Cowboy coffee and a log boom rodeo
30 June 2019 | Nanaimo City Harbor
Diane Meador
Leave De Courcy Island 7:20a
Arrive Nanaimo City Harbor 10:15a
49 10.15:-123 55.98
Ran out of propane for the galley this morning. The Port Townsend guys wouldn't refillmour tank. So, we heated the kettle on the barbie. Can't cook or heat water on the barbie while underway, but this will work for now.
Rounded De Courcy to the south and then putted up toward Dodd Narrows to arrive at the 8:52a slack. There, we found a number of northbound boats waiting on 2 tugs struggling with a log boom. A dozen logs had escaped the boom, which travelled back and forth on the strong Eddie's in the cut. Southbound boats were squeezing past when the boom inched to the east. Then the tugs appeared to keep it pressed on that side, so a northbound motor vessel took the lead, and we fell in line behind a sailboat, with a large motor vessel climbing up our stern in impatience. It was tight between a ledge and the boom as we eked by. We dodged increasing traffic as we approached the city harbor. The marine park across from the marina was choked with boats, even though it was still early in the day. We got a spot at the end of S dock (inside and paralleling the breakwater - for future reference, since it's not marked). We reprovisioned for the next week, topped off the water tanks, and tried but failed to find any one who could fill our propane tank or even sell us a new tank that would fit in the propane well.
And then we collapsed down below for the rest of the afternoon, wiped out from running around in the heat. Shouldn't we be adapted to this by now?
Tomorrow, going to check at a marina in Pender Harbor that reportedly sells propane, instead of going to Lasqueti as planned. That's as good an excuse as any to check out Desolation Sound, which should be pretty spectacular. It's also a travel destination, but surely there won't be as much traffic as in Nanaimo!