Sunday, August 30, 2015

A week in Desolation Sound does wonders...

From one Saturday to another we journeyed through the islands of Desolation Sound, British Columbia. We started from Cortes Island, and returned to Cortes island. Though we have explored the area for many, many years now, we continue to find new places, and new revelations. Our joke is that it is only rocks, water and trees. Yet those three simple elements combine in the most transfixing ways.

It is always less a journey through landscape than a journey through consciousness. The stories in our minds go from being about work and society and international affairs, to the flight of eagles across a blue sky, the feel of water between our toes as we swim, and the warmth of lengthy intimate contact with people you love. We go away, as we always have, to go in.

The geography is superlative in every way, and worthy of all adulation. Yet it is merely a trigger, or catalyst. Nothing is seen as it is. Things appear as we are, not as they are!

After time in wild, spectacular places, it is we who change. And it is less the spectacular that compels us over time, but the simple. The small beauties. The magnificent contained in the miniscule.

So I can relate the stories of where we anchored, and where we swam. I could go on for pages about the islands, trails, weather and nature. And that is all important, and fascinating. But it is not what I want to write at the moment. I would rather just say that doing all this results in me being a healthier, wiser and more peaceful person. Centered. In myself, and for my my family.

Is there anything more important?

Here are a few photos that show some places, and our bodies among the beautiful landscapes. Until we perhaps develop a technology that renders happiness, peace, transcendence, calm or wisdom on some media that photos do not, then we will fail to understand what really happens when we explore deep into nature for extended periods. The smiles may look the same as when in the city, but the reality behind the faces could not be more different!

A picture of bliss and contentment!
The boys at Walsh Cove being feral and fulfilled 

Mom and son jumped into the 75 degree saltwater, and were cleansed of their concerns!

Everywhere looks like this. Rocks, water, trees. Boring...

Just because. For people like me, the sky and sea...


Sunday, August 2, 2015

Delivery trip to Cortes Island: 152 miles in 2.5 days

I've just returned home from delivering Aeolus up to Cortes Island, British Columbia. A trip I've done several times now, and it never fails to thrill me.

The itinerary I followed was to depart Anacortes on Thursday night, making it to Blind Bay, Shaw Island. Friday morning saw me moving by 6am and I made it to Dodd Narrows with some time before slack so got in a quick swim at lovely DeCourcy Island. Spent that night in Nanaimo at Newcastle Island. Saturday I departed at 6am and powered all the way to Hernando Island right up the gut of the Strait of Georgia,   taking until 8pm to finally drop anchor. This morning, I did the short jaunt from Hernando to Cortes and Gorge Harbour.

Since it was a delivery trip I motored the entire way, especially since the winds were NW and tacking would have doubled my time. I had fairly benign conditions on this trip, with only some rough stretches leaving Nanaimo into a 20 knot NW wind that soon dissipated. That 3 knot SOG would have been brutal if it continued, not to mention the pounding into 3-4 foot seas. Later that day the whole sea was a mill pond off Texada and Sisters Islets.

No drama on this trip. Lots of time to reflect on what matters in my life, and how precious this time on Aeolus truly is. It is a sailing and exploring paradise up there and I only wish I could spend 6 months there at a time!

Here are a few photos:
Moonrise Thursday night was stunning
















A happy sailor who got a quick swim before Dodd Narrows! 




















A typical flat sea, deathly hot and not another soul. An amazing lack of other boats or humans on the Strait of Georgia. People staying in the city, staying away by the millions!

Approaching Gorge Harbour on Cortes Island. A lovely entry into a wonderful spot. 

Haul out in Port Townsend was successful

I really enjoyed my haul out in Port Townsend as it is the finest nautical town in Washington without the urbanity of Seattle and they are one of the last yards around that still lets a boat owner work on their own boat. This is so important to me that I cannot imagine paying someone to do the basic maintenance boats require.

All I did at this haul out was bottom paint and zincs. Nothing compared to last time! I found her free of barnacles on the hull, which was good, but did have some on the rudder where the prop wash had totally worn away the ablative paint. Given all the miles on that paint I was impressed. It had gone 900 miles around Vancouver Island and also a trip to Princess Louisa, in addition to all of our weekend and three day get aways.

Here are some shots.
A Gulf 32 hauled out

Prop had been scraped. Shows lack of paint on rudder. 
Zinc added and prop coated with Lanocote Prop stuff. I've used regular Lanocote with good results before. Wonder if this will last longer to justify the added cost.

Two coats of paint and ready for the Salish Sea! Ain't she a beaut!