After spending two nights at Discovery Marina in Campbell River, and provisioning, we are heading through Seymour Narrows on the slack before flooding (180*). We have a light wind weather report which if true would allow us to move forward to Lagoon Cove next.

After arriving at 'Julia Max' from the Anacortes ferry, we prepped the boat with three sails, diesel, water, and a few other preparations. Our two head toilets needed attention before leaving the dock. And we replaced our AM/FM radio which had died; an important entertainment center for music, and news.
We left the US on Saturday, May 3rd, for Canadian Customs in Bedwell Harbour, on South Pender Island. Then it was a half-day trip to Ganges Harbour where we provisioned for our trip north.
We are in contact with our friends on the Great Northern Boaters HAM Net each morning at 8am. We're quickly adjusting to boating life, and looking forward with anticipation to heading north to Alaska!

We chose an excellent day of single-digit wind for our motoring. A sunny day for traveling the Straits of Juan de Fuca, we forecasted an ebb tide of 2 knots against us until 2pm. Then the incoming tide boosted our travel by 2 knots. Finally the wind picked up to 16 knots from behind us, allowing us to use our genoa in addition to our motoring and the incoming tide: 10+ knots speed over the ground. We pulled in to Griffin Bay by 10pm. And then in the morning, we were able to check into US Customs. This finished our circumnavigation around Vancouver Island for 2024!

Our son-in-law Steve flew from Seattle to Tofino, and taxied to Ucluelet, to be on board 'Julia Max' for a few days. The penultimate reason for his visit was going salmon fishing!! We enjoyed his company, his help in crabbing, and his anticipation towards charter fishing in the Broken Group Provincial Park a few miles away. We left the harbor at 2pm and fished until 7:30pm with calm winds and sunny skies. Our fishing guide, Tyler, successfully plied the familiar waters, and we came away with 4 Coho, 1 Ling Cod, and one King Salmon. All-in-all, we came away with a great time and wonderful memories.

Lucky Creek deserves to be enjoyed within one hour before or after high tide. A motorized dinghy ride up the creek one half-mile, is sufficient depth for a safe ride if the driver pays attention, and stays on the outside bends of the creek. There were many sections that were only 3 feet deep. The goal is a series of waterfalls that cause you to stop, tie-up, and climb up some difficult fourth class rock. On this sunny day we certainly enjoyed our outing.

We are spending our third night in Effingham Bay in the Broken Group near Ucluelet. We chose an anchorage where we continued to have wind for running our wind generator. With the wind and sun (for our solar panels), we continue to keep our batteries charging. Sue has been in her kayak each day. We launched our dinghy, and went fishing near the kelp today, and caught two fish. We will use fish heads for crab pot bait. Maybe there is a crab or two in our future? We sanded half of our cap rail around the boat perimeter, as well as one of our hand rails, and our starboard rub rail. Then we applied a coat of Captain's varnish which turned out stunning! The reason we have stayed here three days was in part for 2-bar cell coverage!! Who would have guessed!