Hanging out

With a week to kill before we even have to think about getting down to Vancouver (our selected site for leaving the boat while we both make short trips Stateside to visit family), we're just sort of hanging around right now in Cortes Bay, at the south end of Cortes Island. The area is generally considered to be part of Desolation Sound, but if that's the case, it's probably due to the fact that both the Vancouver and Seattle yacht clubs have outstations here; for those clubs, and their many members, this probably serves as base and launchpad for the Desolation Sound area. There is a constant stream of boats and planes in and out. There is also well-developed Internet service; and, if exclusivity is your thing, the public dock here is very small, mostly used by locals, and the holding ground for anchorage is reputed to be poor. So, it's a great spot for exclusive yacht clubs. We've been enjoying it too, though.

The weather is still good although it is, of all things, somewhat foggy today. The forecasts haven't been particularly clear or accurate. Yesterday was clear and sunny all day, but a chance of rain was forecast. Winds have been supposed to be northwesterly still, but have been from the east. It's been mild and moderate, though, good conditions for sitting on the hook.

Today, Wednesday, most people have finally cleared out after the long BC day weekend. The club docks are back to being only one boat deep, with empty spots, after having been rafted to capacity. And there is only one other boat at anchor, although more may come in later in the evening.

We've only been here for a couple of days but I have to look at the date and day every morning, and even armed with that information, I can't really recall how long it has been since we left Campbell River. We left a day early, or on time, rather, as the electrical problems there continued and it wasn't worth staying for a make-up day. We spent a couple of days in Gorge Harbour, a nearly landlocked bay entered through a narrow, rocky gorge, and that was pretty pleasant. There is a marina there we could row into for provisions, or just to walk around if we wanted. But Internet service was spotty and we needed to get some work done. So, we had a nice sail down here and got a pretty good spot, even considering the holiday crowds.

Things have been pretty leisurely. We get up, read a bit, maybe work a little, have lunch, then fire up our portable generator and work some more while things are recharging. We've been slowly working on cleaning the boat and taking care of some small maintenance projects, too. There's not much rush. We may stay a couple more days then pick a more secluded spot nearby. Although the weather patterns are a little odd right now, I am betting that they will get back to normal at some point before we have to be in Vancouver, and with the prevailing northwesterly back behind us, it should be a quick one or two day trip.

After that things get a little complicated, with some odd travel arrangements to get us to where we are going. Mandy just needs to be dropped off near the Amtrak station in Vancouver, no real trouble since it's at the head of False Creek. After a couple days on my own (I'm still not sure exactly where to spend them), I will put in at a marina in Vancouver where we have a slip reserved and embark on a two-day odyssey to get from Vancouver, to Victoria, to Port Angeles, to Port Hadlock, to Spokane... to parts unknown, as I am going backpacking with Loyd at a destination he has not yet named (and perhaps has not yet selected). I still haven't figured out fully how I'm getting back again. It has to be easier than all that, though.

Anyway, I am trying not to think too much about that and instead just relax while the relaxing is good. I am already looking forward to September. Things should be quieter on the water then; the weather may be worse, but not much worse, and we'll be able to stay close to civilization and work, but still relax, as we hang out in Vancouver, the Gulf Islands, and the San Juans until our slip in Seattle opens up again in October. The more we do this hanging out stuff, the more I am enjoying it.