Day #3, Nesting Birds - Kay

We anchored at Silva Bay this afternoon.  Silva Bay is a sweet spot off the east side of Gabriola Island. After taking the dinghy to town, well not town, really just the marina and some services, we are back on Quijote safe and sound. Lucky we didn't stay off board for a beer. We are sipping beers while snug in the cockpit with winds increasing to 14 knots, and gusts thus far up to 19 knots!

Enroute today we had time to waste before slack at Gabriola Passage. We choose to drift gently, no motor, no sails, along Valdez Island 100 yards offshore where we watched and listened to nesting birds, soaring eagles, sleek seals.  A special treat.

Motoring through Gabriola Passage at slack was a breeze.

After another long day, we all look forward to a long sleep.  Tonight it will be to the sound of howling wind and hard rains cleansing the decks.

Day 2 Avocado madness; Rod

Twelve avocados were perfectly ripe at the same time today.  What can you do?  When life feeds you avocados, make guacamole.  By the time you add cilantro, salsa, cheese and chips, you have enough nachos to feed an army.  Did that slow us down?  Of course not.We added tacos, a bottle of wine, and the berry pie that Pat sent us on our way with - all incredibly delicious.  Silence prevailed except for the occasional sounds of the marine life around us and the appreciative murmurs of culinary ecstasy by the Quijote crew.  A late evening sunset splashed the surface of the bay while we devoured our meal, stuffing ourselves as only the high energy lifestyle of outdoor adventuring will allow.

The latter point is, of course, so much rationalization for overdoing dinner.  Sailing is mostly a sedentary sport.  If we have many more meals like last nights, they will have to roll us off the boat.

We did get some exercise in Bedwell harbor yesterday.  After clearing customs we anchored by the shoreline and paddled the dingy to shore where we enjoyed hiking along a spectacular trail that ran along the shoreline for a mile or so before petering out where bluffs made passage by foot impossible.  It was so good to get out and stretch the lungs.

Day 1, Aleck Bay; Rod

A quiet start on a misty morning.  Quijote crew said their goodbyes and started north under gray skies and a light wind.  We were passed by the odd barge or two, a coast guard cutter, and several motor yachts, but for the most part the traffic was light and the passage largely uneventful.  Kay served up snacks as we plodded along, bucking a flood current, making 6 kts headway.

We rounded Partridge Point on the northwest shoulder of Widbey Island when things started to happen.  First the wind kicked up to 16 kts, then Bob turned green and fed the fish, and the sun came out.  Encourage by the former and latter events, and hoping to improve Bob's disposition, we hoisted sail and cut the engine.  It stayed sunny for the rest of the afternoon, the wind stayed fresh and steady at 12kts all the way to the anchorage, but Bob never did get his color back completely.  So much for the patch.  It was a little rough out on the Straight of Juan de Fuca.  Three cheers for Bob who will also be rounding Cape Caution with us.

We arrived at Aleck Bay in the early evening with just enough sunshine left in the day to enjoy dinner by.  A cacophony of birds filled the bay in fading fading light as the sun settled onto the horizon.