05/17/2013, Kelsey Bay, Vancouver Island
Yesterday we were reminded of the challenges of life on the water and the kindness of strangers.
As we made our way up the Johnstone Straits headed for Port Neville, and about 2 hours from our destination, BLUE started making some strange noises. Nev went in and out of the engine room trying different things but she was not repsonding to his attention. Fortunately the tides/currents were in our favor and we continued on as she revved out of character every couple of minutes. About a mile from Kelsey Bay she spluttered and died, and nothing Nev did could get her started. We eventually limped into Kelsey Bay on our wing engine and were so relieved to see Mo, the Harbor Master, waiting on the docks to catch our lines. He'd been watching us out on the bay for sometime and had been expecting our call. So had a number of other people apparently, and soon Simon, artist and fisherman, dragged Miles, shipwright, millwright and logger, onto BLUE to help. The men worked tirelssly until around 7:30pm with BLUE repsonding every now and then. We celebrated when her engines started up and got quiet when they didn't!
And in the midst of our craziness we called our daughter-in-law, Star, to sing to her as she celebrated her 30th birthday. Happy Birthday Star :)
This morning when we turned the key BLUE did not start. Mo was there to rescue us once again, and this time Art, sweet, gentle mechanincal Art, gave up his morning and patiently worked his way through the fuel system with Nev to help solve our problem. At 12:30 BLUE fired up and sounded like her old self again and we were all smiles, so happy to have her back! Art humbly agreed to a photo but not an offer to continue on this journey with us!
It's pouring with rain so we are taking Mo up on his offer to drive us to Campbell River to replenish out almost completely depleted supplies of fruit and vegies before we head out again tomorrow.
Thanks to you all in Kelsey Bay and to You,Lord, for guiding us there - we will not forget your kindness!
| A second chance |
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05/17/2013, Octopus Islands
An excerpt from my journal:
"We headed down this narrow channel with me and my cuppa tea on the bow in the rain looking out for any rocks just below the water surface.
If D'Anne remembered, the rehearsal luncheon invitations were mailed today from Seattle, Trevor Nettman had a fabulous opening day at the new El Dorado Restaurant in Long Beach, Christopher is getting used to the idea of no school for a while. And while all this is happening in the real world Nev and I are sitting at anchor in the Octopus Islands enjoying a cuppa tea and a gorgeous warm evening after a morning of gentle, persistent rain... we feel so lucky.
It is dead silent here, the only noise seems to be that which we make and I feel inclined to whisper. The geese make a noise like barking dogs and shake their heads at us as we kayak by them... I wonder if this is why theyr'e considered good watch "dogs". And then there is the warm sound of silence again."
| A second chance |
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05/17/2013, Owen Bay, Desolation Sound
Back up the Yucalta Rapids we went timing ourselves so that we could get through the Hole in the Wall rapids at slack - we're getting good at this!
Blake recommended Owen Bay for crabbing and we were ready for our first crab omlette. While I buried myself in BLUE giving her a good clean, Nev had a ball outside in the rain dinghying about the bay setting crab traps. When we lifted tehm the following mornig they were full! About 15 crabs and 3 starfish which fascinated Nev as he had always believed where there are starfish there are no crab. Eleven of the 15 were males, 7" across the widest part of their body, and therefore keepable!
We boiled them, iced them down, cracked them and filled our dishes with more crab meat than I've ever seen... 3 lbs of edible meat to be exact. The omlette at 1pm was scrummy delicious - well worth all the effort :)
In the afternoon we hiked to see the rapids at full flow - no rapids to be found on the trail we'd chosen, but many large bear poops that had me picking up a stick very quickly as my eyes scanned the bushes around us and my ears were on high alert! We giggled in bed that night as I fessed up to Nev where my imagination had taken me on that walk: the bear had got him, I had manged to get back to BLUE to call for help... and then all I could think about was how I would get through those rapids alone!! I love my Kapitan and I need him xx For once I was happier to have my feet on the water instead of land!
| A second chance |
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05/17/2013, Big Bay, Stuart Island
Okay - it wasn't exactly a yawn as we were both quiet and focused appraoching the Yucalta Rapids - I haven't done this before and I had a knot in my belly, but we had done our homework and ensured we'd be there at slack tide, which means the current is still for a few minutes and we can move from one point to another without encountering rapids at their worst!
As we went along we said happy birthday to Gren and happy last Pharmacy final to Christopher...
We arrived in pouring rain - my fist time to dock decked out in all my rain gear that really does work!! We walked to Eagle Lake in the rain and tried to find a laundromat or a pub but both to no avail... our laundry hamper is filling up rapidly.
The highlight of Stuart Island was reconnecting with our friend Blake. We met him in Mexico where he played a significant role on "Nev's Day" and kept us in stitches of laughter on those windy days in Puerto Escondido with silly games and sailboat races. It was fabulous catching up with him and seeing him happy with his Patti.
Boerewors and Buzz's mac 'n cheese were on the menu - perfect for a cold, wet night between friends.
| A second chance |
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05/17/2013, Teakerne Arm, Desolation Sound
Our morning round of traps yielded 12 prawns that I flash froze, and 3 crab traps filled with the biggest starfish I've ever seen!
Before leaving Grace Harbor we went slip-sliding our way along a trail to the nearby lake and saw two garter snakes, some fat slugs and a small frog as well as numerous fallen trees covered in moss... according to the book I've just finished reading, "The Language of Flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, moss represents maternal love... so close to Mother's Day it felt significant!
Teakerne Arm proved a challenge to us - the winds were blowing hard, the seas were choppy, the waterfall was beautiful but we weren't comfortable with our anchorage... eventually upped anchor and moved to a more protected,less dramatic cove and loved it!
The prawn traps were set before we went to bed - we're on a mission!
| A second chance |
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I hope you took pics of the starfish...
05/16/2013, Grace Harbor, Desolation Sound
To all the mom's out there whom I know and love... happy belated Mother's Day :)
Most especially to my own mum who I owe my life and deepest thanks to for the love she has always so selflessly lavished on my sister and I, no matter what. I love you Mum!
Thanks for the calls precious children x eight of mine, and for the extra calls and texts from my sis, Mike, Donna, Gayle and Linda... it sure helped to fill the miles between us.
Trev and Star gave me their bottle of BLUE's red (the last I know of in existence!) when we left after Dax's birthday, with instructions to drink it whenever I thought the moment was right, and this was it!
We barbecued pork ribs and drank our wine and thanked God for all we love and call our own family and friends xx
| A second chance |
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