It's prime vacation season in Desolation Sound, BC, and Squirrel Cove is filled with anchored boats. The anchorage is large enough to hold everyone with plenty of room, at least so far. Last year, I was here in the first half of September and, with school summer vacations over, there were less than a half-dozen boats here, if I'm remembering correctly.

I left the Octopus Islands anchorage this morning just before slack tide at the nearby Hole in the Wall narrows, then turned south into Lewis Channel, which took me to Refuge Cove, where I didn't have to wait too long for dock space at the crowded fuel dock. That should be my last fuel purchase until I get back to Seattle. A short three-mile trip took me from Refuge Cove to Squirrel Cove. I anchored, had lunch, then launched the dinghy and attached the outboard so I could go across the cove's calm outer bay to the little general store. I looked for fruit but didn't see anything except some almost too ripe bananas, so I bought a bottle of wine instead.

Later I jumped into the water to check Osprey's prop and zincs, then got out quickly. I guess I'm still missing the 80-degree South Pacific water temperature.

Starting tomorrow, I'll take two days to get to Nanaimo, 85 miles from here. I'll go half way tomorrow, with a northwesterly on my tail. The next day, some southeast wind is forecast, but not too strong and it's supposed to shift mid-day, so I'll probably be able to cross the Strait of Georgia that day, to Nanaimo.