Travels of "Emma B" (JD powered Helmsman)

[Durant F]

Tied at MacKenzie Marina in back of Sechelt... yep... howling out.
Enjoy your evening

 

[klee wyck]

Tied at MacKenzie Marina in back of Sechelt... yep... howling out.
Enjoy your evening

Really......how was Skookumchuck??

 

[rochepoint]

Thats really close one of my brothers favourite pubs, the Lighthouse Marine Pub.
Never been down Sechelt but on my to do list, glad you are safe and secure...

 

[IRENE]

Great trip, FANTASTIC photos! Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas.

 

[Durant F]

Bill, skooks were a couple of days ago. Timed right, easy passage. Was a bit early so tied at the Back Eddy to kill 40 minutes before going through.

Merry Christmas Jeff

 

[Durant F]

Couldn’t resist a little dollar store fun.

Merry Christmas from Emma B

 

[Durant F]

Moved the boat to Pender Harbour yesterday and will cross to Nanaimo today.
Timed the Skooks about perfect as hardly a twitch to the boat.
Simply beautiful day after so many windy rain days.
The scenery truly is spectacular late season!

Pics are looking back at the Skooks light house and some mountains along the way.

 

[Doug]

Looking good in the antlers,
Merry Christmas to you and thank you for taking us along on your adventures once again this year.

 

[Nomad Willy]

Doug,
Those are intelligence appendages.
The last guy that called them antlers is looking for wood on the beach up one of the inlets. Nobody know how he got there.

 

[Durant F]

Anchored out in Pender Harbour and there was thin ice on the shady side of the bay! A cold night but thankful for the diesel heater! The bay had several sail boats decorated for Christmas.
There was a very nice mini ”sport fisherman” styled boat on a float in the bay. Older, rough condition but I loved the lines. Only about 19 or 20ft long. It had a 150ob on the back.
Was bumpy in spots crossing the Strait but made it to Nanaimo and was treated to dinner at friends that live here but we first met years ago sailing in the Abacos. Such a small world. They aren’t going down this year either. Will be a Christmas visit tomorrow before heading out.
The marina is colourful with several boats decorated and the buildings behind make a nice backdrop.

Merry Christmas

 

[Greg S]

Give me a head's up when you get down to Maple Bay. Least we could do is a hot drink, worst we could do is...?

 

[Durant F]

Putted along past Dodds Narrows into the Gulf Islands with no plan other than see new places.
On friends recommendations, anchored in Pirates Cove. Nice snug anchorage with 2 dingy docks and lots of trails to walk. Outhouses available and even a well with hand pump. I think it would be very tight in season but awesome during shoulder or winter. Next was Conover Cove... surprised to find a dock with a couple of larger cruisers and a sailboat. Again... very snug and protected with anchoring either side of the dock but imagine it would be busy in high season. Nice trails as well. Always a pleasure to be in new places.
The lit up boat was at the private marina in Pirates Cove...

 

[Northern Spy]

40 knot winds for the next few days. Where are you holed up?

 

[Durant F]

Snug down in Maple Bay Marina.
Awesome funky spot
Coffee shop
Pub-restaurant etc
Fuel dock
Great winter special only $20/night
Met Greg off this site for a cocktail at the pub this afternoon
Nice chat!
Wind isn’t forecast too bad down here..

 

[Island Cessna]

Snug down in Maple Bay Marina.
Awesome funky spot

On your way out sneak into Genoa Bay. May be less “awesome” but more “funky”. https://www.genoabaycafe.com/holidays
Cowichan Bay is also a neat spot.

 

[Durant F]

Funky is good!

 

[Conrad]

Just missed you Frank; I was down to Maple Bay on the weekend and also took a drive out to Genoa Bay. The restaurant there is amazing if you can get there.
Also took in the "Hand of Man", a man's collection from a lifetime of travelling, which is located in Maple Bay proper. If you can get to it, I'd recommend it; it is not your typical collection - he spent years in Africa.

Hand of Man Museum

 

[Durant F]

Thanks Conrad!
Greg had also recommended Hand if Man... seemingly awesome collection!
I was up at the pub tonight...
Not a soul inside!
They were doing some take out biz but I was it inside!
Thought I’d try the calamari...
I love the funky pub and there’s a great cafe behind for coffee and a breakfast sandwich in the morning.
Meal was awesome.
If you’re headed this way again... give me a heads up.

 

[Durant F]

(Why risk a perfectly good rib meal ordering calamari?) ��

 

[Conrad]

I've had many great meals - and drink - at the Shipyard. Say hi to Laurie for me if she's around. And of course Mike, her husband. Good place to bring in the new year!

 

[Durant F]

No doubt!

 

[Doug]

Their blue cheese burger is outstanding!

 

[Durant F]

Happy New Years to all.
Awesome New Years treat at the pub...
Did their Prime Rib special.
I’m really liking Maple Bay Marina.
The gypsy in me wants to head out again and will the break in in the wind... seems it will blow a few days.
Speaking of weather...I’ve never had as many overcast, drizzle and rain days as the last while. Seems no end in sight!
I’ll be looking back at my own sunny day pictures to remember what it can look like ?

 

[Northern Spy]

Happy New Years to all.
Awesome New Years treat at the pub...
Did their Prime Rib special.
I’m really liking Maple Bay Marina.
The gypsy in me wants to head out again and will the break in in the wind... seems it will blow a few days.
Speaking of weather...I’ve never had as many overcast, drizzle and rain days as the last while. Seems no end in sight!
I’ll be looking back at my own sunny day pictures to remember what it can look like [emoji1]

The weather is the worst I remember around the holidays here since I moved here 20 years ago.

It has been downright miserable.

Very conducive to sleeping though.

 

[slowgoesit]

Happy New Years to all.
Awesome New Years treat at the pub...
Did their Prime Rib special.
I’m really liking Maple Bay Marina.
The gypsy in me wants to head out again and will the break in in the wind... seems it will blow a few days.
Speaking of weather...I’ve never had as many overcast, drizzle and rain days as the last while. Seems no end in sight!
I’ll be looking back at my own sunny day pictures to remember what it can look like ��

Okay, enough of the Food Porn! You're really making me Hungry! How long are you going to cruise this Winter? Normally you've put her to bed by now. We survey next week in La Conner, WA for our next boat (if the survey pans out). Can't wait until we get on her and start cruising. Haven't cruised the PNW since I sold my 34 Monk and joined the military in 1985. Until then, we'll just have to live vicariously through you! Keep the stories coming!

 

[Durant F]

Congrats on rejoining the fleet. Hope the survey comes out satisfactory.
What boat? Pictures?
You’re correct... I’m typically hauled out late November or early December.
I built homes all my life in NE Ontario Canada (-30, 5ft snow) and after finally getting enough wrinkles and grey hair about 18yrs ago to realize winter construction didn’t pay and have had a sailboat in the Abacos (northern Bahamas out islands);since. Once fully retired I started falls on a trawler out here in the PNW.
This year with Covid limiting travel and the risks involved, I’ve decided to winter here. While it’s not the Abacos, it’s not freezing and snow like home either.
I’ve passed through the Gulf Islands before but never really gunk holed around in them so this is the month.
If your survey passes... get out on the water.
Good luck.

 

[IRENE]

Happy New Year! We can almost see you from here!

 

[Durant F]

Yep.... getting closer
Happy new year to you as well

 

[Nomad Willy]

Durant I yearn to be up there right now .. even with you except for the restaurant gigs.

But I’d want to have the option to bail at any time .. almost entirely due to my age. With a good anchorage weather is not an issue but watching supplies on a 30’ boat is something that needs more attention. Maybe I’d want to change back to diesel fuel for heat. For clean burning I switched to kerosene. It’s expensive and a storage issue. What heat do you have?

Edit;
Putting a kero tank on deck aft would be easier than re-plumbing.

 

[Durant F]

I eat aboard 90%+ of the time... especially up north as no option there ?
I can head out for a month on my water and freezer supply. Actually still have meats frozen from my initial provision in October. Gotta get at them.
Heat... often mentioned... bus heater underway, Wabasco at anchor, electric at dock. All good.
Happy new year