Here's a savings plan for you!

Get yourself a stopwatch type timer and an empty jar. Take it into the bathroom with you, and prepare yourself for a shower. Set the jar aside for now. Just before you turn on the water- any water- start the timer. Take your normal shower, however long that is, then as you turn off the water, stop the timer. Let's say you spend an average of 8 or nine minutes. The soaping, shampooing, shaving, scrubbing, and letting the water run super hot on that aching back...... hey, it all adds up!
Now, let's turn that into a cruisers shower.

With a pay as you go shower, three minutes worth of 'water' is averaging about $1.00. Keep in mind that the timer starts from the moment the coin drops, hot water or cold. Now if you have to wait 40 seconds for the water to get hot...well, now, that doesn't leave you much time, does it? It's usually just long enough to get yourself wet, throw some shampoo in your hair and get your body fully soaped. Times up! Now what! Well, since you're in Canada the coin box doesn't take quarters, it takes the one dollar coin, or a "loonie", and you've just used your last one. It looks like it's going to be a cold water rinse.

That was the scenario when we cruised up the Gulf Islands several weeks ago. Tom and I had opted for one three minute shower apiece, because the selling point was 'they're really powerful'. Wouldn't that help to wash the stuff off quicker? Neither one of us thought to turn on the water in the sink to get the hot water at least to that point. Oh, and I don't think I mentioned this was back when it was still 40 degrees inside the shower rooms! That cold water rinse was really brisk! BRRRRRR!

So, here's The Shower Savings Plan. For every three minutes of shower you take, put a dollar into the jar beside the timer. See how quick that adds up, or how much shorter your showers become. You'll be saving either way! Add to that the decrease in 'products' you'll be purchasing, because you won't have time to use them, and you'll be saving your way towards whatever it is your heart desires. Hmm, could it be a longer shower?



Savings Plan, Part 2:
I'm currently sitting in the laundry room of a 'resort' that caters to Rvers, boaters and other vacationers.
It's about average as far as cleanliness and equipment. Three washers, one that doesn't work, and two large commercial type dryers. $1.50 per wash load, runs about 30 minutes. The dryers run for 3 minutes per each quarter..... cha ching, cha ching. Then, of course, you get the dryer that doesn't dry...... more quarters or the laundry shuffle............but there's an answer to this craziness!
Move to someplace were you don't have wear clothes or very little!

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Eagle and her crew were up and moving before 6:30 in order the catch some of the favorable tides on our way to Pender Harbor. This would be a nearly 50 mile run and we wanted to get as much of the tide with us as possible.

The morning broke with a mostly sunny day, but rather chilly, at 56 degrees, and light winds. The weather guessers had again predicted a 15 knot NW wind....nope. We motored for almost three hours until we were able to get a 7-10 knot SE wind. That then swung around to a NE wind, which then became a NW finally but now only 7 knots. We pulled out the Eagle spinnaker, and finished our day with a nice long spinnaker run to Pender Harbor.

We had been here a couple of months ago on our way north, and had the bay all to our selves. Not this time, as there are 23 boats in the harbor. The biggest surprise is that 90% are all sailboats! Very few power boats, so perhaps the gas prices are slowing down the gas guzzlers!

We plan on staying here until Monday morning when we will cross the Straight, weather permitting, and head down the Gulf Islands.

The last time we were here, we were treated to incredible music at the Garden Bay Pub, and plan on trying to catch them again Sunday before we leave!

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On what is to be the first leg of our return to the states, we made the 7 mile run from Squirrel Cove to Cotes Bay Thursday morning. The weather guessers had predicted a 15-20 knot NW wind, which would shoot us right down there.

Now, you have to understand, they have been predicting NW winds the whole time we have been in the Canadian waters, have have come to consider them mythological as they have never appeared. You can then imagine our surprise when we woke up to a 10 knot NW wind!!

As we left the protection of the inner bay, going through the narrow channel the helps form the bay, we encountered one of our neighbors from Des Moines marina. Don & Donna off of MV Biancia. We tried to hail them on the VHF but no answer. So, if you get this blog post! Hello Don & Donna!!

As soon as we cleared the channel, we had the sails set and were on our way, with a steady 12 knots and some times up to 16. The wind carried us as if we were going back to Refuge Cove before gybing and heading to Cortes Bay. As we rounded the end of the island, we were in the lee and almost ran completely out of wind. Then we got a big surprise, as we were hit by 20-25 knot winds coming nearly on our nose! We settled back in after a little mini round up and flew the rest of the way to Cortes Bay.

This bay provided some protection from the wind, not allowing any fetch to build, but still hitting us with 15 knot gusts most of the rest of the day. The wind died down at about midnight, and the crew was sound asleep shortly there after.

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Desolation Sound, in a short summer. This is probably something that should not really be considered, as this is a vast, diverse region, with a huge number of nooks and crannies that all beg to be discovered. To even spend time in all of the "Major" hot spots and anchorages is something that could be done in several summers, let alone the two months that we have allowed.

We dropped anchor in Grace Harbor, on May 26th. This would be our first anchorage in the Desolation Sound area. The boundaries of our exploration would then be defined by our mood and the weather. Laura Cove, to Roscoe Bay, to Octopus islands, to Rebecca Spit. Around the lower end of Cortez island to Gorges, and back to Squirrel Cove, and Refuge Cove. With in these boundaries, we explored every little bay, anchorage and back eddy either by travel on Eagle, or by our faithful dinghy, nicknamed "Falcon". We will be leaving this incredible area the first week of July, to begin the next leg of our adventure.

Desolation Sound, is by no means easy. She is located in an area that is very deserving of it's name. It protects many of it's finest locations with natural barriers. The barriers come in the form of narrow channels of water, that form rapids, with turbulent water, back eddys and whirlpools. While these obstacles are benign provided the proper timing, we feel like you are required in some way to earn the right to visit the next hidden jewel the helps make up the amazing area

We were able to capture much of this area through the lenses of our cameras. Showing the beauty of each area, thru the reflections on the water, the snow capped peaks in the air, and the diverse birds and animals that inhabit this somewhat hash environment. We were privileged to see the area as it escaped from the grips of winter, blooming and growing in all shapes and colors.

During our many hikes, we discovered plants and animals that were all brand new to us. Many as beautiful as the wide array of ferns and flowers. Others, while lacking in the beauty, none the less interesting, like the albino slugs that inhabit the area. We discovered a multitude of new birds, never seen before. Warblers, Thrushes, and waterfowl that never fail to amaze us.


The natural steepness of the terrain lends it self well to the formation of spectacular waterfalls. These cascading beauties began the spring roaring and foaming with huge volumes of water, and have now dwindled down to mere trickles, as the snow melt has gone away with the increasing strength of the spring sun.

We have had many conversations, most of which have occurred as the sunlight dwindles at days end, as to our favorites. Neither of us is able to speak with any conviction, of a location, or even a time that would lend its self as the pinnacle of our Desolation Sound experience. This is an area that is to be explored, enjoyed and recorded to memory. Each day, each moment and each "snapshot" will be a standard for all future experiences to be held against, and compared as our adventure on Eagle continue.

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The morning greeted us with crystal clear blue skies, no wind, and the potential to be a warmer day than we'd been experiencing. Tom, Lefty and I headed over to one of the little islets that make up Laura Cove - ! We were both fully provisioned with lots of camera gear - Tom in search of a new bird, or critters and me, for whatever caught my eye!
Lefty was just along for the ride. He climbed out of the back pack and went out on a limb, surveying the scenery. Just as he was looking around he lost his footing and took his first flight. It was successful, if only for about 30 inches. He recovered but was a bit shaken up. He spent the rest of the time on the island, chillin'.

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As` swe prepare to start the journey back towards the States, we` have stopped here in Squirrel cove , again to see if our parts have arrived.

The anser is yes...and NO! The first package, that was sent on June 6th is now where to be seen. The package that was sent on June 8th, with the back ordered part, that we freally dont need is here. They say there is a good chance it will be here on Thursday, but we wont!! So we are having it sent back!

We are going to keep an eye on the weather and look for a good north wind so we can sail south towards Pender Harbor, or Ballet bay or ...well. who knows where.

I will continue to send quick updates thru the SSB/Ham where I can. There is no picture posting but at least you all know whats going on. there have been a few nights where the propagation has not et me send out a note, so will have it all typed, but by the time I get it sen, it is not relivent.

After 7 straight days of rain, we have had a break. Yesterday was very nice, and today is at least warm if not really sunny.

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