We just arrived at Montague Harbor on Galiano Island after crossing the Georgia Straits yet again. Our boat “Messing About” is now tied to a mooring ball and we are bobbing around a bit, but after today’s ride it feels fairly smooth. I checked the oil and cleaned up the boat a bit, then turned on the heater, so it is getting nice and cozy in here. Outside is cold, gray, and raining a bit. Dianna is in the shower while there is still hot water from running our engines all day. Our group has requested to gather again on our boat for cocktails, so they will arrive by dingy, as we will all be moored on differnt “balls” around the harbor.

We got up at 6:15am and it was dark until almost 7:15. We left the dock at 7:00am and could bare see to navigate; but with the chartplotter, that becomes your eyes under way, it is fairly easy. I kept wanting to reach for the headlights and turn them on. We wanted to get an early start because the winds were due to build up more around noon. When we first left Secret Cove we were greeted with mild wind and seas, so our hopes were high for a smoother ride than expected. Then through Welcome Passage it was still not bad, but when we rounded the corner of the island, we knew it was going to be exciting. The waves and wind were hitting our port bow, and white caps were present. Now we have a 28 mile crossing that will likely take five hours. We talked and bounced, and talked and bounced some more. Dianna is reading Moby Dick so she filled me in on the story line, the characters, and, of course, the whale. I am sure I must have read it in high school but don’t remember much, so that helped the time to pass. The power boat with us decided to smooth out there ride by going fast, so soon they disappeared into the gray horizon. The two other monohulls that sailed with us decided to try putting up their sails to smooth out the ride, but that meant they had to change course slightly to gain the proper course for wind to fill their sails. They were now on a very close reach, that doesn’t really work for a catamaran, so we choose to “stay our course” of motoring in the most direct crossing possible. We kept them in sight for most of the time but occasionally, they would disappear. We were going across the Nanaimo ferry path to Vancouver so we needed to keep watch on the horizon. One of our group members spotted them first, so we watched them appear out of the gray horizon. Those things really move when the get going, so just stay out of their way is the best plan to adopt. After about two hours of lumpy seas and bouncing, things actually calmed down and the ride was now far better, but neither of us wanted to comment on that because maybe the lumps would return. We were over half way and condidtions were improving. We were headed for Gabriella Passage, a narrow body of water that takes you from the Georgia Straits to Trincomali Channel where the Gulf Islands are located. Gabriella Passage is yet another waterway that requires timing because of currents. We figured out that if we hit the passage at noon, there would be current of 2.6 knots going against us, but we felt like getting on with it, so went ahead. It turned out fine but I really had to pay attention to the eddys and whirlpools. They move the boat significantly. The passage is a bit tricky also because of many shallow areas that need to be obviously avoided. But we made it through just fine and immediately, the wind and waves stopped, and we were sailing on a smooth flat mirror. Yea!

Our friends Franny and Jeff have a family place on Hall Island, so we made a detour to check it out. We circled the island and took some pictures. It is a beautiful setting where peace and quiet must “live”. One of those places that you picture sitting by a fire and reading a good book. Maybe with a pot of coffee or some hot chocolate.

Tomorrow is supposed to be cloudy with some light rain but winds are not forecasted to be too bad. We will travel to Roche Harbor where we will clear US customs, and then move on to a location closer to Bellingham, to allow us to get in on Friday morning by 11am.

Dinner tonight is steak & lamb chops with some fresh potatoes that we bought yesterday, along with some fresh romaine leaves that we also bought yesterday. I know what you are thinking, “don’t these people eat anything other than romaine leaves?” It just tastes really good and one of the few things that can be fresh.

At tonight’s gathering we are cleaning out our left overs, and putting them out for appetizers, including: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Cheetos, a few corn chips, a few fritos, some egg salad on custless sourdough bread slices, chicken salad on triscuits, and some almonds. It will likely disappear before our eyes……

Cheers from Dianna and I, from a lovely mooring spot in a beautiful bay, in a great & friendly country, where most of the world is forgotten, at least for two more days!