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Between the flower pots and the bakery the Busker sings a lovely French melody that matches the mood today. After all the rain this week colors jump out, while a little summer sunshine hangs off the changing leaves.

The work in the boatyard never ends.

The Pirate Ship is loading up with some tipsy grown up kids who are out for some fun in costume in a pretend world.

All aboard!!

We haven’t been out to enjoy any favorite restaurants, so SS brought a five star meal to the boat. Sirloin steak, smothered in mushrooms and onions, with a potato pouch and corn on the cob, and the most delish bread, all from the markets on Granville Island. I’m never leaving!!

With our amazing views between the bridges and the best marina to spend time at in Vancouver, we are ever so grateful for this month of transition from our summer sailing to our winter homes. We love you False Creek, Fisherman’s Wharf and Granville Island!!

The Smaller the Marina, the Bigger the Personality: Lund Harbour

A taxi driver who’s never been to Fisherman’s Wharf descends on Fir Street into the amazing views of False Creek and Fisherman’s Wharf. “I never knew this was here!” he exclaims.

It’s a joy to be sitting in the back seat listening to the Cabbie on a drive from work to the marina, as the expansive panorama opens up once passing through the gate. There are SO MANY varieties of boats, from working fishing boats, to luxury yachts, to derelict boats grandfathered in for live aboards.

Every year OMOO berths at Fisherman’s Wharf for part of the summer season to deliver Sideways Sally back to the working world so she can fill the piggy bank for the next adventure. Every year the kind and professional staff find a spot between the permanent and transient boats where we call home for a few weeks.

This year was different, as it has been for everyone. The pandemic is still in full swing, and traffic has changed on the water. The folks on the docks are few and far between. There’s some traffic in and out of Burrard Civic Marina next door on race nights, but nothing like the hectic, crazy throngs of kayakers, paddleboarders, sea doos and barbeque boats that normally transit up and down the narrow channel of False Creek.

Thank you Turk the Wharfinger and all the lovely staff at Fisherman’s Wharf for another welcoming stay. OMOO and crew have grown very fond of you and your amazing facility over the years.

PS. The book exchange is the BEST on the West Coast!!

UPDATE: 48North published the 2nd article in a set of 3 I submitted. Have a peek!

The Smaller the Marina, the Bigger the Personality: Lund Harbour

It’s been a month of transition for OMOO and crew. Sideways Sally is back to doing a job she luv luv luvs. The Skipper is into project mode and taking advantage of the city dock with extra good amperage for the tools and equipment. Along with some new boat neighbors to chat up, he’s a happy camper.

YES, we are being super Covid cautious… Masks, disinfectant, taxi to work and back, and no late night clubbing. We did brave the masked multitudes at Canadian Tire yesterday to get an air filter to tape to the fan to filter boat air. The Skipper found it terrifying until SS took him for a coffee and cookie treat. I’m not sure what scared him the most, SS driving a Shared-Modo van, dodging mad drivers, or the crazy old white guys that won’t wear masks.

The smart filter we got can read the air quality via bluetooth so our phone can tell us how we’re doing. We can’t smell smoke!! This is a good sign, the fan/filter has been proven to work over the previous years of forest fires.

Now, we sit on a Sunday morning sipping our coffee for hours, chatting with kids, grans and friends. Well, we were interrupted by the mobile poop pumper who came to empty our tank.

By late afternoon there’s some lamb chops marinating, we’ve caught up on the latest news from family, the CBC and of course, whatever social media is spewing.

Here’s some favorite sunsets, sunrises and people!!

Fisherman’s Wharf has always been good to us, we enjoy the friendly and helpful staff, and the working boats are impressive!

I’ve learned it’s really hard to get good pics of humpbacks.  These guys are everywhere south of the Dent Rapids, this one had a baby with her and what a show it was as we sped past them at 11 KNOTS with the current.  No chance of slowing down unless we wanted to go back through the rapids as the tide changed.

The first week of August has been full of  awesome surprises.  We left the Broughton Archipelago, bidding it farewell from Lagoon Cove.  We left the most awesome sights of our summer sailing, we thought….

Preparing to go through the rapids and timing our passage as we left Shoal Bay we were accompanied by the “bullet dolpins” which is what I call these black and white creatures that dart back and forth under the bow and pop up to say hello.

The next surprise was a bear on the shore in Port Neville as we ducked out of some headwinds on Johnstone Strait.  We headed into the back roads to bypass the strong currents and winds against us and anchored in Foreward Harbor, one of our old favorites.  Coming out the next morning we squeaked past the tugs and logbooms starting their tow in Welborne Channel.

We needed some supplies so after Green Point Rapids we docked at Blind Bay Resort and treated ourselves to dinner and live music at their attractive restaurant.  YUMMY!!

We stopped in Van an Dop Inlet (pretty sure that’s spelled wrong) and then Gorge Harbor which turned into a bit of a fiasco.  A boat came in with a jib sheet hanging over the side and jammed their prop, causing the engine to cease just in front of us.  They quickly dropped their anchor just before dark. I’m sure they were relieved to hear us call on the VHF to help them solve their problem.  The next morning one of the lady crew jumped in the water and untangled the line, and the motor started right up.

Later on we were relaxing in the cockpit after getting laundry done, and our neighbor stopped by on their kayak to tell us there is a rock near us.  We fired up the chart plotter to have a look and sure enough, it’s too close for comfort.  Up came the anchor and because it was so crowded near the marina we went to the far end of Gorge Harbor where there was this treasure anchored.

We are at Heriot Bay and woke up to a Humpback feeding along the edges of the shallow water.  What a wonderful way to start the day!!  I can truly say the sights since leaving the Broughtons have been a very pleasant surprise.

OMOO continues to wander around the Broughtons, looking for spots we haven’t been, and there are plenty.  The familiar marinas for fuel and provisions are well spaced out and accessible between jaunts into the wilderness, it’s a perfect way to explore the area.

We stopped at Sullivan Bay and had a lovely evening chatting with the crew from High Seas Drifter, a boat built in 1942 war time for torpedo retriever out of Shearwater, B.C.  The current Captain has used her for crew during forestry work and is now retired and had the family on board.  She attracts alot of attention so we chatted with the group of men that came to admire.  Have a look at her here:

https://www.capfor.ca/boat-charters

 

Next stop was Kwatsi Bay in Tribune Channel, another favorite from past visits.  Thompson Sound was recommended by sailors we met at Sullivan Bay, and away we went.

 

The highlight of an anchorage like this is experiencing the vast wilderness, and being the only humans around for miles.  This is so amazing that we can do this.  The Skipper comments often how it is “The Last Freedom.”

Sideways Sally is enthralled with the wildlife and the changing views as OMOO dances at anchor.

I woke to the sounds of spashing outside the hull and knew the dolphins were circling.  The Sound was filled with these delightful creatures playfully diving under the boat or jumping up to say hello.

 

Today we are back at Lagoon Cove, and starting to head slowly south again, winding our way back through the rapids to Desolation Sound.  The Broughtons are waiting for another year of boaters, as this year has been a tough one for many marinas, with no American boats.  We have to admit, it’s been nice having Canada to ourselves.

 

From the sounds of sirens, traffic and loud neighbors in Vancouver to the dark, calm and quiet night in a bay at anchor in the Broughtons, the contrast is welcome. I slept for 12 hours.

Sideways Sally made a quick trip to Vancouver last weekend for a couple of appointments. A short flight from Port Hardy airport to Vancouver South Terminal takes all of 50 minutes. Then a taxi ride to VGH for my appointment and a short walk to my old B&B at 13th and Cambie puts me back in the heart of covidization. Donning my mask and picking my routes on quiet residential streets gave me some sense of safety.

The return flight had a delay due to technical problems so I lived in the airport from 9am to 4pm. Because of the alphabet, MS BROWN was called up early to make arrangements on cancelling my flight or rebooking. I’d chatted with Eric and Connor while waiting and we hatched the plan. I scored the last three 3 seats for myself and the two young gentlemen on the only flight north to Campbell River that day. They had to get to Port Hardy for work, so they rented a JEEP and I jumped in the back. Once we were on the road Eric drove like a bat out of hell so I made it to Port McNeill in time for dinner with the Skipper.

Yikes, I was so glad to be back on OMOO, we let the lines go at Port McNeill the next day after provisioning for the next couple of weeks. We decided on a short trip over to Sointula to plug in to the dock and do some pressure cooking and make enough meals for the next three days. This makes life a breeze, then off we went in the breeze, sailing into the Broughtons. With the forecasted NW winds to 25 knots we sought the best sheltered anchorages. We navigated through Blackfish Sound, saw a couple of blows from a distant Humpback whale, and dropped the hook behind Goat Island(no there are no goats) and then Waddington Bay. Both these anchorages are bomb proof so we had peaceful, blissful nights.

On the trip to Waddington Bay SS navigated through Village Channel and Spring Passage between small islets with eddies and currents giving us a fun ride. Retreat Passage going north gave us a pleasant sail with the jib on a broad reach. We glided past the Gilford Nation Village with it’s prominent Long House and colorful houses. As we pulled in the sail and started to motor into our anchorage between the Fox Islands, a blow RIGHT BESIDE THE BOAT just about gave me a heart attack. The Skipper steered the boat slowly away from the humpy who kept swimming along side of us, then gave us a whale tale wave and sounded, coming up on the other side about 300 feet away with a full breach and a magnificent display of power and grace. I was shaking with excitement trying to get my camera going but only caught the “tail end” of the breach. OH MY HAT, what a surprise. We calmed down eventually and got anchored in the lee of a small island inside the bay. We talked about the whale for quite awhile, these encounters are so amazingly special that it leaves one in a wonderful state of love with nature. The wind subsided by the time we fell asleep and it was a calm glassy morning on the water.

I KNOW HUMPY IS OUT THERE WAITING FOR US!! We can’t wait to see what happens today. We pulled into Echo Bay for fuel, and checked out a possible anchorage at Laura Cove. It was uninviting so we headed across to Simoon Sound with it’s sharp cliffs and promising nooks for anchoring.

Just inside the entrance to the sound, our friends Josh and Sandy approached on “The Next Chapter.” We hailed them on the VHF and stopped for a chat. They had just caught 150 prawns so were happy to share. Josh jumped in their dingy and zipped over to OMOO for the handover. What luck!!

We anchored in a fairly open spot after trying to tuck into a small bay, only to see an uncharted rock at low tide. It was too close for comfort. The conditions were calm and sunny as we enjoyed the prawns with our dinner, lavishing in luxury in the cockpit. Summer had finally made her appearance in the Broughtons and we were feeling very fortunate about that. The morning brought a low hanging fog, mystifying and deceiving. As the sun slowly rose, the shifting shapes and shades were mesmerizing to watch, and finally the “Bald Mountain” appeared with it’s prominent cliffs. There was not a cloud in the sky and the sea was calm as we headed for our next destination in Greenway Sound.

 

The area has been logged extensively on the low lying hills so it looks desolate. At the head of the Sound we rounded an island which the guide books say is good for anchoring. A colony of seals greeted us, perched on the rocks at low tide. They watched us with curiosity and provided an intertaining evening of grunting and moaning at eachother, possessive of the rocks they could find as the tide rose. A pod of dolphins splashed and jumped, circling the far end of the sound. Another perfectly sunny calm evening as we took our dinner into the cockpit and took in the sights.

Far removed from covidization, we are happy and comfy in the belly of OMOO, and exactly where we want to be.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Broughton+Archipelago+Marine+Provincial+Park

Lacey Falls 2020

LUV LUV LUV the Broughtons, and this is why…

Tribune Channel treats us to the most spectacular waterfalls, pods of dolphins, snow capped mountain peaks, slate colored cliffs, and the list goes on and on. We headed off the dock at Lagoon Cove early in the day. This means 1:00 pm for us, lazy days suit us very well. It’s approximately a four hour trip and we took our time, stopping to watch the pods of dolphins popping up off the bow, and gazing lovingly at Lacey Falls.

We rounded the turn that opens up the view for Lacey Falls and found “Squirt” hanging out at the base of the falls. After a few moments of jaw dropping gazing at the falls, we backed away to give them room and take some extra photos.

Every time we’ve been to Lacey Falls it’s completely different. The water tap gets turned on full, or half way, or not at all. We’ve been very lucky to visit when it’s gushing and disappointed when there’s nothing. It’s always worth the trip to check it out.

Squirt hailed us on the VHF after we left the falls and asked if they could send us pics they’d taken of OMOO.  “Of course, we’d like that!!” we answered.  And this is what boating is all about, awesome people in awesome places.  We’ll swap photos and hopefully meet up with Squirt again somewhere.

A short distance later we spot a blow just off the Burwood Group, near Echo Bay. The illusive humpback teased us, sounding forever, no where to be seen. Just as we gave up I spotted the blow again waaaay off in the opposite side of the channel. Sigh… A few more dolphins entertained us as we powered up and headed to Echo Bay.

We checked in with the staff that Pierre had working there for the last few years.  It’s not gonna be the same, but everything changes and we’re happy Pierre and Tove have found a happy home to retire too.   The First Nations of Gilford Island have purchased the marina and we wish them the best in the future years, Covid-19 year being a tough start.

https://www.northislandgazette.com/news/gilford-island-first-nation-buys-pierres-marina-lodge/

OF NOTE!!  Billy had a valve replacement last year after he was rushed to hospital in Victoria.  Some children had gone for a walk to visit Billy and saw him take a fall.  So they ran back to Pierre’s and alerted the staff.  Sam whipped over in his boat, then called the Coast Guard.  This summer Billy is taking a break from his museum and visitors.  He doesn’t want to invite the virus!!  He is 85 after all…  Hope to see you next year Billy!!

http://pierresbay.com/things-to-do/billys-museum/

https://mapcarta.com/24683430

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribune_Channel

Hitchhikers in Snotty Johnstone Strait.

When Sideways Sally drives to town to buy groceries she doesn’t think twice about parking when she gets to the store.  When she decides to get to a store with OMOO, the Skipper thinks more than twice about parking.

Wind on the mast, current taking the keel, water under the keel, other boats to navigate around, and dock space.  Since Lund, we have stopped a few places, some at anchor with LOTS of room.  When we got through Yuculta and Dent Rapids we were looking forward to pulling into Shoal Bay.  It’s a slow year in these parts with no American boats.  Soooo, we thought there would be lots of space on the dock.

SURPRISE!!  As we got close enough to assess the space available a gentleman from “Mango Mama” called out to us, there’s room on the inside of the dock.  This meant taking OMOO into shallow water around the end of the dock closest to land and backing into a narrow space between the dock and the pilings.  There were some little run-abouts tied up there so we had to mind them.

Everyone that was tied up, which were about  six other boats, came out to guide, catch lines and pull us in.  It’s always interesting when Sideways Sally prepares the fenders and lines and waits for the Skipper to do his job.  The fun part is getting tied up once close enough, and what people do that show up to help.

We NEVER refuse help, it’s very reassuring to have people catch your lines.  BUT we’re never quite sure what they’ll do with our lines.  SS was ready to throw the mid-line as the Skipper maneuvered around the shallow end of the dock and lined up the stern to back into our spot.    One of the lovely ladies who was ready to help called “don’t throw that line yet, you’re not close enough.”  Our mid-line is super long, and meant to be tossed across the gap between the boat and the dock for anyone to help pull us over.  SS thought, “hmmm, this is the only way we’re getting in here” and threw the line, lassoing the lady.  She quickly handed it over to her hubby who had come out of their boat and he stood there for a moment with the line in his hand.  “Could you PLEEEEZ give us a wrap and pull us in?”  SS pleaded.  If they didn’t pull us in right away we’d be up against the small boats doing whatever damage we could.

The wharfinger arrived right about then and took our stern line, had it tied down in two seconds, and secured the mid-line so SS could step off the boat and grab the bow line just in time to stop OMOO from heading off sideways.  (No this is not where the name Sideways Sally comes from)

There have been times that that the Skipper has suggested, “Just throw a line that’s not attached to anything” and let him bring OMOO in by ourselves.  This is not something anyone should try at home, it’s a crazy idea.

After OMOO was all settled in, everyone came over to the Skipper to give him accolades for his fine parking job.  The lady who told me not to throw the mid-line commented on the size of OMOO, “is there enough room in there for just the two of you?”  To which the Skipper said “Not always!!” She was having boat envy.

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The morning tide was starting to ebb about the time we were ready to leave, so we had to scurry around a bit to get going.  This happened at approximately 10:30 am.  We are NOT morning people.  There was only Mango Mama left on the dock as we let the lines go and they weren’t paying any attention to us.  As we rounded the end of the dock in a tight space for water under us, the Skipper called out, 7′, 6′, 5′ OOPS.  Kerplunk, keel is in the mud.  “We don’t want to stay here” SS called back.  DUH!!

The Skipper is always calm, cool and collected.  He sat looking at his chart for a minute, then backed up a bit and gave the engine a thrust to propel us through the track he made backing up and was able to gain some momentum to plow through the soft silt.  The gentleman from Mango Mama looked up at this point, hearing the motor work.  With only a small audience to cheer him on, the Skipper gave a wave as we slid past the dock.

“WHEW, we’ve done this a few times but don’t tell anyone” I called out to Mango Mama, and they called back, “We hope to see you again somewhere.”

Later the Skipper says to SS, “That was really stupid, I’m NEVER going to do that again.”

He meant that he’s never going to go inside of that dock in Shoal Bay, but SS knows he really means he’s never going in the mud again, and she doesn’t believe him.  Hehehehe.

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