the feeling moving through  the water is like being home again.  The Skipper and I share that sensation and it’s one of the most indescribable things.  It’s something I could never have dreamed of until I got on a sailboat and felt the sun, wind and water all around.  It’s serene and exciting all at the same time.

It’s about 2 -3 hours if we have a good sail, but there was not a lick of wind so we motored up Stuart Channel.  It being our first time out for the season, Sideways Sally took the wheel so the Skipper could check on his improvements over the winter.  He had replaced the hoses for the water heater which connect to the heat exchanger which distributes heat from the engine into the cabin.  All the connections were ok with no leaks of antifreeze.  WHEW, this was a good thing as the project had become arduous, first discovering the hose was the wrong size, then due to pneumonia  losing his strength.  SS helped tighten the fittings so we were anxious to make sure everything was intact.   YEAH!!

I have to tell you, as a First Mate and a farm girl, I love working alongside the Skipper on his projects.  It keeps me up to date with how things run on OMOO and lets me get down and dirty into the bilge with tools in hand.  The best thing about this is our teamwork.  We tackle a project together and it gets hilarious pretty quick.  Usually what he says and what I hear and vice versa is totally different.  We just laugh about it cause at our age this is not going to improve, it’s just going to continue to get worse.  Like when I asked him while at the marina if he’d seen big Steve, to which he replied, “what about big cheese?”

We dropped anchor in the NW corner of Clam Bay where we have always had good holding and settled in for the night.  Shortly after, a familiar boat pulled into the bay so we hailed “Beyond the Stars” on the VHF and had a visit with our friends Shannon and John across the water.   It was so good to see them and talk again!! Normally this would have been an invitation to join us aboard but we were all isolating so that will wait for another time.   At high tide local fishers take the cut from Clam Bay to Telegraph Harbour, but late in the evening one fisher didn’t time it quite right and provided us with some entertainment.  Finally he got off the bottom, backed up and left the way he came.  We had a lovely dinner in the cockpit in the setting sun and then slept like babies with the gentle movement of the boat overnight.

After three peaceful days and nights, the winds were forecasted to kick up from the SE, veering to SW up to 25 knots so we hauled anchor and headed over to Princess Cove on Wallace Island.  Tucked into the end of the cove sheltered from the winds we enjoyed  three more days of lazing about enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.

Being from the pairies I never knew loons were saltwater birds but we heard their lovely calls both in Clam Bay and Princess Cove.   In Princess Cove the anchorage is close to shore and most people stern tie, especially if there are several boats.  We got up close and personal to the otter hunting frequently and teasing the dog who lived ashore.

So all through our week out, there’s everything to sea, from OMOO our lovely home.