Test truck and trailer.

TICK. Done and time to head home with our TUDU list. 😃. Hope you are having good days always. CJ

Diagnosed…


By a good guy. Tyrone of HPM Automotive in Parksville spent an hour of his time and tracked down the answer to why power from the truck was not charging the trailer battery. There are several possible solutions that include a very expensive replacement to a couple different work around… none of which we need to do until we get home.
Luckily we have solar panels and the sun has been shining. So we re back 'home' now and enjoying the sunshine and a visit from a four footed friend. We are content and wishing all of you the same. CJ

PS. A decent photo of Lucy's new red shoes. 😄

Test Driving Lucy II


There's good reason why testing equipment after maintenance or upgrades is a good idea 🤨. Lucy is looking great, don't you think? And she is great and we're lucky to have her. Ricky (the truck) looks great too and I sometimes forget he 's been looking after us for ten years… and he's been through some exciting moments (you may recall). Soooo, when almost at our destination (Rathrevor Park Campground) we realized no power was being transferred from the truck to the trailer battery… we had no choice but to spend more time in Parksville township seeking professional assistance. We have an appt tomorrow aft at 1400 hrs. Stay tuned for further developments. Sure glad we have solar panels. 😊

… back in home waters

Crossed the strait yesterday… easy peazy as we had watched the forecasts diligently (like you do) and planned the timing to make for the most comfortable crossing ( like you can)…. all of course dependant on good old fashioned luck. Such is the sailing life; plan as well as you can and then prepare for every potential challenge you can imagine. Our crossing was quite uneventful and we arrived at the Newcastle anchorage in Nanaimo mid-afternoon. That was Wednesday. We'll be here for a couple days and will then head into our Gulf Islands where we'll putz about for a few days before heading home.

I hope you've enjoyed sharing our summer cruise and thanks for coming along. I write it for you. CJ

July 17: When a tree falls in the forest…

… it makes a thundering, crackling noise.

It's 1130 at night, we're securely anchored and shore-tied and I'm standing in the cockpit admiring the dark starry sky. Suddenly I hear a small snap, followed by several more and then the tortured screech as a giant of the forest begins to tumble. With an almighty 'crack' and thundering roar as the tree's back breaks, the giant crashes and smashes through all other lesser trees in its path to the forest floor and the ocean shore.

I know this is not the only tree to have fallen, and probably not the biggest; but to hear this all happening less than 200 metres from where we are moored and at a time when most folks are tucked in to their bunks… gets my attention. Had a boat been tied to shore at that spot they would have been severely damaged (and we are the closest boat to that location). This certainly motivates one to pause and consider the changes in nature and the 'yet another risk' associated with securing a line around a tree, rock or ring and then assuming you have anchored securely and safely. 🎼The times they are a changing🎼 . Wishing you starry nights without crashing trees. CJ

Bears and Trees


Stepping away from politics, helter skelter weather forecasts and the rare beauty of our B.C. coast for a moment… I'd like to tell you about the beers (oops I mean bears 😏and trees of our summer so far.

First there was the troublesome, young, male Grizzly that had apparently been
're-located from somewhere near Sechelt to an area where he couldn't disturb his human neighbours anymore…. OOPS, seems he didn't like his new digs and relocated himself to the outskirts of Powell River… right into the neighbourhood where we were visiting friends. He actually trashed a small fishing boat that was tied up one slip away from where we used to stay when we visited; absolutely tore the boat apart (seeking prawn bate they think).

We learned quite a bit about bears during our visit; like the fact that most folks aren't too worried about the black ones as they remain shy and willing to take off if they hear or see you or you make the big loud noise. They also make a funny cough-like sound while they move through the bush. It's hard to replicate the "koph" but once you've heard it you don't forget it. I've heard the koph on two different occasions thereafter; the first while anchored in Prideaux Haven one evening when a bear must have been at the shore very near a boat that was shore tied (we were swinging) and then moved (very quickly) along a path paralleling the shore… kophing all the way. I listened diligently as he (or she) sped along the trail and finally moved out of hearing… spooky. I've heard the koph again, right here in our current anchorage, last night and the night before and, same thing, the bear moved quickly along his path and was out of ear shot quite quickly. (Is that correct? "Ear shot"… what a funny phrase).

We also learned that while black bears are happy to take off if they hear or see you, brown bears are a different kettle of fish (another old saying) and to be avoided. And then, there's the grizzly; not to be toyed with and certainly to be avoided at all costs (yet another). It seems the Powell River grizzly ( a young male seeking his own territory) tired of terrorizing PR and moved on. He swam from PR to Texada Island and arrived not too long before we pulled in to Sturt Bay (also on Texada island). One of the things we like about the that community and location is the friendly people and the opportunity to walk trails. Not so this trip. Grizz had arrived and left his calling card at the entrance to the ship yard across the bay from our marina. Signs were posted and all were discouraged from trail walking, etc. [Harumph… a fellow on the boat shore tied next to us just coughed…. Got my attention as it sounded just like a bear!]

Anyway, that's my news about bears.

The other interesting thing is that, to date, we have heard three large trees come crashing down…in different locations (Laura Cove, Roscoe Bay, and Hardy Island). It's rather unnerving as they have been (by their sound) large trees and they have cracked and fallen when there was no wind or other obvious reasons. Sadly it feels like this is a product of the earth heating up and normally moist environments drying up. I hope I'm wrong.

BUT FOR NOW we are safely anchored, enjoying the heat and warm water swimming and will continue our journey south in about a week. I hope all your trees are upright and you never have to meet a Grizzly in the wild. CJ

PS: no photos this time. I'm not getting close enough to take a pic of a bear… and you know what trees look like 😀


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July 11th… mixed emotions.



We are delighted to have finally arrived at our 'happy place';  an anchorage we have visited and played in for years and even shared with Kathy's parents on our trip to the Broughton's back in the day.

I woke up this morning, after a quiet and peaceful night at anchor, shore-tied and protected from the forecasted NW winds expected to gust up to 20-25 in Georgia Strait and scheduled to arrive this afternoon and over-night.   

Then, as is my custom, I checked to see if we have any connectivity and Voila I had email!!  I was a happy camper until I checked the news (which is also my custom) :-(

Over the years I have been heard to say thank goodness we live in Canada; a country that supports the rights of women and protects the rights of all Canadians. This morning's news causes me great concern and sadness. 

I'll not go on about this at length as I am not a political animal, but it saddens me to learn that several corporate sponsors of the Vancouver Pride Parade (an event that large organizations, including the Vancouver Police Department, have supported for years) are pulling out their financial support and using the unfolding debacle in the US as their excuse. 

Over many years, the Pride Parade has grown into a broadly supported official community event, celebrating inclusiveness and attended by a wide spectrum of the population. I would have rather read that sponsors were stepping up their support as we Canadians stand for the freedom for all to live our lives honestly. Enough said. 

Our country will be as strong as we make it and the quality of our lives will reflect the strength of our support. 

Wishing you all a good day and a happy life. 

CJ