I'm sitting here in Gorge Hbr BC on the Tolly 45 I bought immediately on retirement in 2020, just as the plague fell upon us.
I live in Australia. Grew up in BC in a commercial fishing family and worked in that industry seasonally from a young age until I finished university, and then some.
Long story about how I ended up in Australia.
My plan for retirement started to look like more ocean passages until I realised what I really wanted to do was travel the BC coast on my own time.
My plan was to have two summers a year, one on the BC coast. My wife was supportive, although she continues to work.
The good thing is, she has taken to the Tolly.
The Tolly lives in a boathouse in Ladysmith, off-season.
I put in a fair bit of time bringing the boat up to scratch, including Feb and March this year. Nothing untoward, but cooling system maintenance on the Cat 3208TAs, and upgrades of the kind necessary to turn a Yachtclub outstation dock queen into something more suited to longer ranges and anchoring out.
Had a great northern summer last year in the Broughtons, Discovery Islands and Desolation.
This year- I'm headed up to Bella Bella and surrounds. My wife flies in later in July.
She's crazy for otters. In particular, sea otters. My plan is to find a raft of sea otters to be observed and photographed, from a respectful distance, because- well, happy wife....
I have reason to believe they may be found out west of the Hunter group.
I've had a couple of friends join as I meander north. My old pal Rod (who grew up on a float camp at Sullivan Bay) leaves me in Campbell River in a couple of days. My pal Thierry (the French chef and sailor) will join me next week and hopefully stay to Bella Bella.
It's not much of a plan, but I think it's enough. I will gratefully receive helpful suggestions, and I will update this from time to time.
Here's a picture from Princess Louisa.
I live in Australia. Grew up in BC in a commercial fishing family and worked in that industry seasonally from a young age until I finished university, and then some.
Long story about how I ended up in Australia.
My plan for retirement started to look like more ocean passages until I realised what I really wanted to do was travel the BC coast on my own time.
My plan was to have two summers a year, one on the BC coast. My wife was supportive, although she continues to work.
The good thing is, she has taken to the Tolly.
The Tolly lives in a boathouse in Ladysmith, off-season.
I put in a fair bit of time bringing the boat up to scratch, including Feb and March this year. Nothing untoward, but cooling system maintenance on the Cat 3208TAs, and upgrades of the kind necessary to turn a Yachtclub outstation dock queen into something more suited to longer ranges and anchoring out.
Had a great northern summer last year in the Broughtons, Discovery Islands and Desolation.
This year- I'm headed up to Bella Bella and surrounds. My wife flies in later in July.
She's crazy for otters. In particular, sea otters. My plan is to find a raft of sea otters to be observed and photographed, from a respectful distance, because- well, happy wife....
I have reason to believe they may be found out west of the Hunter group.
I've had a couple of friends join as I meander north. My old pal Rod (who grew up on a float camp at Sullivan Bay) leaves me in Campbell River in a couple of days. My pal Thierry (the French chef and sailor) will join me next week and hopefully stay to Bella Bella.
It's not much of a plan, but I think it's enough. I will gratefully receive helpful suggestions, and I will update this from time to time.
Here's a picture from Princess Louisa.
