Are we really in the PNW? Beautiful weather becomes common

It’s 8:42, BC time. We’re motoring into the Strait of Georgia, which Jennifer and I have both seen when it’s angry.

Today, Jennifer describes the weather as upstate NY summer camp weather: clear skies after some small amount of clouds that dissipate in the morning.

Yesterday we planned to go to Hornby Island, 40 NM (Nautical Miles) south or Campbell River. Along the way, we decided we have time, so let’s go to Manson’s Landing on Cortez Island. There is a lake there, and it is supposed to be a very nice place. The weather was sunny, and so we did.

There is a small public dock, which we learn is mostly filled with boats that do not leave: locals who have monthly or annual contracts.

We saw a space abut 33′ long, and to my surprise, Jennifer said, Let’s take it. We put the dinghy on the hip and with the expertise Jennifer has developed we slid straight into the spot. As I jumped onto the dock I saw the upward facing signage that said fifteen minute loading and unloading. We did a touch and go.
As we did, a man about the boat we tucked in front of called, that he’d be leaving in an hour, ‘‘would that help?’’ Hell, yeah.

We anchored and waited… he left exactly as promised and Jennifer slid Caro Babbo into the space.

We had a light lunch of Nutella, cheddar cheese and peanut butter on crackers (mix and match) and then went walking.

It is September with a very low tide. Although the threat of Paralytic Shellfish Disease should have passed Jennifer was having none of the idea of picking up the abundant oyster and clams that lay on the beach.

As we walked off the beach throngs of people descended who seemingly had no such fear.
We eventually walked to the white sand beach lake. Families were there with children and dogs, young couples with and without dogs, and down the beach a way was a nude section behind ‘‘naked rock.’’

Jennifer and Hilary walked along the beach petting dogs and talking to people. I hadn’t slept much the last couple of nights, so I took a nap.

When we returned to the dock, Luke and Russell spoke to us for a while.

Where in the US I look young for my age, up here, I look ancient. The number of people that we meet who look so much younger than their age startles me. BC seems to be a great place to live.

Luke is a local who lives in a double-decker bus and Russell has recently (last two years) arrived and is working as a carpenter while he converts a steel-hulled sailboat into a pilot-house sailboat, and gets a high-end confectionary business of the ground. Russell is mid-twenties and grinds his own chocolate beans. Luke tells us his youngest child is 44 years old.

As the afternoon progressed, Jennifer and I were below while Hilary sat in the cockpit.
Someone called, ‘‘Hello Hilary.’’ It seems all of the Pacific Northwest knows Hilary and many people at Mason“s Landing had met her in our few hours here. (I re-introduce myself with a reference to Hilary so people remember who I am.)

I didn’t come up into the cockpit when I heard the greeting. The conversation continued, so I stuck my head up to see Linda Marie and Ian of Coast Pilot with two friends. Linda Marie and Ian are BC’ers who I need to write about.

They find that our living with Hilary and having additional guests aboard is worthy of note and bring other people to meet us. It’s just how we live.

The wind is starting to pick up. I think to today might be a spinnaker run day, so time to go.

I’ve wondered why I am writing so little. I’ve lost the habit, and will try to reclaim it. The combination of guests, who I want to spend time with, no reliable internet, which should be reliable from now on and the increased attention Hilary requires have all contributed.

I’ll write more and be more interesting.

I have a number of essays, about the wonderful people we’ve met, that need to be written. If they don’t get written before we return to Seattle, I will write them then. Please stick with me.

Please register, if you haven’t, and please write comments,so I’ll know you’re out there.

–j

BTW for geeks, in the strait of georgia, just south of Campbell River, I’m getting 20Mb download speeds.