Sailing the Karina C

7/29
Well today is the day! We read the meter with Len and Joan last night. We caught a ride back to the boat with them and then spent the rest on the evening with Reema (lives on a boat down the dock).
It is a beautiful day to be leaving here. The weather is just beautiful and warm. It is the beginning of a long held dream for me. But it seems just another lovely summer day here in Nanaimo.
We motored S 27 miles to Montague Harbour. We sailed some, but the winds were very fluky. One we got there we put the dinghy in the water and the outboard on. The outboard performed very poorly with lots of missing. So, we stayed home yesterday night and Anita fed my ego by loosing 4 straight games of Backgammon. I managed to do winlink last night. This morning I got pretty good reception on weatherfax so I practiced with that for a while.
After breakfast we decided to motor into Ganges to go get new spark plugs. We got back by lunch time. The outboard works a lot better now, so we are good to go.
The weather is again in the low 20s C and not a cloud in the sky again.
In the afternoon we walked around the park trail. On the way back to Karina we BSed with Ken and Carole from NauitiMoments (Hunter 41). They are looking to go to the Med. Oh to have that kind of money! We also stopped at Angelique of Vancouver. (Coast 34). I razzed them about finishing their blog.
When we got back to Karina I decided to change the zinc. I managed to snorkel the job and did a rinse with the water at the marina. I showered in the cockpit and gave the cockpit a good rinse too. We had another delightful supper and I won the best of 3 at backgammon. Temperatures are in the low 20s C and no clouds today. Just another wretched day in paradise.
7/31
Last day of July. It is time to be thinking of heading South. The rendezvous is fun, but not as much fun as some of the "regulars" didn't make it this weekend. I wonder if we will get our going away packages as the McLeans didn't make it (mechanical problems).
We had a nice, windy day. The wind kept the proceedings cool. Anita and I kicked around the boat most of the day. We visited with Paul Hunt and Judy Barefoot (Tyally) and stopped in on Blake Williams to organize a jam session.
At 1700 we joined the beach party for a couple of hours. Things petered out pretty fast after the food was gone. Some left for the Hummingbird Pub, but we went back to Karina for a game of Backgammon ( I won the best of 3) and then we did a couple of Sudoku puzzles as we waited for the owners of a boat that was anchored too close to us to return. I had to interrupt this entry to go over and have a talk to them when they finally returned to their boat. It is cool this evening. The wind has settled down but left the cooler air here. We put a heavy blanket on the bet for tonight as we were cold this morning when we woke up.
8/1
It was cold when we woke up this morning. We were joking it was Auguary or Augtober. Anyhow, I did think of turning on the heater. Anita adamantly stuck to the idea that, as it was only August, it was ridiculous to turn on the heater. In the evening, I managed to weaken her resolve on the heater in the evening.
We went over and BSed with the gang at 0930. We met Bob and Bobbie on Kuan Yin who we gave a hand with their Pactor. Seems to be working OK now. He is sailing South in September and then she is joining him in San Diego. She seems afraid of the trip South. We are too. But we are going anyhow.
We came back to Karina, had lunch, and then Anita set to work on supper while I napped in the cockpit. I played with a ``evil`` sudoku. Didn`t get too far with it though. I`ll keep trying with it.
At 1700 we were at the potluck and things went OK and we made a little music after supper. We came back to Karina and got an early night and I am typing up the journal for today while I wait for the 2130 weather update. At this point, it looks like we might be able to give Friday Harbor a bye as we have favourable winds for Port Angeles.
8/2
We left Montague Harbour at 0900 and motored all way to Bedwell Harbour to deal with Canada Customs (registering instruments). The customs guys didn't even offer to be at the dock tomorrow and they were not willing to take our work on the serial #s. So we will be at the dock at 0900 tomorrow and see what happens. If nothing else, we will get free moorage for another day.
We found a mooring can at Bedwell and so we took it straight away and passed Customs. This proved a mistake as there were still cans available in the afternoon. Anyhow, I though Customs would be more accommodating.
The day started overcast and cloudy. Once we got to Bedwell, it brightened up and I am in my Tshirt sitting at the pool typing this up. Anita is swimming around and having a great time while I am getting my netfix.