Sidney Sojourn - Sept 8-15, 2012
This trip punctuated a personally tragic time as I had suffered the loss of my father a few days previously. As a result of his illness and passing, I felt that I needed some time away to give myself an opportunity to come to grips with my grief. To that end, I felt that visiting old friends, all of whom have suffered the loss of parents, would go a long way toward re-setting my course.
Sept. 8 coincided with the annual Nicomekl River Rowing Club's Regatta where I once again acted as safety boat. The day, originally predicted to be poor, ended up being spectacularly warm and sunny. That afternoon, I crossed Georgia Strait and moored at the Rhodes' buoy in time to witness a spectacular sunset. The next day I cruised to Sidney where I anchored for five nights, visiting with people and sleeping aboard every night but one. That one, I spent at the Parker's so that we could get an early start the next morning at fishing for Coho in Juan de Fuca Strait.
Throughout the trip, there was nothing but sunshine. Only one morning did I wake to a partly-cloudy sky and it is said that it had rained during the night. Leaving Sidney on Sept 14, I made a short hop to Portland Island. After lunch and a short hike and strenuous lying on the beach, I weighed anchor for Otter Bay on Pender Island. I over-nighted at anchor and the next day made the short trip to Sturdies Bay where I spent the afternoon. About 1500, seeing that the wind had abated and that the seas looked relatively calm, I zipped across the Strait, making it home to Ward's Marina in time for high slack. That's the best time to launch and retrieve the boat on that ramp which is square to the river current. I hope that you enjoy some of the photos I took. They feature good friends and some spectacular scenery around the Gulf Islands.
Sept. 8 coincided with the annual Nicomekl River Rowing Club's Regatta where I once again acted as safety boat. The day, originally predicted to be poor, ended up being spectacularly warm and sunny. That afternoon, I crossed Georgia Strait and moored at the Rhodes' buoy in time to witness a spectacular sunset. The next day I cruised to Sidney where I anchored for five nights, visiting with people and sleeping aboard every night but one. That one, I spent at the Parker's so that we could get an early start the next morning at fishing for Coho in Juan de Fuca Strait.
Throughout the trip, there was nothing but sunshine. Only one morning did I wake to a partly-cloudy sky and it is said that it had rained during the night. Leaving Sidney on Sept 14, I made a short hop to Portland Island. After lunch and a short hike and strenuous lying on the beach, I weighed anchor for Otter Bay on Pender Island. I over-nighted at anchor and the next day made the short trip to Sturdies Bay where I spent the afternoon. About 1500, seeing that the wind had abated and that the seas looked relatively calm, I zipped across the Strait, making it home to Ward's Marina in time for high slack. That's the best time to launch and retrieve the boat on that ramp which is square to the river current. I hope that you enjoy some of the photos I took. They feature good friends and some spectacular scenery around the Gulf Islands.