We awoke to calm winds and flat water, perfect conditons for getting across to Elliott Bay.  While underway, Al called around to find a place to get the alternator fixed; and Sure Marine, the local Norcold dealer, who told him they didn’t have the model fridge that we need, but to call Evergreen RV.  The old fridge is 20 years old, so we were worried that we wouldn’t be able to find a fridge with the same dimensions.   It has to fit in a cabinet.  As luck would have it, they had one in stock that is the exact same dimensions.  Yay!

Since we sublet our slip for the summer, we had to get a guest slip on “E” dock.  Luckily, they had a double wide open, so we don’t have another boat in the slip.  Al was able to back in so that it will be easy to deal with unloading the old and loading the new frige into the cockpit.

While Al took the old alternator up to be repaired, I did laundry and tried to figure out a workaround for posting to my blog. The Bloggo app I bought for posting with my new Mac is just not connecting with WordPress.  The connection here is extremely slow, so I suspect that is the problem.  It worked once in Montague, but that was it.  Very frustrating!

We’re just cooling our heels today.   Can’t get anything done, since it’s Memorial Day.  So, after Al got everything ready for removing the dead refrigerator when we get to Seattle, we kicked back and enjoyed the beautiful setting.

The wind is blowing about 10 knots in the anchorage when we arise this morning. We can’t see what the seas look like in the Strait from here. So, we decide to head for Partridge Point, and if the seas get ugly, we’ll change course for Deception Pass.

After about 30 minutes of being bounced around, we altered course for Deception Pass. We’d have to anchor outside Deception, in Bowman Bay, until slack tide. We’d never been in Bowman, but a friend recommended it. The closer we got to Bowman, the less we liked the looks of it. You had to be very careful navigating around Coffin Rocks and Gull Rocks, which lie across the entrance to Bowman. We made it into the bay, assessed the situation, and decided against anchoring. The swell rolling into the bay was really uncomfortable. So, we looked at the tide tables and decided we’d risk going through Deception Pass a little early since it was a neap tide. And, as it turned out, Deception was a piece of cake. We won’t be returning to Bowman Bay anytime soon.

Our run down from Deception to Port Madison was delightful. The wind just kept getting lighter and lighter the further south we got. By 1530 hrs, we had our anchor down in our favorite spot in Port Madison, where we had enjoyed the raccoons gamboling on the beach last year.

It’s my birthday today.  My friend, Marilynn Evans, always sends me a birthday gift before we leave each year, to open on my birthday.  And, my friend Marilyn MacGillivray gave Al a card to give me on my birthday also.  So, after dinner, we celebrated with a glass of wine as I opened my gifts.  Outstanding birthday!

We were up early in order to make slack at Dodd Narrows at 0754 hrs. There’s a neap tide today, so the current wasn’t all that strong. We got through the Narrows a little early and made good time all the way to Hunter Bay, where we anchored for the night. Although we had plenty of daylight left when we reached Hunter, we couldn’t continue on, because the wind was blowing too hard to get across Juan de Fuca Strait; and we couldn’t make slack tide at Deception Pass.  Luckily the ice chest is still keeping everything cold.

This afternoon, Al discovered that the alternator on the starboard engine, which charges our house batteries, had quit working. So, in order to conserve electricity, we went to bed when the sun went down.

It’s going to be another busy day.  We have to be at the Urban Wine Cellar at 10:30 to “bottle” our wine for the summer. “Bottling consists of transferring the wine that’s been aging since we ordered it last summer into bladders.  Doug and Marilyn are meeting us there.

After “bottling” our wine, we placed our order for next year’s wine, a “Limited Edition Super Tuscan”.  Bruce, the owner of the Urban Wine Cellar, assures me I will love it.  We’ll see.

Next stop was West Marine, where I had to pick up some line and a paddle leash for my kayak.  And then, it was on to Share Kare, where we buy our prawn bait.

Doug and Marilyn insisted on fixing us dinner, which is always a treat. Their new home is really lovely, with a view of Georgia Strait that is to die for.

By the time we got back to the boat it was almost 10 o’clock.  We’d had a wonderful day, spent with great friends.  We are truly blessed.

Al had shut the refrigerator off to defrost it when we left this morning.  So, the first thing he did when we got back to the boat was open the refrigerator to empty the melted water.  When he opened the door, we were almost knocked over by a blast of ammonia fumes.  The refrigerator had sprung a leak and died.This was a huge problem, which meant that instead of heading north to Squirrel Cove, we would be heading back to Seattle.  Oh, well.

We reluctantly pulled our anchor at 0900 hrs this morning and headed north to Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island. The current at Dodd Narrows will be slack at 1217 hrs. Unfortunately, we’ll have the current against us all the way. Luckily, there isn’t any wind to speak of, so we’re averaging about 7 knots.

Al decided to check the bilge after we’d been running for about 30 minutes. Bad news.  He found diesel floating on the water. So, he decided to check the engines again to see if he could find the source of the leak.  While checking one of the the filters on the starboard engine, he discovered diesel running down from the filter and dripping just outside the pan. Mystery solved. The engines were way too hot to do anything about it underway. It will have to wait for Nanaimo. So, he shut down the starboard engine and we continued on.

We managed to get do Dodd Narrows right at slack tide. The wind north of Dodd Narrows was blowing 25 knots against the tide, making for very uncomfortable seas. Luckily, we only had a short distance to go. By 1330 hrs we had our anchor down just off the Dinghy Pub in Nanaimo. We’ll anchor here for the night and then move in to a slip in the marina first thing tomorrow morning. This will be a first, since we usually just anchor out during our stay here. But, we’ve decided it makes a whole lot more sense to go ahead and pay the big bucks and tie up in the marina. Those dinghy rides from the anchorage can get very wet and hairy at times.

Al called our friends, Doug and Marilyn MacGillivray, who live just north of Nanaimo, to tell them we had arrived. They said they’d be down to pick us up at 10:30 tomorrow morning. It will be great to see them and hear all about their latest cruise through the Orient.

Al’s had a toothache for the past few days. Unfortunately, the dentist we normally see in Nanaimo has retired.  But, Al took a chance and called the old phone number.  Luckily, the new dentist, Dr. Dhami kept the old phone number.  The office was closed, but Al left a message asking for an appointment.

Montague is such a great place to start our summer cruise.  The scenery is beautiful, there are lots of trails for walking, and then there’s the ice cream, on fresh waffle cones….my favorite being chocolate peanut butter…. soooo good. The first day we really pigged out and had double scoops.  Thereafter, we came to our senses and had singles.  I’m hoping the paddling will offset the daily increase in calories. Mike and Dan, who own the marina ,and Amber, their clerk, are really nice, and very accommodating.  Their store is very tiny, with room for only a few fresh vegetables, fruit, and dairy essentials, but  they offered to pick up anything we needed that wasn’t onhand when they went to Ganges for supplies. 

Queen Victoria’s birthday, which is being celebrated this weekend, is a holiday in Canada.  And, with this beautiful weather, it looked like all the  boaters from miles around had headed for Montague.  You could almost walk from boat to boat without ever getting your feet wet. 

One beautiful sunny day melded into another.  I would get up at 0630 hrs and paddle my kayak for about an hour-and a-half before breakfast.  Then, I’d work on my blog, which didn’t do me much good because after posting the first day’s blog, which uploaded without too much trouble, I was never able to connect to WordPress again.  But, I just kept taking photos, hoping I’d have a better internet connection in Nanaimo.

I decided last summer that I wanted to take up kayaking.  So, after extensive research during the winter, I bought a 10 foot Eddyline hard shell kayak that weighs 35 pounds for paddling on our local lakes; and an 8.6 foot Walker Bay inflatable kayak for our summer cruising.  The inflatable only weighs 18 pounds, so it’s very easy for me to get it in and out of the water by myself.  I paddled two hours every other day for about 3 months, becoming comfortable with this tippy little boat.  Because the water is so cold in British Columbia, I bought a dry suit so that I won’t suffer cold shock if, God forbid, I capsize.  I read about all the ways you can get in serious trouble while kayaking, and hope to avoid them all.  I have to say I’m hooked.  And, while I imagined all winter long how much I would enjoy this sport up here this summer, I must say it’s even better than I imagined.  However, I had to learn a whole new way to get in and out of the kayak, since I’m doing it from our boat, instead of from a beach.  I have finally devised a way to get in and out of it from our side gate without Al’s assistance. And, I figured out how to get out and onto the dock at Montague Marine Park, and back into it, which was far more difficult because the kayak wants to slide out from under you.  I may not have great form, but I get the job done.

Unfortunately, all was not sunshine and spinnakers during our stay in Montague.  Al discovered not only water in our bilge, but diesel fuel floating on top of the water.  He’d noticed that the bilge pump had been running more often than usual.  Now he knows why, but he doesn’t know where either the water or the diesel is coming from.  Luckily, in 24 hours, only 2 gallons or so of water is accumulating.  But, where is it coming from?

Mysteriously, there wasn’t any diesel in the pans under the engines,  which was disturbing, because then you have to suspect a leak in the fuel tanks.  Not good.  So, Al checked all the possible sources for fuel leaks.  Nothing. Then, he drained the bilge and checked it every day to see if any more diesel appeared.  Again, nothing.  Well, that at least indicated that it wasn’t leaking from the fuel tanks….hooray!

I did not want to get up when the alarm went off at 0600 hrs, but Al insisted we get another early start.  And, I have to admit that it pays to get where you’re going before the wind comes up.  The weather is a carbon copy of yesterday….. beautiful traveling weather.

We had the anchor up and were underway at 0700 hrs.  Sea conditions couldn’t be better, we didn’t have to dodge any ferries, and we didn’t have any equipment failures — just a relaxing day cruise.  By 1100 hrs, we had our anchor set in Montague Harbour, and were connected to the internet.

We’ve both fantasized all winter about being back in Montague.  And, here we are, kicking back and loving it.  We celebrated by opening a very special bottle of 2007 Cuda Ridge Petit Verdot that we’ve been saving since Christmas…..delicious!  Thanks, J. and Kristia.  As soon as Al finishes his nap, we’re launching the dinghy and heading in to the marina to get a couple of ice cream cones.

After 11 days of blue skies and warm weather, mean looking black rain clouds started drifting in yesterday. The weatherman predicted rain by this morning. But, to our delight, he was wrong.

By 0545 hrs we’re underway, headed for the San Juan Islands, weather permitting. A Spring Tide is running today, so we won’t be able to get through Deception Pass before slack tide at 1706 hrs.
But, the seas are flat calm, and we have great visibility, which makes travelling easy.

The rain clouds were a bit threatening, but the farther along we got, the higher and thinner they became. By the time we got to Deception Pass at 1300 hrs, we even had some sun breaks.

As soon as we got anchored up, Al fixed us a delicious lunch of roast chicken, fresh asparagus, carrots, brussels sprouts and zucchini, with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Not a bad way to start the summer.

Around 1600 hrs, Al started checking the current tables to see if the current had slowed enough for us to make it through a little early. By 1645 hrs, the current was down to 2.1 knots, so we decided to go for it. The ride was a bit squirrelly, but tolerable. I was feeling pretty brave until I spotted a couple of guys paddling through the Pass on outrigger canoes.

Once through the pass, the seas were glassy calm for as far as the eye could see. All of a sudden, however, there was a terrible racket! It sounded like the engine was disintegrating! And then, the sound subsided. We discovered that it as a military jet flying low overhead, on its way to the Air Force base on Whidbey Island. Phew! Took awhile for our hearts to stop racing.

The rest of our trip to Blind Bay was thankfully peaceful. We arrived at 1850 hrs and found the anchorage almost empty. Perfect.