Horton hears a toucan
28 June 2019 | Horton Bay
Diane Meador
Leave Friday Harbor 10:30a
Arrive Customs dock, Bedwell Harbor, S. Pender Island 1:55p
48 44.88:-123 13.82
Leave Bedwell Harbor 2:55p
Arrive Horton Bay 5:05p
48 49.64:-123 14.625
Mostly sunny today, and hot, but overcast by afternoon. There was a steady stream of traffic entering and exiting from Bedwell Harbor. There was no agent on site, which was good on the one hand because we were inspected, but bad on the other, because it took a long time to clear through by phone. Harry waited 45 min. on hold for a 3 min. interview. I took the opportunity, being restricted to the boat until we cleared, to chart the next leg of our route to Horton Bay, and our course for tomorrow towards Nanaimo. We ate up all the rest of the raspberries for breakfast before going through customs - so that's how to make oatmeal palatable!
Horton Bay is nearby Winter Cove, where we had set on our way down, and where we got yelled at for not curbing our dog. Although there wad plenty of room in there, and we have learned our lesson for leading our dog in these high traffic areas, we decided to check out someplace new. There was a strong current coming out of the narrow passage into Horton. The bay was full of boats, and we thought we might turn around and make for Winter Cove after all. But most of the dozens of boats in Horton were hanging off private mooring buoys, some were rafted up to the small public dock, and a couple were anchored out. It was a rocky bottom, but we set right away, probably because we threw out a 3:1 length of rode. We set well away from the closest boat (also a sailboat), but we were swinging differently, and were a bit close for (an Alaskan's) comfort when we were stretched out to each other. Maybe it was swirly currents, or maybe they were a fin keel, but boats of the same type generally behave the same way. We decided to reef in a bit for peace of mind.
Except for a party on one of the boats on the other side of the bay, and a whole lot of birdsong, it was oddly quiet. It became apparent as evening closed in that very few people were at home in the houses that lined the bay - no lights. Where is everyone? And I swear, two birds sounded just like what I imagine toucans do.