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August 5 - Woke up at Sidney Spit...First morning using the generator when not at a dock with power...worked great brewed coffee and used a toaster...powered the battery charger for a bit... this has been a learning exp...with 2 new 6V Golf Cart batteries connected to make a 12V sytem with 232 ah, learning how long we can be away and "self sufficient" ...so far we need to learn to use less fresh water...only 17gall tank and a water "bag" under the V berth that I think is around 25 gallons....we use bottled "jugged" water for cooking ...so shouldnt be too hard to set up for 3-5 days without "marinas"...Spencer and Lauren fishing together off the boat...walked the spit portion in the am...and headed across to Port of Sidney Marina in the pm...weather is hot and sunny!
Arrived Sidney Marina..this place is quite posh!! nice docks fancy boats...stacking front load laundry machines....located on the water front / boardwalk ..checked out the farmers market ...they close off the street and lots of local vendors set up kiosks on Thursday eves in summer..stocked up on fruit and veggies.....
met up with grandma and grandpa dave for dinner..at the rum-runner restaurant....had a nice visit and dinner...
August 6 Supposed to leave today but very strong winds and lots of boats crashing in the marina from the strong winds...hitting the dock support posts and everything...we watched...flew a kite went to the aquarium / and stayed an extra night!
August 7 - Rain ?? and wet / moderate winds...we were supposed to leave on the 6th and go to brentwood bay / todd inlet for 2 nights and see the butchart gardens and the saturday night fireworks...instead stayed 2 extra nights and walked to west marine for a rain jacket and toilet chemical !! Thats 3 nights intotal at Port of Sidney and 3 loads of laundry !!...the showers are 3$ for 7 mins but during the 2nd shower I learned the "timer" doesnt shut off!! bonus shower time!!!
Sunday August 8th - Today -
Woke up early...and departed early - timed the trip to go through the Sansum Narrows for 10:19 slack....arrived at 10:30..through the narrows...laid a prawn trap at 350' outside the bay and came into Maple Bay Marina --where we bought the boat 2009 and started this whole "livin the dash" thing...the weather has improved and tonite is warm and dry with blue skies...provisioned the boat again and getting ready for Wallace Island marine park and Montague both nights at Anchor ...then Otter Bay on Pender Island....looking forward to seeing if we get any prawns tomorrow am....put 11lbs of lead on the bottom of the trap ...and lots of extra line to ensure it is still there!!!

August 5 - Woke up at Sidney Spit...First morning using the generator when not at a dock with power...worked great brewed coffee and used a toaster...powered the battery charger for a bit... this has been a learning exp...with 2 new 6V Golf Cart batteries connected to make a 12V sytem with 232 ah, learning how long we can be away and "self sufficient" ...so far we need to learn to use less fresh water...only 17gall tank and a water "bag" under the V berth that I think is around 25 gallons....we use bottled "jugged" water for cooking ...so shouldnt be too hard to set up for 3-5 days without "marinas"...Spencer and Lauren fishing together off the boat...walked the spit portion in the am...and headed across to Port of Sidney Marina in the pm...weather is hot and sunny!
Arrived Sidney Marina..this place is quite posh!! nice docks fancy boats...stacking front load laundry machines....located on the water front / boardwalk ..checked out the farmers market ...they close off the street and lots of local vendors set up kiosks on Thursday eves in summer..stocked up on fruit and veggies.....
met up with grandma and grandpa dave for dinner..at the rum-runner restaurant....had a nice visit and dinner...
August 6 Supposed to leave today but very strong winds and lots of boats crashing in the marina from the strong winds...hitting the dock support posts and everything...we watched...flew a kite went to the aquarium / and stayed an extra night!
August 7 - Rain ?? and wet / moderate winds...we were supposed to leave on the 6th and go to brentwood bay / todd inlet for 2 nights and see the butchart gardens and the saturday night fireworks...instead stayed 2 extra nights and walked to west marine for a rain jacket and toilet chemical !! Thats 3 nights intotal at Port of Sidney and 3 loads of laundry !!...the showers are 3$ for 7 mins but during the 2nd shower I learned the "timer" doesnt shut off!! bonus shower time!!!
Sunday August 8th - Today -
Woke up early...and departed early - timed the trip to go through the Sansum Narrows for 10:19 slack....arrived at 10:30..through the narrows...laid a prawn trap at 350' outside the bay and came into Maple Bay Marina --where we bought the boat 2009 and started this whole "livin the dash" thing...the weather has improved and tonite is warm and dry with blue skies...provisioned the boat again and getting ready for Wallace Island marine park and Montague both nights at Anchor ...then Otter Bay on Pender Island....looking forward to seeing if we get any prawns tomorrow am....put 11lbs of lead on the bottom of the trap ...and lots of extra line to ensure it is still there!!!

here is some 'blog stuff" from our boat journal/log that is tracking our trip...we got an internet connection tonite!

August 2 - left point roberts for Sucia...first night anchoring (overnight) and now with the new 32lb lewmar ...Had the sails up for over an hour crossing the straight then the wind died ...motored in to shallow bay / sucia island marine park
Sandcastle construction on the beach and spaghetti for dinner... everybody slept great and kids up early to fish off the boat....lots of seals and bald eagles...

August 3 - Left sucia around 11am for Deer harbor marina (Orcas Island) saw more dolphins...seals and lots of birds...arrived deer harbor around 130pm Lots of walking and swimming in the pool...walked to the deer harbor inn restaruant and had a nice dinner...and walk (.5mile to rest..)saw 2 bucks (deer)..everyone had a big sleep kids tired...Nick watches top gun with some head phones and we enjoy our novels...relaxation!

August 4 - Deer Harbor - Sydney Marina for Customs clearing then across to Sidney Spit for overnight at anchor...this place is great !! lots of birds and deer very pretty ...put down 2 crab traps and caught 6 crabs - 2 keepers- walked a 2km circle route trail in the evening...Had a great Sail in good winds across Haro Straight (from spieden channel across to the Spit)....looking very hard for whales but none yet (lots of whale watcher boats rushing somewhere though)

here is some 'blog stuff" from our boat journal/log that is tracking our trip...we got an internet connection tonite!

August 2 - left point roberts for Sucia...first night anchoring (overnight) and now with the new 32lb lewmar ...Had the sails up for over an hour crossing the straight then the wind died ...motored in to shallow bay / sucia island marine park
Sandcastle construction on the beach and spaghetti for dinner... everybody slept great and kids up early to fish off the boat....lots of seals and bald eagles...

August 3 - Left sucia around 11am for Deer harbor marina (Orcas Island) saw more dolphins...seals and lots of birds...arrived deer harbor around 130pm Lots of walking and swimming in the pool...walked to the deer harbor inn restaruant and had a nice dinner...and walk (.5mile to rest..)saw 2 bucks (deer)..everyone had a big sleep kids tired...Nick watches top gun with some head phones and we enjoy our novels...relaxation!

August 4 - Deer Harbor - Sydney Marina for Customs clearing then across to Sidney Spit for overnight at anchor...this place is great !! lots of birds and deer very pretty ...put down 2 crab traps and caught 6 crabs - 2 keepers- walked a 2km circle route trail in the evening...Had a great Sail in good winds across Haro Straight (from spieden channel across to the Spit)....looking very hard for whales but none yet (lots of whale watcher boats rushing somewhere though)

this blog is just "for practise" for tomorrows departure weather should be good crossing the Straight of Georgia 5-15kn winds...

First night - Sucia island
followed by Deere Harbor Marina , Sydney Spit, Sydney Butchart gardens and Maple Bay...will see how this blog thing works while on the water and what we can do ....need to ensure a wifi connection...

Just finishing some planning and packing for our first "big" trip ...big in time not distance....approx 19days !! Stay tuned...